Recently, I joined pancreatic cancer researchers and the president and CEO of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, Julie Fleshman, on Capitol Hill to meet with members of Congress, including Sens. Shelley Moore Capito and Jim Justice, both R-W.Va.

As an M.D./Ph.D candidate at the West Virginia University School of Medicine, my trip to Capitol Hill put my research into perspective and reminded me why I chose this career path. I want to make a difference in the lives of cancer patients. It also gave me the opportunity to deliver an important message to Congress: federal investment in cancer research saves lives.

Cancer is the nation’s No. 2 killer and will claim the lives of over 600,000 Americans in 2025, which is roughly 1,700 deaths per day. I am grateful to Capito and her leadership a

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