HIMSSCast: Memorial Sloan Kettering Alliance takes cancer research to a higher level

In January, President Joe Biden announced plans to reignite the Cancer Moonshot, setting the ambitious goal of reducing the cancer death rate by 50% over the next 25 years.

Through genomic testing, precision oncology and immunotherapy, the goal is reachable, said Dr. Suresh Nair, Physician in Chief at Lehigh Valley Health Network's Topper Cancer Institute, in an interview with Healthcare Finance News Executive Editor Susan Morse.

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Talking points:

• Innovations include strong robotic surgery programs for less invasive treatments and faster recovery.
• The alliance reduces the delay between cancer research and care due to advancements in technology.
• The Topper Cancer Institute, in the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania, is participating in clinical trials on the molecular profiling of tumors. This is a real-time tumor-tracking system.
• Genomic testing, precision medicine and immunotherapy will help reach the goal of the Cancer Moonshot to reduce the cancer death rate by 50% over the next 25 years.
• The combined expertise of multidisciplinary teams in cancer treatment can leverage new research and clinical trials, sometimes years ahead of other cancer research and treatment.
• The alliance allows for the rapid deployment of increased standards of care – in real time – as new research becomes available.

More about this episode:

CMS expands coverage of lung cancer screening with low dose computed tomography

The benefits of using genomic data for health systems and patients

Cancer patients potentially overlooked in COVID-19 vaccine rollout

Aetna launches gene therapy network as a standard medical benefit

Lack of diversity in clinical trials influences drug development