Epidemiology and Genetics Research Program Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences August 14, 1998

Communication to Grantees

From G. Iris Obrams, M.D., Ph.D.
Associate Director
Epidemiology and Genetics Research Program

Thank you for the feedback we received to our first e-mail newsletter communication in May. We'll continue to look for information that may be of interest to you. I'm pleased to report in this communication that the Epidemiology and Genetics Program (EGP) is presently sponsoring three Requests for Applications (RFAs) on: regional variations in breast cancer rates in the United States; hepatitis C and its natural history, pathogenesis, therapy, and prevention; and interdisciplinary studies in the genetic epidemiology of cancer. There is also a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a geographic information system to support the Long Island Breast Cancer Study Project. You'll find more information about the RFAs, RFP, Program Announcements (PA) and other notes of interest below.

We are trying to keep the news items short to minimize any problems with compatibility among e-mail systems. If you have problems receiving this communication, please contact our offices at: 301-496-9600; e-mail: rm78q@nih.gov, and provide your fax number so that we can get the information to you while we try and determine the problem. Please keep your EGP Program Director posted with your e-mail address or other contact information changes.

One more modern technology caution: Wherever possible, we've inserted the exact Web URL for the RFAs, RFPs, and PAs. However, if you have difficulty accessing the documents, please try the main Web page, and locate the document of interest from there. Sometimes the Web site is undergoing work, and we've found that sometimes we cannot temporarily access a document directly.

In this issue of the newsletter is information about:

1. Three Requests for Applications (RFAs) and One Request for Proposals (RFP) Issued
2. Program Announcements Presently Sponsored
3. Cancer Genetics Network and Informatics and Technology Group Awards Announced
4. EGP Program Directors and Their Research Program Areas Listed
5. Program Directors Available at Upcoming Conferences
6. NIH Positions for Scientific Review Administrators (SRAs) in Epidemiology Advertised
7. NIH Web Site Offers Information on Funding Opportunities and Research Activities

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1. Three Requests for Applications (RFA) and One Request for Proposals (RFP) Issued .

EGP is currently sponsoring or co-sponsoring three RFAs and one RFP to stimulate cancer epidemiology and genetics research. Investigators are invited to submit applications, and to consult with the Program Directors about their ideas on:

* Regional Variation in Breast Cancer Rates in the United States (RFA) - Applications are due Aug. 25, 1998; Letters of Intent were due, June 30, 1998. For programmatic inquiries, contact Dr. Kumiko Iwamoto; telephone: 301-496-9600; fax: 301-402-4279; e-mail: ki6n@nih.gov. The RFA is located at http://www.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-CA-98-017.html.

* Hepatitis C: Natural History, Pathogenesis, Therapy, and Prevention (RFA) - Applications are due Nov. 13, 1998; Letters of Intent are due Oct. 13, 1998. Programmatic inquiries may be directed to Dr. Sandra Melnick; telephone: 301-435-4914; fax: 301-402-4279; e-mail: sm33k@nih.gov. The RFA is located at http://www.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-DK-98-017.html.

* Interdisciplinary Studies in the Genetic Epidemiology of Cancer (RFA) - Applications are due Nov. 17, 1998; Letters of Intent are due Oct. 20, 1998. Direct programmatic inquiries to Dr. Daniela Seminara; telephone: (301) 496-9600; fax: (301) 402-4279; e-mail: ds79k@nih.gov. The RFA is located at http://www.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-CA-98-018.html.

* Health-Related Geographic Information System to Support Long Island Breast Cancer Study Project (RFP) - Applications are due Aug. 28, 1998. The RFP can be accessed at http://rcb.nci.nih.gov/rfp.htm. (NO2-PC-85074-39. Issue date: May 1, 1998.) Contact Ms.Theresa Shroff, Contracting Officer; telephone: 301-435-3796; fax: 301-402-8579; e-mail: ts144t@nih.gov.

2. Program Announcements Presently Sponsored

EGP continues to sponsor the following Program Announcements, with no additions or deletions to the list since the May 1998 e-mail broadcast to you. They are:

* Clinical Epidemiologic Studies in Hereditary Breast/Ovarian Cancer (PA-97-109). Contact: Dr. Susan Nayfield; phone: 301-496-9600; fax: 301-435-5477; e-mail: sn15c@nih.gov. The Program Announcement is available at http://www.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-97-109.html.

* Cancer Survivorship Studies in Established Epidemiologic Cohorts (PA-98-027). Contact: Dr. Susan Nayfield. The Program Announcement is available at http://www.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-98-027.html.

* Diet, Lifestyle, and Cancer in U.S. Populations (PA-98-028). Contact: Dr. A.R. (Joe) Patel; phone: 301-496-9600; fax: 301-402-4279; e-mail: ap39f@nih.gov. The Program Announcement is available at http://www.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-98-028.html.

* Epidemiology of Lung Cancer: Interdisciplinary Studies (PA-96-008). Contact: Dr. A.R. (Joe) Patel. The Program Announcement is available at http://www.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-96-008.html.

* Molecular Epidemiology of Prostate Carcinogenesis (PA-95-084). Contact: Dr. Kumiko Iwamoto; phone: 301-496-9600; fax: 301-402-4279; e-mail: cj24t@nih.gov. The Program Announcement is available at http://www.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-95-084.html.

* Epidemiology of AIDS/Retroviral-Associated Cancers (PA-97-057). Contact: Dr. Sandra Melnick; phone: 301-435-4914; fax: 301-402-4279; e-mail: sm33k@nih.gov. The Program Announcement is available at http://www.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-97-057.html.

* HIV Pathogenesis in Women's Interagency HIV Study (PA-97-105). Contact: Dr. Sandra Melnick. The Program Announcement is available at http://www.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-97-105.html.

* Geographic Information Systems in Environmental Health Sciences (PA-95-032). Contact: Mr. Burdette Erickson; phone: 301-496-9600; fax: 301-402-4279; e-mail: cj24t@nih.gov. The Program Announcement is located at http://www.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-95-032.html.

* Interdisciplinary Training in Genetic Epidemiology of Cancer (PA-97-071). Contact: Dr. Daniela Seminara; phone: 301-496-9600; fax: 301-435-5477; e-mail: cj24t@nih.gov. The Program Announcement is available at http://www.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-97-071.html.

* Small Grants Program for Cancer Epidemiology (PAR-98-023). Contact: Dr. A.R. (Joe) Patel. The Program Announcement is located at http://www.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-98-023.html.

* Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer Research (STTR) Programs. Contact: Mr. Burdette Erickson. Detailed information on the two programs is available at http://www.nih.gov/grants/funding/sbir.htm.

3. Cancer Genetics Network and Informatics and Technology Group Awards Announced

This month, NCI made five awards to research institutions to establish Cancer Genetics Network (CGN) centers and three awards for the supporting Informatics and Information Technology Group. Some additional center awards are expected to be made shortly. The cooperative agreements for the CGN are with: Dr. Hoda Anton-Culver, University of California, Irvine; Dr. Gloria Petersen, Johns Hopkins University; Dr. J. Dirk Iglehard, Duke University; Dr. Caryn Lerman, Georgetown University Lombardi Cancer Center; and Dr. Ray White, University of Utah. The awards for the Informatics and Information Technology Group are to: Dr. Hoda Anton-Culver, University of California, Irvine; Dr. Diane Finkelstein, Massachusetts General Hospital; and Dr. Prakash Nadkarni, Yale Center for Medical Informatics.

The network will provide a new national resource to support collaborative investigations into the genetic basis of cancer susceptibility, integrate this new knowledge into medical practice, and address the psychosocial, ethical, legal, and public health issues associated with inherited susceptibility to cancer.

"The Cancer Genetics Network will develop scientific resources and provide access to study populations not currently available to most individual cancer genetics programs," said Richard D. Klausner, M.D., NCI Director. "This new research infrastructure will position us to capitalize on the remarkable advances taking place in understanding hereditary susceptibility to cancer."

Barbara K. Rimer, Dr.P.H., DCCPS Director, said, "The aim is to create a multi-center and interdisciplinary collaborative structure that will enable the participating institutions to draw upon each other, and to have access to research. The result will be perhaps the largest virtual collaboratory dedicated to the study of cancer genetics."

A fact sheet describing the CGN is available from EGP's offices. As soon as all awards have been made, a press statement will appear on NCI's Web site at http://rex.nci.nih.gov, click on "Mass Media," and then on "Press Releases."

4. EGP Program Directors and Their Research Program Areas Listed

EGP Progam Directors are available to discuss with you ideas for research proposals and to offer guidance on the funding application process. The program areas and contacts are:

* Infectious Disease and AIDS-Malignancy Epidemiology Programs - Dr. Sandra Melnick, (301) 435-4914; e-mail: sm33k@nih.gov;

* Molecular/Environmental Epidemiology Program - Dr. Kumiko Iwamoto, (301) 496-9600; e-mail: ki6n@nih.gov;

* Clinical Epidemiology Program - Dr. Susan Nayfield (301) 496-9600; e-mail: sn15c@nih.gov; Cancer Genetics Network - Dr. Nayfield, and Dr. James Hanson, 301-496-9600; e-mail: jh350g@nih.gov;

* Genetic Epidemiology Program, and Cooperative Family Registries for Breast and Colon Cancer Studies - Dr. Daniela Seminara, (301) 496-9600; e-mail: ds79k@nih.gov;

* Diet, Nutrition, and Cancer Program - Dr. A.R. (Joe) Patel, (301) 496-9600; e-mail: ap39f@nih.gov; and

* Biometry, Geographic Information Systems as Tools in Cancer Epidemiology, and Small Business Innovation Research and Technology Transfer Research Programs - Mr. Burdette Erickson, (301) 496-9600; E-mail: be13u@nih.gov.

5. EGP Program Directors Available at Upcoming Conferences

Several EGP Program Directors will be attending scientific conferences in the next few weeks. They may be reached through the conferences' message services.

* Annual Conference of the International Association of Cancer Registries (IACR), Sheraton Colony Square, Atlanta, Aug. 17-19, 1998 - Dr. Daniela Seminara and Dr. Susan Nayfield; and

* Hepatitis C Look-Back Meeting, Hyatt Regency, O'Hare Airport, Chicago, Aug. 25-26 - Dr. Sandra Melnick.

6. NIH Positions Open for Scientific Review Administrators (SRAs) in Epidemiology

The Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Initial Review Group of NIH's Center for Scientific Review is seeking candidates for positions as Scientific Review Administrators (SRAs) in epidemiology. CSR conducts the scientific peer review of 70 percent of the approximately 40,000 applications sent to NIH each year. Over 600 applications per year focus on epidemiologic studies. For details on qualifications, see the advertisement in The Epidemiology Monitor, July 1998, p. 16, or contact Dr. Paul Strudler. The deadline to send a curriculum vitae or resume is Sept. 30, 1998 to Dr. Strudler, Rockledge Bldg. II, Rm. 41 MSC 78116, 6701 Rockledge Dr., Bethesda, MD 20817; telephone: (301) 435-1716; fax: (301) 480-2644; e-mail: strudlep@drg.nih.gov.

7. NIH Web Site Offers Information on Funding Opportunities and Research Activities

The NIH Web site continues to improve and offer investigators more and easier access to information. Here are some sources of information that may be useful to you:

* The Computer Retrieval of Information on Scientific Projects (CRISP) database. CRISP moved to the Web last month. The searchable database includes information about NIH-funded biomedical research projects conducted at universities, hospitals, and other research institutions. The user can research scientific concepts, emerging trends and techniques, or identify specific projects and/or investigators. Access to CRISP records dating back to 1972 is provided. There is also a restricted area of this Web site now in pilot testing that is accessible only to Federal Demonstration Partnership (FDP) institutions. This area includes information on the status of pending grant applications and awards. Your institution may be a partner, and you may have access through your institutional contact. Participating institutions and contacts are listed at http://www.dml.georgetown.edu/fdp/members.html#CA. CRISP and the restricted areas in pilot testing are located at http://www-commons.dcrt.nih.gov.

* The NIH Grants and Contracts Web pages. These sites provide access to Notices, RFAs, RFPs, and PAs issued by the Institutes. The Web location is http://www.nih.gov/grants/ . From here, you can access the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts. You can have the table of contents to the NIH Guide delivered to you via e-mail every week via a LISTSERV. The table of contents includes links to readily access the documents listed. To subscribe to the LISTSERV, send an e-mail message, and in the first line of the message (not in the "Subject" line), provide the following information: subscribe NIHTOC-L your name (substitute for "your name" the name you wish to use). Information about the LISTSERV is available at http://www.nih.gov/grants/guide/listserv.htm.