President Joe Biden called for the creation of an advanced health research agency dedicated to developing "breakthrough" treatments for cancer and other diseases during his first address to a joint session of Congress April 28.
Such an agency would be similar to that of the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency, a branch of the Defense Department that focuses solely on national security efforts, and be led by the National Institutes of Health, President Biden said.
"It would have a singular purpose: to develop breakthroughs to prevent, detect, and treat diseases like Alzheimer's, diabetes and cancer," he said.
"I could think of no more worthy investments … I know nothing that is more bipartisan. So, let's end cancer as we know it."
The president's comments follow a $6.5 billion budget request submitted to HHS earlier in April to launch the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health.