Responsible biology, aging populations and the 50th anniversary of the “War on Cancer”

The 50th Anniversary of the National Cancer Act of 1971 is the opportune time to critically reflect on the determinates of what the philosopher of science Philip Kitcher calls “responsible biology”. Responsible biology entails that scientists have an obligation to reflect on the ends, and not just the means, of scientific research and to conceive of themselves as artisans working for the public good. Taking stock of the successes and limits of the half a century “war on cancer” reveals the importance of attending to the most significant risk factor for cancer and other chronic diseases- aging itself. The case is made for considering the biology of aging, and the aspiration to slow the rate of biological aging, as critical components of responsible biology in an aging world. As growing numbers of humans survive into late life, the primacy the goal of disease elimination occupies within biomedical research must be revised, and greater effort should be directed towards the goal of increasing the human healthspan and delaying and compressing disease, frailty and disability in late life.