The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation has decided to join the Obama administration’s Cancer Moonshot initiative by committing $25 million to community-based cancer treatment, care and support for underserved patients.
“The vice president’s Moonshot Initiative is vitally important for patients living with cancer and their families,” Giovanni Caforio, chairman and CEO of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation board of directors, said. “We are dedicated to fighting cancer and are excited to join this collective effort to defeat this deadly disease, once and for all.”
The foundation has funded five grants: Project ECHO, American Cancer Society, University of South Carolina College of Nursing, West Virginia University Cancer Institute and the Mississippi Public Health Institute.
“Our mission to address health disparities strongly complements the Moonshot goal of accelerating breakthroughs in cancer prevention, treatment options and care,” John Damonti, president of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation, said. “The projects we support specifically focus on populations that are both underserved and at high risk for cancer. Our aim is to develop best practices for strengthening clinic and community cancer services and support systems so that breakthroughs can benefit everyone.”
