This piece is presented by South Dakota Biotech.

Investing in the Cancer Moonshot will be the focus of an event Oct. 4 highlighting the progress that has been made locally and industrywide in groundbreaking cancer research.

The research luncheon is put on by the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Action Network.

Dr. Durado Brooks, managing director of cancer control intervention for the American Cancer Society, will headline a panel of local experts:

• Dr. Steven Powell, medical oncologist and clinician scientist at Sanford Health.
• Lora Black, RN, senior director of clinical research at Sanford Research.
• Dr. Benjamin Solomon, medical oncologist and hematologist at Avera Medical Group.
• Ryan Hansen, executive director of Avera Research Institute.

The Cancer Action Network is the advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society.

“We’re nonprofit, nonpartisan and support evidence-based policy and solutions to eliminate cancer as a major health problem,” said David Benson, South Dakota government relations director.

“Our mission is to give ordinary people the training and tools they need to make their voices heard to policymakers and to turn those voices into new public policies that can impact the lives of South Dakotans and individuals across the country.”

The event is aimed at business leaders, the research community and is open to the general public.

By learning about the work being done and the potential for more breakthroughs, Benson hopes to gain support for ongoing and additional cancer research funding.

“We’re providing new information about what people can do to engage through advocacy, specifically to improve their lives and those close to them,” he said. “Cancer research funding can be at levels that can impact new discoveries. If folks can learn something new about what’s happening and understand more about what it means to have cancer research funding continue to flow into the state, that’s what we’re driving at.”

The Cancer Action Network is a member of South Dakota Biotech, which helps link its mission with the emerging science it’s supporting.

“We feel it’s important to be plugged into the work happening in the private sector on advancing technologies and research,” Benson said. “SD Biotech provides an opportunity to engage with those at the front lines of biomedicine research in the state and share our perspective on behalf of cancer patients and their families.”

To learn more about the Oct. 4 cancer research event and register, click here.