‘MOON SHOT’

Obama Calls on Biden to Find Cancer Cure

Announces new national effort.

President Barack Obama announced a national effort to find a cure for cancer during his final State of the Union speech Tuesday night. He also called on Vice President Joe Biden to lead the initiative. “Last year, Vice President Biden said that with a new moon shot, America can cure cancer,” he said. “Because he’s gone to the mat for all of us, on so many issues over the past 40 years, I’m putting Joe in charge of Mission Control.” Biden has pushed for an end to cancer after losing his oldest son, Beau, last year to brain cancer. Just hours before the address, a group of biotech companies, drug makers, doctors, and researchers announced a coalition called the Cancer MoonShot2020, which references Biden’s speech last October when he pledged a “moon shot” to end cancer.