Iowa faces the nation’s worst cancer crisis, and now federal funding cuts are shaking up promising research. The Trump administration has slashed over $33 million in cancer research funding at the University of Iowa alone.
On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith, Amie Rivers, and Avery Staker explore how these cuts are devastating cancer research when Iowa needs it most.
Toss some bags at Iowa DOGE’s pension grab… Josh Turek’s Senate bid… And how cancer research cuts are shutting down labs across Iowa…
Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line. This podcast is produced by me and edited by Rebecca Steinberg. Our music is by Avery Mossman and our show art is from Desirée Tapia.
*SHOW RUNDOWN:*
00:00 Iowa’s Cancer Crisis Gets Worse with Funding Cuts
01:30 The “Golden Halo”: When Patients Invent Their Own Cures
03:30 $33 Million Cut from University of Iowa Cancer Research
04:00 Only 4% of New Cancer Research Proposals Get Funded
05:30 Why Private Funding Can’t Replace Public Research
07:30 Young Researchers Forced Out of Cancer Research
08:00 Eli Lilly Recruiting Laid-Off Government Researchers
08:30 Why Cancer Can’t Wait for Budget Convenience
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