EGRP News Flash - June 9, 2009
Program Announcements Re-issued for Studies of Energy Balance and Cancer
The National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Epidemiology and Genetics Research Program (EGRP) is co-sponsoring two re-issued Program Announcements (PAs) for Studies of Energy Balance and Cancer. These funding opportunities use the Research Project (R01) and Exploratory/Developmental (R21) grant mechanisms.
The PAs invite grant applications for studies that focus on research to define factors affecting energy balance and to define mechanisms influencing cancer risk, prognosis, and quality of life. Studies may range from new analyses of existing datasets to additional collection of data and biological specimens in ongoing investigations. The knowledge gained is anticipated to provide additional information to better understand the relationships among energy balance, cancer risk, and prognosis.
Examples of the types of research topics and approaches that would be appropriate for these PAs include, but are not limited to:
- Hypothesis-based analyses of stored biological samples (e.g., blood, urine, fat aspirates, or exfoliated cells) from participants in existing studies for assessment of biologic markers that may be related to energy balance measures and cancer risk and prognosis, such as sex-hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), insulin-like growth factors (IGF), lipids, and cytokines linked with repeated measures of diet, physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness, and anthropometrics;
- Analyses of fat aspirates from participants enrolled in studies to evaluate the environmental and genetic determinants of cancer that may be etiologically associated with body fat distribution patterns and diet and physical activity measures;
- Collection and analyses of biological samples from cancer survivors for linkage with questionnaire data to test hypotheses related to energy balance;
- Collection and hypothesis-based analyses of additional information related to energy balance, such as diet, cardiorespiratory fitness, sedentary behavior, and physical activity, in ongoing cancer therapy trials of adults, children, and/or adolescents to determine if there is a relationship between obesity and long-term survival, or between obesity and quality of life; and
- Collection and hypothesis-based analyses of biological specimens from participants in epidemiologic studies for linkage with questionnaire data on medication use, especially those known to be associated with weight gain, that could be related to energy balance and cancer risk and prognosis.
Because the nature and scope of the proposed research will vary from application to application, it is anticipated that the size and duration of each award will also vary. Although the financial plans of the NIH Institutes and Centers provide support for this program, awards pursuant to these PAs are contingent upon the availability of funds and the submission of a sufficient number of meritorious applications.
These PAs are co-sponsored with the Office of Cancer Survivorship (OCS), which also is in the Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences (DCCPS), and NCI's Division of Cancer Prevention (DCP).
Scientific inquiries related to EGRP may be directed to Somdat Mahabir, Ph.D., M.P.H., Program Director, Modifiable Risk Factors Branch; e-mail: Mahabir@mail.nih.gov. Please refer to the PAs for the other scientific contacts.
- Access the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts: PA-09-148 (R01)
and PA-09-149 (R21).