WITHIN 10 DAYS FOLLOWING THE MEETING, ANY WRITTEN STATEMENTS OR QUESTIONS SUBMITTED WILL BE CAREFULLY CONSIDERED. AS BOARD MEMBERS, I WANT TO AGAIN REMIND YOU THAT YOU MUST ABSENT YOURSELVES VIRTUALLY DURING SPECIFIC DISCUSSIONS WHENEVER YOUR PARTICIPATION IN DELIBERATIONS ON ANY PARTICULAR PRODUCT, PROGRAM OR OTHER SPECIFIC MATTER WOULD CONSTITUTE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST OR CREATE THE APPEARANCE OR PERCEPTION OF ONE. IT IS INCUMBENT UPON US TO ADVISE THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY TO ABSTAIN FROM ANY PARTICIPATION IN DISCUSSION OR ACTION REGARDING THAT MATTER. CONSIDERING THE CURRENT POLICIES GOVERNING CON FL CONFLICT OF INT ON FINANCIAL HOLDINGS OF SPECIAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES OF WHICH I INCLUDE ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, WE MUST DEPEND ON YOU AND OURSELVES TO VOLUNTARILY ABSENT DURING ANY OR ALL DISCUSSIONS OF MATTERS THAT WOULD CONCEIVABLY IMPACT THE STATUS OF THESE HOLDINGS. SO WE NEED TO TRUST OURSELVES AND TRUST OUR JUDGMENT AND ENSURE THAT WE ABSENT APPROPRIATELY. BY LAW, A QUORUM OF BOARD MEMBERS IS REQUIRED FOR EACH INSTANCE IN WHICH A VOTE MAY OCCUR, WHETHER IN OPEN OR CLOSED SESSION. DURING THIS MEETING, A MINIMUM OF 10 APPOINTED MEMBERS OF THE BOARD MUST BE PRESENT TO VOICE THEIR VOTES. SINCE WE CAN'T PREDICT TIME OR OCCURRENCE OF ANY MOTIONS OR VOTES, WE MUST STAY PRESENT IN THE VIRTUAL ROOM DURING ALL SEGMENTS OF TODAY'S MEETING. FINALLY, TO ENSURE THAT THERE ARE NO INTERRUPTIONS DURING TODAY'S MEETING, PLEASE MUTE YOUR MICROPHONES. AND REMAIN SO UNTIL RECOGNIZED BY MYSELF, DR. GREY OR THE NCI DIRECTOR, DR. BERTAGNOLLI. SO WE'LL NOW BEGIN TODAY'S AGENDA. WITH OUR NCI DIRECTOR'S REPORT, AN OVERVIEW OF THE NATIONAL CANCER PLAN. DR. BERTAGNOLLI. MONICA, THE PODIUM IS YOURS. >>THANK YOU SO MUCH, DR. KARP 10. THTIN. DR. CARPTEN. I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE DR. ELIZABETH JAFFE, CHAIR OF THE PRESIDENT'S CANCER PANEL, WHO'S JOINING ME TODAY. SHE IS OUR PARTNER FOR FUTURE -- ALONG WITH THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PANEL, FOR FUTURE EXECUTION OF THE NATIONAL CANCER PLAN. SO WE'RE HERE TODAY TO DISCUSS NCI'S NEW NATIONAL CANCER PLAN, AND TO GET THE NCAB'S RECOMMENDATION AS WE MOVE TOWARD THE PLAN'S PUBLIC RELEASE. BECAUSE NCAB PLAYS SUCH AN IMPORTANT ROLE, PROVIDING OBJECTIVE AND EXPERT ADVICE TO NCI ON ITS SCIENTIFIC PRIORITIES, PROGRAMS AND RESEARCH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR VALUABLE INPUT ON THIS NEW PLAN. TODAY I'LL GO OVER THE PLAN, HOW THE PUBLIC CAN TAKE ACTION, AND GET INVOLVED ONCE WE LAUNCH, AND WE'LL HAVE AN OPEN DISCUSSION TO GET NCAB MEMBERS' THOUGHTS ON THE PLAN OVERALL. AND THEN THE NCAB MEMBERS WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO VOTE ON WHETHER TO ACCEPT THE PLAN AS WE PRESENT IT TODAY. AS YOU ALL KNOW, PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS SIGNALED THAT HE INTENDS TO GO BIG FOR CANCER PROGRESS. AND HE HAS CALLED FOR ALL OF US, ALL OF GOVERNMENT, AND ALL OF SOCIETY, TO WORK TOGETHER TO END CANCER AS WE KNOW IT FOR ALL PEOPLE. TO ACHIEVE THESE GOALS, WE CREATED THIS NEW NATIONAL CANCER PLAN, WHICH THE NATIONAL CANCER ACT OF 1971 CHARGED ME TO DO AS NCI DIRECTOR, TO PLAN AND DEVELOP A NATIONAL CANCER PROGRAM THAT INCLUDES NCI, OTHER RESEARCH INSTITUTES, AND OTHER FEDERAL AND NON-FEDERAL PROGRAMS. THE PLAN WE HAVE SHARED WITH YOU ALL FOR THIS MEETING IS THE CULMINATION OF OUR WORK OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS TO GATHER INPUT FROM RESEARCHERS BOTH WITHIN AND OUTSIDE OF NCI, NIH, AND HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. AND TO THINK THROUGH WHAT WE ULTIMATELY NEED DO TO ACHIEVE PRESIDENT BIDEN'S GOALS. THE PLAN GIVES US A FRAMEWORK TO OPEN A NEW NATIONAL CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW WE WILL ACHIEVE OUR SHARED GOALS. WE ENVISION THAT IT WILL BE A LIVING DOCUMENT, THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO REVISE OVER TIME, AS NEW OPPORTUNITIES AND NEEDS ARISE. OUR HOPE IS THAT ONCE WE LAUNCH THIS PLAN, PEOPLE ACROSS SOCIETY WILL PARTICIPATE IN IT AND CONTRIBUTE TO IT. IN DOING SO, THAT MAY BRING TO LIGHT HOW THIS PLAN NEEDS TO INVOLVE, AND WE ANTICIPATE IN THE NEXT CRITICAL EXECUTION PHASE OF THIS PLAN TO SEE THIS FRUITFUL ACTIVITY CONTINUE. SO WHAT IS THE PLAN? IT GIVES US A LONG TERM VISION THAT WILL ENABLE US TO ALIGN BROAD SOCIETAL ENGAGEMENT AND FOCUS ON CRITICAL NEEDS SO THAT WE CAN ACHIEVE THE FASTEST POSSIBLE RESULTS TO HELP PEOPLE LIVE FULL AND ACTIVE LIVES, FREE FROM CANCER'S HARMFUL EFFECTS. EVERYONE WITH CANCER AND EVERY CANCER. IT SPEAKS TO THE OPPORTUNITIES AND REALITIES WE FACE TODAY ACROSS ALL OF CANCER RESEARCH AND CARE. VERY IMPORTANT, IT CALLS US TO ACHIEVE THE LAST MILE WHICH REALLY TAKES AN INTERVENTION IN ANY WAY THAT HAS THE PROMISE OF MAKING LIFE BETTER FOR PEOPLE AND ACTUALLY ACHIEVES WIDESPREAD ADOPTION AND IMPLEMENTATION THAT ALLOWS THAT BENEFIT TO BE REALIZED. SO THE PLAN IS NOT ONLY ABOUT RESEARCH. THE PLAN EMBRACES THE IDEA THAT TO ACHIEVE THIS LAST MILE, EVERYONE HAS A ROLE TO PLAY. FEDERAL AGENCIES, INDUSTRY, ACADEMIA, ADVOCACY GROUPS, NON-PROFIT FOUNDATIONS, CAREGIVERS, PATIENTS, FAMILY MEMBERS, AND FRIENDS AND SO ON. NO ONE ORGANIZATION CAN ACHIEVE THESE GOALS ALONE. TO ACHIEVE THE FASTEST POSSIBLE RESULTS THAT BENEFIT ALL PEOPLE WILL REQUIRE EVERYONE ACROSS GOVERNMENT AND BEYOND TO SUPPORT THE GOALS OF THE PLAN. OUR INTENT IS THAT WHEN ANY ORGANIZATION OR PERSON LOOKS AT THE PLAN, THEY WILL SEE WHERE THEY FIT IN AS A CONTRIBUTOR TO PROGRESS. IT WAS DESIGNED TO SPEAK TO EVEN INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE SO THAT THEY CAN UNDERSTAND OUR OVERALL GOALS AND WHY OUR GOALS WILL BENEFIT THEM AND THEIR LOVED ONES, AND WHAT ACTION THEY COULD ALSO TAKE TO CONTRIBUTE. THE PLAN WILL HELP ALL OF US THROUGHOUT SOCIETY TO SEE THE FULL RANGE OF WHAT IS NECESSARY, AND THEN TO BE ABLE TO STRATEGIZE AND MORE -- MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL, WORK TOGETHER TO ACCELERATE PROGRESS. THROUGH THE PLAN'S FRAMEWORK FOR COLLABORATION, WE WILL BE ABLE TO COORDINATE ACTIVITIES ACROSS GOVERNMENT AND BEYOND THAT TOUCH PEOPLE'S LIVES AND INFLUENCE THEIR CANCER HEALTH OUTCOMES. THE PLAN ALSO PROVIDES A PLATFORM FOR GUIDING POLICY, DISCUSSIONS AND DEVELOPMENT THAT ARE DIRECTED TOWARD HEALTH AND WELL-BEING AND ARE ALSO CRITICAL TO PROGRESS. IN THE PLAN, THERE ARE EIGHT MAJOR GOALS. EACH OF THESE GOALS DESCRIBE WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE. THEY ARE WHAT WE MUST ACCOMPLISH TO ACHIEVE THE GOALS THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS SET FOR US. THE GOALS ADDRESS OUR MOST SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES AND INCLUDING HEALTH INEQUITIES AND EMPOWERING AND ENGAGING A MORE DIVERSE WORKFORCE. UNDER EACH OF THESE GOALS, WE PROVIDE A TARGETED DESCRIPTION OF WHAT NCI IS CONTRIBUTING, MAKING A MAJOR CONTRIBUTION FROM THIS AGENCY TO THE SUCCESS OF EACH OF THE GOALS. BUT WE ALSO PROVIDE IMPORTANT STRATEGIES, NOT ONLY FOR NCI BUT FOR MANY OTHERS TO TAKE ON. AND FINALLY, A CALL TO ACTION FOR THE REST OF SOCIETY TO PARTICIPATE. SO HERE'S WHAT WE WANT PEOPLE THROUGHOUT SOCIETY TO DO WITH THE PLAN OVER THE COMING MONTHS AND YEARS. FROM THE NATIONAL LEVEL TO THE STATE LEVEL AND TO THE COMMUNITY AND INDIVIDUAL LEVEL. WE'RE LOOKING FOR EVERYONE IN THE CANCER COMMUNITY TO HELP US CHAMPION THE PLAN SO THAT PEOPLE AT ALL LEVELS KNOW ABOUT IT, AND IT BECOMES PART OF THEIR DECISION-MAKING AS THEY MOVE AHEAD. THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS HAPPENING NOW TO ADDRESS CANCER AT ALL OF THESE LEVELS, BUT TOO MANY OF THEM ARE WORKING IN SILOS, AND ALL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO ACHIEVE GREATER IMPACT IF WE BREAK THROUGH THESE BARRIERS. THE PLAN IS NOT JUST A CALL TO ACTION TO SEE WHERE WE CAN CONNECT AND ALIGN EFFORTS WITHIN EACH LEVEL. IT'S ALSO TO LOOK FOR WAYS TO DO SO BETWEEN THESE DIFFERENT LEVELS SO THAT WE CAN CONNECT THE NATIONAL TO THE STATE, TO THE LOCAL, TO THE INDIVIDUAL AND THEIR COMMUNITIES, WHERE IT MAKES SENSE TO DELIVER FOR PEOPLE. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT THE PLAN GETS ALL THE WAY TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE INDIVIDUAL LEVEL, WITH SPECIAL ATTENTION TO UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING RURAL AREAS, TRIBAL NATIONS, INNER CITIES, EVERYONE, SO THAT IT BENEFITS -- BUT SO THAT IT'S BENEFIT REACH WHERE PEOPLE NEED IT MOST, AND WHERE EVERYONE CAN PARTICIPATE AND BENEFIT. FOR A VARIETY OF SCIENTIFIC AND SOCIETAL REASONS, FAR TOO MANY BARRIERS STILL PERSIST IN OUR SOCIETY TO ALLOW US TO SERVE ALL POPULATIONS, AND WE CAN AND WILL OVERCOME THESE. TOGETHER, WE CAN SOLVE THIS AND THE NATIONAL CANCER PLAN IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE THE FRAMEWORK TO ACHIEVE THAT. WE ALSO NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT EVERYBODY IS CONTRIBUTING TO THE NATIONAL CANCER PLAN'S PROGRESS, PARTICULARLY WHAT INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES ARE CONTRIBUTING. FINALLY, WE CAN'T JUST PUT A PLAN OUT THERE. WE NEED TO KNOW WHERE WE ARE SUCCEEDING AS AN OVERALL NATION TO ACHIEVE THESE GOALS, AND IDENTIFY WHERE THE GAPS ARE SO THAT WE CAN MAKE ADJUSTMENTS AND TAKE ACTION AS NECESSARY. THE PRESIDENT'S CANCER PLAN LED BY DR. JAFFE WILL HELP US WITH THIS PART. AS PART OF THEIR ROLE TO ADVISE ON THE NATIONAL CANCER PROGRAM'S PROGRESS, AND IDENTIFY BARRIERS TO PROGRESS. WE LOOK TO EVERYONE FROM ALL CORNERS OF SOCIETY TO EMBRACE THIS BOLD CALL FOR ACTION, AND CONTRIBUTE THE BEST THAT THEY CAN. SO THIS GIVES YOU A SENSE OF OUR LAUNCH AND OUTREACH TIMELINE OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS AND COMING MONTHS. IT IDENTIFIES WHERE WE SEE MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR OUTREACH LATER. VERY SOON, WE WILL BE RELEASING THE NATIONAL CANCER PLAN TO THE PUBLIC. THIS WILL INCLUDE EMAILS, A LUNCH OF A NEW NATIONAL CANCER PLAN WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA PROMOTIONS, GETTING THE PLAN OUT THERE PUBLICLY, AND ASKING FOR PEOPLE'S RESPONSE. OVER TIME, WE WILL BUILD IN MORE CALLS WITH ADDED SPECIFICITY, AND CONCRETE STEPS WE'RE HOPING THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WILL TAKE. SO WHEN WE RELEASE THE PLAN, WE WILL OFFER A NUMBER OF WAYS FOR THE PUBLIC TO GET INVOLVED ONLINE. WE ASK FOR DID SH WHEN IT IS ANNOUNCED FOR PEOPLE TO READ THE PLAN, SEE WHAT'S IN THERE, SEE HOW IT CAN SPEAK TO THEM, THEIR NEEDS, AND THEIR ABILITY TO PARTICIPATE. PEOPLE CAN ALSO FOLLOW THE TAGLINE AT THE NCI AND NCI DIRECTOR ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND SUBSCRIBE FOR EMAIL UPDATES THAT WILL BE PUT OUT SPECIFIC TO THE NATIONAL CANCER PLAN. SO STAY TUNED, EVERYONE. THERE WILL BE MORE WAYS TO ENGAGE WITH THE PLAN COMING VERY SOON, BECAUSE IMMEDIATELY AFTER ITS PUBLIC LAUNCH, WE PLAN TO DIVE EAGERLY TO THE EXECUTION PHASE OF THE NATIONAL CANCER PLAN. LAST AND FINAL THOUGHTS. CANCER PROGRESS IS STILL UNFORTUNATELY VERY FAR FROM WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE COUNTING ON US. BUT I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE STEPS WE'RE TAKING ON HOW TO BEST LEAD AND ALIGN THE BROAD CANCER COMMUNITY IN EFFORTS TO ACHIEVE THE END OF CANCER AS WE KNOW IT. NOW THAT THERE'S A FRAMEWORK, WE KNOW WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, AND WE KNOW WHAT WILL GET US TO THE ULTIMATE GOAL. WE HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO ACHIEVE FASTER PROGRESS AGAINST CANCER AND END IT AS WE KNOW IT FOR ALL PEOPLE. TO DO THIS, WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER AND HOW WE WORK TOGETHER ACROSS SOCIETY WILL MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE. SO I INVITE YOU TO JOIN ME, AND NOW SO WE CAN START OUR DISCUSSION OF HOW DO YOU SEE YOUR PART OF THE CANCER COMMUNITY EMBRACING THIS PLAN, INCLUDING THE OPPORTUNITIES IT WILL CREATE ACTIONS THAT THEY MAY TAKE AND IMPORTANT DISCUSSIONS THAT WE WILL HAVE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >>THANK YOU, DR. BERTAGNOLLI. WE NOW HAVE TIME FOR A FEW QUESTIONS. PLEASE USE THE RAISE-YOUR-HAND TOOL IN WEBEX. AGAIN I'LL TAKE THE CHAIR'S PREROGATIVE. AGAIN, WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL PLAN, AND I THINK WE'RE ALL HONORED TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A PART OF IT AND ASSIST YOU IN IMPLEMENTING AND EXECUTING TOWARDS ACHIEVING THE GOALS THAT ARE SET OUT. I GUESS IN TERMS OF PUTTING ON MY SCIENCE HAT, I'M GLAD IT'S A LIVING DOCUMENT, BECAUSE I THINK AT SOME POINT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SPELL OUT WHERE BASIC SCIENCE PLAYS A ROLE IN THE PLAN. YOU KNOW, I THINK -- AND MAYBE EVEN ADVANCES OR INNOVATION IN BASIC SCIENCE, RIGHT? AND THE USE OF NOVEL MOLECULAR IMAGING, CRYO-EM, HOW DO WE REALLY BEGIN TO GET DOWN TO THE MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR LEVELS IN OUR KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF CANCER. SO I THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY ALREADY TO THINK ABOUT WHERE SOME TWEAKS COULD OCCUR, BECAUSE I HAVE A FEELING THAT THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY IS GOING TO WANT TO HAVE A MORE DETAILED SPELL-OUT OF WHERE. WE CAN SEE IT SORT OF BURIED IN THE VARIOUS PRIORITIES, BUT HAVE IT BE A MORE DETAILED SPELLOUT. LOVE TO GET YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT, MONICA. >>I AGREE. YOU KNOW, SCIENCE IS THE ENGINE THAT GIVES US THE NEW DISCOVERIES THAT WE NEED AND THEN WE NEED TO CARRY THEM ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO MAKE THEM BENEFIT -- TO HAVE THEM ABLE TO BENEFIT PEOPLE. I THINK IF YOU READ VIRTUALLY EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE GOALS, YOU WILL SEE WITHIN THEM THE ABSOLUTE NEED FOR FUNDAMENTAL SCIENCE. AND ITS ROLE IN EVERYTHING THAT WE DO. I MEAN, FOR ANYTHING IN THE PLAN, THIS WILL BE WHAT WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT, THE EXECUTION PHASE. BECAUSE WHAT YOU JUST DESCRIBED WILL BE A GREAT CONVERSATION TO HAVE WITH THE BROADER SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY ABOUT, OKAY, WHAT EXCITING THINGS CAN THAT COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTE, AND HOW CAN WE FACILITATE THE WORK OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY? SO IT'S VERY MUCH THERE AT THE BASE. WE KNOW WE NEED IT, AND WHAT YOU'VE JUST DESCRIBED IS EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED TO GET INTO IN THE EXECUTION PHASE, WHICH IS THE SPECIFIC DETAILS OF HOW WE ACHIEVE ALL THESE GOALS. >>YEAH, WHAT JUMPS OUT AT ME, WHICH EXCITES ME, IS THAT IT'S A VERY TRANSLATIONAL PLAN. YOU KNOW, IT'S HOW DO WE LEARN TO GET STUFF OUT TO THE DOCS, TO HELP MANAGE THESE PATIENTS AND IMPROVE OUTCOMES. THAT'S AWESOME. BUT I ALSO THINK ABOUT, FOR INSTANCE, THE CANCER CENTERS AND THE BASIC PROGRAMS WITHIN THE CANCER CENTERS, AND HOW THIS IS ALL GOING TO TIE IN TOGETHER AS WE ADVANCE INTO THE FUTURE TO HOPEFULLY ACHIEVE THIS AMAZING GOAL THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS SET OUT. ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ANNE, I SEE YOUR HAND. YOU'RE ON MUTE. >>TWO YEARS AND WE'RE STILL NOT UNMUTING. SO MONICA, THANK YOU. THIS IS A GREAT ROAD MAP, AND I THINK THE ENTIRE CANCER ENTERPRISE THANKS YOU FOR THIS. BUT I JUST WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON JOHN'S COMMENT A LITTLE BIT, BECAUSE I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE MISSING, AND THIS IS A LIVING DOCUMENT, AS YOU POINTED OUT SEVERAL TIMES AND IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE THE CANCER COMMUNITY TO THINK THIS THROUGH, ESPECIALLY THE RESEARCH COMMUNITIES. THE ONE THING I THINK I SAID TO YOU WAS THAT, YOU KNOW, IN EACH OF THESE AREAS, THERE ARE SOME MAJOR, MAJOR PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE FACING. SOME BARRIERS THAT ARE SITTING THERE, AND PRIORITIZING THOSE AND REALLY SORTING THROUGH WHAT WE CAN ACTUALLY DO THE MOST ABOUT IN THE MOST, YOU KNOW -- IN A WAY THAT REALLY DOES MAKE THIS A NATIONAL PRIORITY, AND I THINK THIS IS A REAL CHALLENGE FOR THE CANCER COMMUNITY TO FIGURE THAT OUT AND THEN LET'S PRIORITIZE AND GO AFTER THOSE THINGS THAT ARE -- WITH A SENSE OF URGENCY THAT'S GOING TO REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR PATIENTS. BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GREAT PLAN. >>YEAH, AND THANK YOU, ANN, YOU JUST DESCRIBED TWO ACTIVITIES THAT HAVE TO HAPPEN IN EXECUTION PHASE, NUMBER ONE, HOW ARE WE GOING TO ENGAGE THE PEOPLE WHO NEED TO BE ENGAGED. JOHN ILLUSTRATES, IT NEEDS TO BE EVERYTHING FROM THE BASIC SCIENCE COMMUNITY ALL THE WAY TO THE CANCER CARE DELIVERY LAST MILE PEOPLE, SO NUMBER ONE, FIRST PRIORITY IS ENGAGING AND THEN SECOND PRIORITY, YOU KNOW, OR PARALLEL PRIORITY IS STRATEGIES FOR WHERE WE'RE REALLY GOING TO FOCUS. LET ME JUST SAY THAT I ALSO THINK SOME OF THE -- THIS IS WHERE IT DOVETAILS NICELY WITH SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE CANCER MOONSHOT, BECAUSE THE CANCER MOONSHOT HAS ALSO DONE A REALLY BRILLIANT JOB OF IDENTIFYING SOME OF THOSE PRIORITIES YOU'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT. THEY'RE INTERWOVEN IN THIS DOCUMENT, BUT THAT WOULD BE THE FIRST PLACE I'D LOOK TO POINT TO FOR WHERE WE ALREADY HAVE A GOOD LIST OF PRIORITIES AND THAT'S THE MOONSHOT PRIORITY. >>THAT'S A GREAT POINT. THERE'S A LOT ALREADY IN PLAY THAT CAN BE LEVERAGED, SO THANKS, MONICA. DR. WAKEFIELD. >>THANK YOU, JOHN. MONICA, THANK YOU SO MUCH. THIS IS A WONDERFUL START TO KIND OF REALLY HELPING TO INVIGORATE ALL HANDS ON DECK, RIGHT? AND YOU KIND OF ALLUDED TO THAT, NOT JUST THE ALL OF GOVERNMENT APPROACH BUT EVERYONE, WHO ARE THE STAKEHOLDERS? THIS IS REALLY CRITICAL FOR ALL OF US TO REALIZE THIS IS A SOCIETAL ISSUE. CANCER WILL VERY QUICKLY BECOME THE NUMBER ONE KILLER IN THE UNITED STATES AND WE HAVE THE ABILITY AS RESEARCHERS, AS CARE DELIVERERS, AS PROVIDERS, AS INSURERS, PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES, WHOMEVER, ALL OF THE STAKEHOLDERS TO REALLY BE ENGAGED, AND I LOVE THE FACT THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE OPEN FOR COMMENT. I HOPE THAT COMMUNITIES, THAT INDIVIDUALS, THAT FAMILIES WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS TO TAKE A LOOK BECAUSE IT'S REALLY ABOUT IMPLEMENTATION, IT'S ABOUT WHAT DO YOU NEED TO HELP BECOME PART OF THIS INITIATIVE? WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT WE COULD DO AT THE NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE, AS INDIVIDUAL STAKEHOLDERS OURSELVES, WHAT ARE THINGS WE CAN DO TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. THIS IS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT, AS IS THE FOCUS ON POLICIMENT YOU MENTIONED THAT AS WELL. BECAUSE POLICY MATTERS, AND WE CAN DO RESEARCH TO HELP OUR LEGISLATORS, TO HELP OUR KEY LEADERS IN EACH STATE, NOT ONLY JUST THINK ABOUT THE THINGS THAT ARE IMPLEMENTABLE AT THE STATE LEVEL BUT EVEN AT THE INSTITUTIONAL LEVEL, AND THEN OBVIOUSLY THINKING ABOUT THINGS OF THE NATIONAL. SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THIS IS A FANTASTIC START. >>WELL, THANK YOU, KAREN, AND YOU'RE RIGHT, THIS IS A LIVING -- YOU KNOW, WE SAID BEFORE, THIS IS A LIVING DOCUMENT. WHEN YOU READ THE DETAIL BEHIND EACH ONE OF THOSE GOALS, THERE IS A STATEMENT, AND WHAT WE'RE HOPING THAT STATEMENT CAN BE USED FOR IS WE NEED TO BRING ABOUT THIS STATE. SO IT CAN BE SOMETHING VERY SPECIFIC THAT WE CAN POINT TO ON THE POLICY LEVEL, ON THE CARE DELIVERY LEVEL, ON THE BASIC RESEARCH LEVEL AND SAY THAT'S WHERE WE NEED TO GO. SO THAT'S WHY IT'S NOT A STRATEGIC PRIORITY, IT'S A WHERE DO WE NEED TO GO. KIND OF A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO HOW YOU ROLL OUT PLANS. THE PLAN -- IT'S A PLAN. BUT THE REAL PLANNING STARTS NOW. RIGHT? IT'S HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET THERE? >>NO, THAT'S FANTASTIC. AND TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION WHO AND WHAT THIS COUNTRY IS LIKELY TO BE FIVE TO 10 YEARS, HOW IS INFORMATION DISTRIBUTED AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS COME INTO PLAY. GREAT, GREAT POINT. AND I THINK WE NEED TO LEARN ABOUT POLICY. WE REALLY, REALLY DO. I THINK SOME OF THE THINGS WE'RE SEEING WITH PROSTATE CANCER, THERE'S SOME L LESSONS THAT CANE LEARNED FROM SOME OF THESE THINGS, WHERE WE GET IT RIGHT, AND THERE ARE PLACES WHERE WE CAN IMPROVE. OKAY, I THINK I SEE FRANCIS' HAND UP. >>MONICA, GREAT DOCUMENT. VERY BOLD. AND I THINK THE FANTASTIC PART OF IT IS YOUR EMPHASIS ON LIVING DOCUMENT. THIS IS GOING TO CHANGE, MOVE AND TAKE SHAPE, KEEPING THE GOALS IN SIGHT. THE INCLUSIVENESS OF BROAD SOCIETY AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS AND SO ON, EXCITING BUT COULD BE VERY CHALLENGING. DO YOU SEE -- OR HOW DO YOU SEE THE IMPACT OF ALL OF THIS ON HOW WE DO BUSINESS AT THE NCI TODAY? OBVIOUSLY YOU GET INPUT, THAT MAY BECOME CLEARER, BUT OBVIOUSLY YOU WOULD SEE THAT IT WOULD BE CHANGES IN HOW BUSINESS IS DONE, OR HOW IT'S BEEN DONE TO DATE. YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT? >>TWO CRITICAL PRIORITIES. NUMBER ONE, RESEARCH NEEDS TO REACH EVERYONE. WE NEED EVERYONE WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE. WE CAN DO A LOT FOR THAT, AND WE ARE, AT THE NCI, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE OPPORTUNITIES TO BE COUNTED TO HAVE RESEARCH I MEANINGFUL, THE BROADEST POSSIBLE COMMUNITY, LITERALLY EVERYONE, IS A CRITICAL GOAL BECAUSE HOW DO WE KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO -- HOW DO WE KNOW HOW TO GET SOMEONE BENEFIT UNLESS THEY PARTICIPATE IN ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, ACHIEVING THE KNOWLEDGE THAT WE NEED? AND THEN NUMBER TWO IS ONCE WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE STRATEGIES, APPROACHES, TREATMENTS THAT BENEFIT PEOPLE, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL PEOPLE RECEIVE THAT BENEFIT. YOU KNOW, THAT'S GOT TO BE A CORE COMMITMENT OF EVERYTHING. SO EVERYONE IN RESEARCH, EVERYONE TO BENEFIT. YOU KNOW, IT'S A REALLY -- IT THE CORE OF THIS ENTIRE PLAN. AND I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT, BUT I THINK WE DO HAVE A PRESIDENT AND AN ADMINISTRATION THAT HAVE MADE THIS A KEY PRIORITY, AND I DO THINK, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A CONGRESS THAT ALSO, YOU KNOW, REPRESENTS THE WHOLE UNITED STATES, AND OF COURSE WANTS TO SEE BENEFIT THROWOUT THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES. SO I THINK WE'RE GOING TO GET A GOOD RECEPTION FOR THE NOTION THAT NO ONE IS GOING TO BE LEFT OUT. >>THAT'S GREAT. THANK YOU, DR. BERTAGNOLLI. AND THANK YOU FOR THE WONDERFUL PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION. AND THERE BEING NO ADDITIONAL HANDS UP, THE NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS IS A VOTE BY THE BOARD TO ACCEPT OR NOT ACCEPT THE NATIONAL CANCER PLAN THAT HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO US. SO I WOULD LIKE TO CALL FOR A MOTION TO ACCEPT OR NOT ACCEPT THE NATIONAL CANCER PLAN, AND PLEASE BE SPECIFIC IN YOUR MOTION. >>OKAY. I'LL MOVE. >>MOVE TO ACCEPT? DO YOU MOVE TO ACCEPT? >>THAT'S OKAY. I MOVE THAT THE NATIONAL CANCER PLAN AS PRESENTED BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE BE ACCEPTED. >>IS THERE A SECOND? >>I SECOND. >>YES. >>SECOND. >>DISCUSSION? SO WE NEED TO VOTE. I'LL ASK, ARE THERE ANY NAYS? DOES ANYONE NEED TO ABSTAIN? IF NOT, IT'S BEEN PROPERLY MOVED AND SECONDED. PAULETTE? >>THE VOTE CARRIES, IT'S UNANIMOUS. >>FANTASTIC. CONGRATULATIONS, DR. BERTAGNOLLI. >>THANK YOU! THANK YOU, THANK YOU. >>WE'RE HERE TO ADVISE. SO THE BOARD WILL NOW CONSIDER ONGOING BUSINESS. BUT IF I MAY, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO REMIND YOU THAT AS SPECIAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AS MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD, IF CONTACTED BY ANYONE ASKING YOU TO COMMENT ON THE PRESIDENT'S BUDGET, OR THE PLAN OR ANYTHING, RIGHT, YOU SHOULD NOT PARTICIPATE OR ANSWER QUESTIONS BASED ON YOU BEING AN NCAB MEMBER, OKAY? AS FAR AS PARTICIPATING OR ANSWERING AS A PRIVATE CITIZEN, TO PRECLUDE YOU FROM BEING PLACED IN A PRECARIOUS SITUATION, I WOULD SUGGEST REACHING OUT TO PAULETTE FIRST AND GETTING HER ADVICE. OR THE NCI ETHICS OFFICE, BEFORE ANSWERING ANY QUESTIONS RELATED TO THESE DISCUSSIONS. SO I HAVE TO ALSO ASK, ARE THERE OTHER ISSUES THAT ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESSED TO, WHILE WE HAVE THE BOARD CONVENED? >>I HAVE A QUESTION THAT'S UNRELATED TO THE PLAN. MORE TO NCAB BUSINESS. PAULETTE, THE NEXT NCAB MEETING, AND IT'S GOING TO BE A JOINT MEETING, IS IT GETTING MORE AND MORE TOWARDS AN IN-PERSON MEETING? >>YES, IT WILL BE AN IN-PERSON MEETING, AND FOR THOSE THAT CANNOT ATTEND IN PERSON, YOU WILL BE ALLOWED TO ATTEND VIRTUAL. IN OTHER WORDS, IT WILL BE A HYBRID MEETING. >>THANK YOU. >>GREAT. SO I THINK WE SHOULD ALSO ASK, ARE THERE ANY AGENDA ITEMS THAT ANYONE WOULD LIKE THE BOARD TO CONSIDER AT THE NEXT MEETING? YES, CHRIS. >>JOHN, THANKS. AND MONICA, THANKS AND CONGRATULATIONS. IT MAY NOT BE READY FOR JUNE, BUT WE HAD SOME CONVERSATION ABOUT EVALUATION AND HOW WE KNOW WE'RE MEASURING OUR IMPACT. SO JUNE MIGHT BE TOO EARLY FOR THAT CONVERSATION, BUT WE SHOULD PROBABLY HAVE KIND OF A SKETCH OF THE EVALUATIVE APPROACH OR A DASHBOARD TO KIND OF MEASURE -- WE DID A NICE THING WITH THIS WITH NAM ON THE NURSING REPORT, JUST ONCE A YEAR, WHERE ARE WE MAKING PROGRESS, WHERE WE NEED MORE HELP, I THINK AT SOME POINT WE PROBABLY WANT TO PUT THAT ON OUR AGENDA. THANKS. >>GOOD. >>AND I GUESS AS CHAIR, I'LL GO AHEAD AND SAY, I THINK THE ONE THING -- AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A BOARD MEETING AGENDA ITEM, I THINK IT IS, MAYBE IN A CLOSED SESSION, BUT I THINK WE MAY WANT TO THINK ABOUT THE GRANT APPROVAL PROCESS A LITTLE BIT. I THINK IT CAME UP DURING THE LAST MEETING. JUST TALK ABOUT IT AND SEE IF THERE ARE ANY THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO IMPROVE ON IT. AND AGAIN, IT'S PROBABLY A CLOSED SESSION DISCUSSION, BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE KIND OF GOT IN A PLACE WHERE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IT BUT I THINK WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO FLESH THINGS OUT, BUT I THINK IT'S WORTH THINKING ABOUT. >>YOU'RE CORRECT, THAT'S A CLOSED SESSION DISCUSSION, SO WE CAN MOVE ON. >>OKAY, GREAT. SO WE'LL DO THAT DURING A CLOSED SESSION. IF THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR ITEMS TO DISCUSS, I GUESS WE CAN ADJOURN THIS MEETING. PAULETTE, WE SHOULD ADJOURN? >>YES. >>OKAY. >>THANK YOU AGAIN! >>THANKS, EVERYONE. >>THANK YOU! >>GOOD LUCK, MONICA. >>BYE-BYE. >>LOOK FORWARD TO THE ANNOUNCEMENT. >>NOW THE WORK STARTS! >>SEE YOU IN JUNE. >>SEE YOU IN JUNE. >>BYE.