BY Alpha Lilstrom Cheng, METAvivor Board Vice President
Submitted by: Alpha Lillstrom Cheng, Board Vice President, METAvivor
Prepared For: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
Regarding: FY 2026 Appropriations for the National Institutes of Health
METAvivor thanks the Subcommittee for the opportunity to submit testimony regarding Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 appropriations for biomedical research and public health programs.
METAvivor is a volunteer-led, nonprofit organization dedicated to funding research that improves both the quality and length of life for individuals living with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Our mission is rooted in hope and action—we advocate for increased public awareness of the unique needs of the MBC community, provide strength and purpose to patients, and maximize the impact of every dollar we invest in critical research.
Metastatic breast cancer occurs when cancer cells spread from the breast to other parts of the body—most often the bones, liver, lungs, or brain—making it a life-threatening condition. Each year, between 73,000 and 86,000 Americans are diagnosed with MBC, and an estimated 300,000 individuals are currently living with the disease.
We are deeply concerned about the Administration’s proposal to provide $27.9 billion in program-level funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in FY 2026—a nearly 40% decrease from current funding levels. We are also alarmed by proposed structural changes to NIH, including a freeze on grant funds, recent reductions in force, and the proposed reorganization of the agency’s 27 institutes and centers into just eight.
Stable, predictable funding is essential to sustain both emerging and experienced researchers and to foster the breakthroughs that lead to new treatments and cures—not only for MBC, but for countless other diseases.
We also urge the Subcommittee to prioritize continued investment in cancer data infrastructure. The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program, housed within the National Cancer Institute, is a vital resource for understanding cancer incidence in the U.S. However, SEER currently fails to identify the primary cancer origin site in cases of metastatic cancer mortality. This gap in data distorts our understanding of disease burden and misdirects research funding. Moreover, the 2–3-year lag in SEER’s public data release hinders our ability to assess emerging trends and evaluate the effects of new treatments. We urge NIH to modernize and strengthen SEER and similar programs to ensure research is accurately guided and impactful.
In light of the proposed structural and funding changes, we respectfully urge Congress to exercise its oversight authority to safeguard the NIH’s core mission and ensure the continuity of essential research.
Specifically, we recommend the following FY 2026 appropriations and request inclusion of language ensuring that the administration spends appropriated funds according to Congressional intent:
Provide the National Institutes of Health (NIH) with at least $51.93 billion in funding for FY 2026.
Provide the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) with $1.5 billion in funding for FY 2026.
Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs: Restore $150 million in funding for the Department of Defense Peer-Reviewed Breast Cancer Research Program and continue to include “metastatic cancers” as a condition eligible for study through the Peer-Reviewed Cancer Research Program.
Science has yet to answer why cancer metastasizes or how to stop it effectively. We know that a diagnosis of stage 4 breast cancer is not considered survivable, and estimate that over 42,000 Americans die from it each year. METAvivor is working to change that reality. While new therapies have improved outcomes for many, continued progress depends on robust federal investment in medical research. NIH funding is an investment in the health, longevity, and well-being of our nation. We urge the Subcommittee to sustain and expand this support in FY 2026.
