The Directors: Mark Evers and Steven Libutti on riding out a tempest—and maintaining research momentum

As oncology braces for funding, Medicaid cuts, two directors tell young investigators not to panic.

“I don't think any good cancer center director would be worth their weight in salt if they weren't worried about something at night,” said Mark Evers, director of Markey Cancer Center.

Speaking on The Cancer Letter Podcast, Evers and Steven Libutti, the William N. Hait Director of Rutgers Cancer Institute, shared overlapping concerns about the latest headlines coming from Washington—particularly the morale of junior faculty and the potential impact of Medicaid cuts.

“In Kentucky, we've done, I think, a fantastic job with Medicaid expansion, and that's allowed many of our patients or many of our population, particularly in Eastern Appalachia and Kentucky, to have insurance and to get their cancer screenings, and I worry about that going forward,” Evers said. “I worry that we're going to see a drop-off in that.”

Libutti echoes this concern. 

“I think if there was one area that keeps me up at night as a state institution at Rutgers, we are reliant on state support for our mission and our program,” Libutti said. “And in New Jersey, the state is very reliant on Medicaid funds that help to support critically important programs that allow for the state to help support our mission.

“And so, I'd say if there was one thing in the uncertainty column right now, it's how that's all going to land and play out.”

Read the full transcript at https://cancerletter.com/podcastc/20250718_1/