The National Cancer Institute, the National Institutes of Digestive and Urological Diseases, private foundations, and biotechnology and drug companies provide grants for basic and translational research. These grants are used solely to cover the cost of supplies and the salaries of technicians performing research experiments. These are, therefore, important sources of funding and we couldn't do our work without them. That said, there are several reasons why we can't rely completely on such financial support. 

One reason is that grants tend to be narrowly focused. Biotechnology and drug companies are quite naturally interested in the research they're supporting. Anything discovered outside those parameters often must be put aside until funding can be obtained to explore the new information. The competition for research grants from the federal government is at an all-time high, yet the amount of funds available to support research has decreased sharply. In the struggle to reduce the national budget, funding for biomedical research receives limited priority. We can no longer count on support from the federal government, once the most dependable source of research funding in the United States. Never has the need for additional sources of funding for biomedical research been so acute as it is now.

Notable Achievements of the VPC

• First in the world to identify a new protein specific for prostate cancer. Studies are currently under way to determine the diagnostic uses of this protein and its possible use as a vaccine to treat metastatic cancer.

• First in the world to identify a protein that can distinguish between benign and malignant prostate cancer tumors. Studies are being conducted using this protein to develop a diagnostic test.

• Monoclonal antibodies have identified two other potentially unique biomarkers on prostate tumor cells. These markers are being evaluated for clinical potential in diagnosis and therapy.

• Recently identified investigational drugs that may be useful in treating metastatic cancer.

• Participation in a national chemoprevention trial using the drug Proscar to determine if it can prevent or delay the onset of prostate cancer.
  
• Participation in the EDRN (Early Detection Research Network), a cooperative consortium established by the NCI (National Cancer Institute) to identify diagnostic, prognostic and predictive markers.

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