We must work together especially because while opportunities are unlimited, time and resources are not.
Each goal has a value on its own, but when combined, they fuel a culture of innovation, creativity, and collaboration that represents a paradigm shift from an establishment that has historically been marked by narrow approaches to cancer research and care. This new era is in our immediate future, one that utilizes the National Cancer Plan to build on our progress and drive further innovation in cancer research. In other words, the key to the accelerated progress we need to see in cancer research lies in creative partnerships across the entire cancer community – and society – that blend unique perspectives, experiences, and expertise, that will unleash novel, nontraditional solutions that would not be possible when focusing on any one goal by itself. We need to do more of this, and the National Cancer Plan empowers us do that. The NCI has a role, along with other federal agencies, foundations, and industry partners that are dedicated to progress against cancer. We must work together especially because while opportunities are unlimited, time and resources are not.