Newswise — The Association of American Cancer Institutes (AACI) celebrates the life and work of Senator Arlen Specter (D-PA). Despite his own battles with cancer, Senator Specter fought tirelessly through much of his 30-year Senate career on behalf of biomedical research and the special needs of cancer patients and their families.
Senator Specter had announced in August a recurrence of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. He died Sunday at age 82.
"Senator Specter was a dedicated friend to the cancer research community and he will be remembered for his unwavering support of programs that ease the burden of cancer on all Americans,” said AACI President William S. Dalton, PhD, MD.
Senator Specter received two AACI Distinguished Public Service Awards, in 2004 and 2009. The honors recognized his exceptional commitment to the U.S. biomedical research infrastructure, including his efforts to double the NIH budget and for the provision that he introduced to add $6.5 billion in economic stimulus funding for the National Institutes of Health in 2009.
With a Senate career running from 1981 to 2011, Senator Specter was Pennsylvania’s longest-serving Senator. The state counts six AACI members—Abramson Cancer Center, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson, Penn State Cancer Institute, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute and The Wistar Institute. ###
Representing 95 of the nation’s premier academic and free-standing cancer research centers, the Association of American Cancer Institutes is dedicated to promoting leading research institutions' efforts to eradicate cancer through a comprehensive and multidisciplinary program of cancer research, treatment, patient care, prevention, education and community outreach.
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