WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) participated in a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on Thursday titled “Biomedical Research: Keeping America’s Edge in Innovation,” where she introduced Dr. Barry Sleckman, Director of the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s (UAB) O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center. The hearing brought together lawmakers and medical research leaders to discuss the nation’s biomedical innovation and the role of federal funding in cancer prevention and treatment.
Dr. Sleckman leads Alabama’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. Appropriations Committee Chair Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) invited Britt to provide introductory remarks before his testimony.
“It is a distinct honor to introduce Dr. Barry Sleckman, a leading voice in cancer research and patient care and a true asset to the whole state of Alabama and to our nation,” Britt stated. She praised UAB’s efforts under Sleckman’s leadership and emphasized the center’s regional and national impact in advancing cancer treatment and prevention.
“What are some of the things that you’re doing and investing in that will ultimately change lives in the future?” Britt asked Dr. Sleckman.
In response, Sleckman described ongoing research at UAB aimed at developing new treatments, including approaches for drug-resistant cancers. He noted that such discoveries are occurring across all 73 NCI-designated cancer centers in the U.S., made possible through federal support.
Addressing national trends, Britt asked about the rise in cancer diagnoses, particularly among younger populations. Sleckman acknowledged this increase, attributing it to several factors including aging populations, continued tobacco use, and obesity rates in several states. He also called attention to an unexplained increase in colon cancer cases among individuals in their 20s, which he said is now the subject of new federal research grants.
When asked about the importance of public investment, Sleckman emphasized the unique role federal dollars play in cancer prevention. “There are not a lot of other revenue streams for cancer prevention. This is not really a high priority, for example, for industry and pharma,” he said. “And so federal funding, to understand how to develop cancer prevention approaches, is critical.”
The hearing highlighted both the challenges and advancements in cancer research and served as a platform for Alabama’s UAB to showcase its contributions to national health outcomes through federally supported innovation.
