The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is the federal government's principal agency for cancer research and training. It is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which is one of 11 agencies that comprise the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
The NCI coordinates the National Cancer Program, which conducts and supports research, training, health information dissemination, and other programs with respect to the cause, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of cancer, rehabilitation from cancer, and the continuing care of cancer patients and the families of cancer patients. Specifically they:
- Provide research grants and cooperative agreements to coordinate and support research projects conducted by universities, hospitals, research foundations, and businesses throughout this country and abroad.
- Conduct research in our own laboratories and clinics.
- Support education and training in fundamental sciences and clinical disciplines for participation in basic and clinical research programs and treatment programs relating to cancer through career awards, training grants, and fellowships.
- Support research projects in cancer control.
- Support a national network of cancer centers.
- Collaborate with voluntary organizations and other national and foreign institutions engaged in cancer research and training activities.
- Encourage and coordinate cancer research by industrial concerns where such concerns demonstrate a particular capability for programmatic research.
- Collect and disseminate information on cancer detection, diagnosis, treatment, prevention, control, palliative care, and survivorship.
- Support construction of laboratories, clinics, and related facilities necessary for cancer research through the award of construction grants.
- Support the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research - the only federally funded research and development center dedicated exclusively to biomedical research.
