Epidemiology and Genetics Research Program Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences April 3, 2001

News Flash

Round Two of Applications Sought for Geographic-based Research in Cancer Control and Epidemiology

Applications are invited once again that use the Atlas of Cancer Mortality in the United States, 1950-1994 as a catalyst for research in cancer etiology and control. Two Program Announcements (PAS) were issued last year that invited investigator-initiated R01 and R03 (small grant) applications, and offered two dates for receipt of applications. The second and final opportunity to apply for research funding under these PASs is approaching: Letters of intent are due June 14, and applications are due July 19, 2001.

Further epidemiologic research is needed to identify the reasons for the geographic variation of specific cancers, including the clustering of areas with high or low incidence and/or mortality rates. In addition, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) provide new tools to explore these patterns and for use by cancer surveillance and control programs.

NCI wishes to stimulate research in three areas to encourage researchers to use the Atlas to speed the process of scientific discovery and application. These areas are: (1) epidemiologic research to study determinants of the geographic patterns uncovered by the Atlas, (2) use of GIS for cancer research in response to the Atlas, and (3) methodologic GIS research needed to accomplish such research. The Atlas is available at http://www3.cancer.gov/atlasplus/.

For more information, refer to the PASs that appeared in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, July 14, 2000: PAS-00-120.html, and PAS-00-121.html. NCI has set aside about $3 million in total costs, for the PASs combined, for the first year of funding this second round of applications, subject to availability of funds.

Programmatic inquiries may be directed to Burdette (Bud) Erickson, Jr., M.Sc., Analytic Epidemiology Research Branch (AERB), Epidemiology and Genetics Research Program (EGRP), Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences (DCCPS); e-mail: berickson@mail.nih.gov; tel: (301) 435-4913; fax: (301) 402-4279.