Cole Statement on NCI Director Ned Sharpless’ Planned Departure

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04), Vice Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, released the following statement after Dr. Norman E. "Ned" Sharpless announced that he will step down as Director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) on April 29.

"I am saddened to hear of the upcoming departure of Dr. Ned Sharpless from the National Cancer Institute," said Cole. "His advocacy for and leadership in cancer research will be dearly missed. Throughout the last several years, I have greatly enjoyed working with Dr. Sharpless, and I will miss him as an ally in this important and worthy endeavor.

"It was during his tenure and with his support that the Stephenson Cancer Center in Oklahoma became an NCI Center of Excellence. That designation has led to better care for Oklahoma cancer patients, as well as enhanced funding for Stephenson's already robust research program.

"While I will greatly miss working with Dr. Sharpless, I am encouraged that he will be temporarily replaced by my good friend Deputy NCI Director Doug Lowy. Like Dr. Sharpless, Dr. Lowy is also a firm friend of Stephenson and played an important role in its designation as an NCI Center of Excellence.

"I look forward to working across the aisle to further increase the funding for the NCI in the years ahead. Ending cancer as we know it is a worthy goal that has been and will remain one of my top priorities as legislator in the years ahead."

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