The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is the largest, oldest, and arguably the most influential of the 27 institutes and centers of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). NCI was established as the [Page 924]principal agency for cancer research in the United States by the National Cancer Acts of 1937 and 1971 (known popularly as the “war against cancer”). NCI is charged with coordinating the National Cancer Program action plan for eliminating cancer in the United States by confronting the threat of cancer; disseminating relevant information about cancer research, cancer prevention, and cancer treatment; and evaluating the use of state-of-the-art cancer treatments.

NCI receives funds through both the NIH and a direct bypass budget from the U.S. Congress. These funds support research at NCI's headquarters in Bethesda, ...