BRAIN Act
Sponsored By: Representative Fitzpatrick
Introduced
Summary
Boosts brain tumor research and broadens patient access to clinical trials. It requires public reporting of NIH-funded brain tumor biospecimen collections, funds new multi-institutional research networks for glioblastoma and cellular immunotherapies, launches a national awareness and biomarker-testing campaign, supports survivorship pilot programs, and directs FDA guidance to reduce trial exclusions.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
More NIH funding for brain tumor cures
If enacted, NIH would fund a Glioblastoma Therapeutics Network to move new treatments into early trials. It would authorize $50 million each year from 2026 to 2030, available until spent. NIH would also fund team science on brain tumor cellular therapy, including CAR-T, at $10 million per year. Existing glioblastoma efforts would transition into this new network.
FDA guidance to include more patients
FDA would issue guidance within one year to reduce unnecessary exclusion of brain tumor and rare cancer patients from trials for other diseases. The guidance would help sponsors and researchers include these patients safely.
National push on cancer trials and testing
HHS would run a national campaign on cancer clinical trials and biomarker testing. It would receive $10 million total for 2026–2030. Materials, announcements, and outreach would target patients, caregivers, providers, and higher-risk and rural groups. HHS would also fund demonstration projects to test outreach methods and involve doctors, nurses, hospitals, and payers.
Pilot programs for brain tumor survivors
NIH would fund pilot programs to improve follow-up and care for adult and child brain tumor survivors. Awards could support care coordination, psychosocial supports, and tools to share treatment summaries. Eligible groups include medical schools, children’s hospitals, cancer centers, and community clinics. The program would authorize $5 million each year from 2026 to 2030.
New NIH list of brain tumor specimens
NIH would post a public, searchable list of NIH-funded brain tumor biospecimen collections. Existing collections would need to report within 180 days; new ones within 60 days. Biospecimens include brain tumor tissue, cerebrospinal fluid, and similar samples. NIH could withhold funds for repeated or egregious failures to report.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Fitzpatrick
PA • R
Cosponsors
Trahan
MA • D
Sponsored 4/9/2025
Joyce (PA)
PA • R
Sponsored 4/9/2025
Schrier
WA • D
Sponsored 4/9/2025
Auchincloss
MA • D
Sponsored 4/24/2025
Lieu
CA • D
Sponsored 4/24/2025
Davids (KS)
KS • D
Sponsored 4/30/2025
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 5/6/2025
Jackson (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 5/7/2025
Carbajal
CA • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Tlaib
MI • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Lawler
NY • R
Sponsored 5/13/2025
McBride
DE • D
Sponsored 5/19/2025
Riley (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 5/19/2025
McBath
GA • D
Sponsored 5/19/2025
Elfreth
MD • D
Sponsored 5/21/2025
Stevens
MI • D
Sponsored 5/21/2025
Sorensen
IL • D
Sponsored 5/21/2025
Gottheimer
NJ • D
Sponsored 5/21/2025
DesJarlais
TN • R
Sponsored 6/2/2025
Budzinski
IL • D
Sponsored 6/3/2025
Kim
CA • R
Sponsored 6/3/2025
Vindman
VA • D
Sponsored 6/9/2025
Del. King-Hinds, Kimberlyn [R-MP-At Large]
MP • R
Sponsored 7/2/2025
Crow
CO • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Lee (PA)
PA • D
Sponsored 8/8/2025
Raskin
MD • D
Sponsored 8/22/2025
Thompson (CA)
CA • D
Sponsored 9/9/2025
Johnson (TX)
TX • D
Sponsored 9/10/2025
DelBene
WA • D
Sponsored 9/11/2025
Magaziner
RI • D
Sponsored 9/15/2025
Dingell
MI • D
Sponsored 9/15/2025
Pettersen
CO • D
Sponsored 9/15/2025
Soto
FL • D
Sponsored 9/15/2025
Bresnahan
PA • R
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Ross
NC • D
Sponsored 10/14/2025
Mullin
CA • D
Sponsored 10/31/2025
Clarke (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 11/4/2025
Keating
MA • D
Sponsored 11/4/2025
Castor (FL)
FL • D
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Latimer
NY • D
Sponsored 11/12/2025
Levin
CA • D
Sponsored 12/9/2025
Peters
CA • D
Sponsored 12/9/2025
Neguse
CO • D
Sponsored 12/18/2025
Van Orden
WI • R
Sponsored 3/5/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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