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Epidemiology and Genetics Research Program
Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences
February 24, 2006


EGRP BULLETIN
From the Office of
Edward Trapido, Sc.D., Associate Director
Epidemiology and Genetics Research Program
Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences
National Cancer Institute

This News Flash brings you news about:

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EGRP and DCCPS Will Be At ASPO Conference

Bob CroyleEd TrapidoStaff from the Epidemiology and Genetics Research Program (EGRP) along with other members of NCI's Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences (DCCPS) will be attending the American Society of Preventive Oncology annual meeting February 26-28, at the Bethesda Hyatt, Bethesda, Md.  If you are attending, drop by and visit our tabletop display where we'll have information materials from EGRP and other components of DCCPS.  

Among staff attending, DCCPS Division Director Robert (Bob) Croyle, Ph.D., will provide introductory remarks on NCI research priorities and funding during the NCI R25/K07 session on Sunday, February 26 (an ASPO by-invitation meeting).  He will also be joining a discussion with the associate directors for Cancer Prevention and Control at 4:30 – 6:00 p.m.

From EGRP, Associate Director Ed Trapido, Sc.D., will be attending ASPO, as will Shannon Lemrow, Ph.D., Program Director, and Shannon Lynch, M.P.H., a Cancer Research Training Award (CRTA) employee.  Dr. Lemrow is co-chair of the Study Group Breakfast I:  Molecular Epidemiology discussion of appropriate access and bioinformatics systems for population science biorepositories, with Peter Shields, M.D., Ph.D., Georgetown University Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, scheduled for Monday, February 27.  (See related article below)

At the Career Development Program on Sunday, two staff from DCCPS' Behavioral Research Program (BRP) will be facilitators, Michael (Mike) Stefanek, Ph.D., Chief, Basic and Biobehavioral Research Branch, and Veronica Chollette, M.S., R.N., Program Director, Applied Research Screening Branch.  (Registration by advance application to ASPO.)

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NCI To Propose Guidelines for Establishing and Maintaining Biorepositories

Shannon LemrowNCI has embarked on a coordinated effort to develop a common biorepository infrastructure that promotes resource sharing and team science, and ensures availability of the best possible quality specimens. The draft guidelines will be published this year in the Federal Register inviting comment from the research community. EGRP will post a notice of its availability on its Web site.  Two years ago, NCI surveyed its intramural and extramural research programs and identified 125 large-scale biorepositories.  The study revealed substantial heterogeneity in biorepository management practices and that the NCI-supported biorepositories are not optimized or coordinated to optimize resource value.

Last year, the internal NCI Biorepository Coordinating Committee (BCC) was created to address best practices for establishing and maintaining biorepositories that support cancer research. It held two workshops soliciting input from the research community about the ethical, legal, and policy issues surrounding biorepositories; how to best collect, process, and store biospecimens depending on their use; quality assurance and quality control protocols; bioinformatics systems to share biospecimens and their associated data; and how scientific access to the biospecimens and their associated data should be determined.

The BCC is chaired by Anna Barker, Ph.D., NCI Deputy Director for Advanced Technologies and Strategic Partnerships, and Carolyn Compton, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the newly established NCI Office of Biorepositories and Biospecimen Research (OBBR). EGRP Program Directors Shannon Lemrow, Ph.D. (pictured), and Carol Kasten,M.D., are members of the committee. 

The BCC reported to the National Cancer Advisory Board (NCAB) last fall and was asked to prepare draft guidelines on best practices for review by the research community.  The report, "First-Generation Guidelines for NCI-Supported Biorepositories,"may be accessed from OBBR's Web site at biospecimens.cancer.gov; choose "NCI & Biorepositories.

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Workshop Summary on Understudied Rare Cancers Available

Banner from Understudied Rare Cancers WorkshopThe summary from The 2nd NCI Epidemiology Leadership Workshop: Understudied Rare Cancers is available now on EGRP's Web site along with the slides of the presenters. Last fall in Boston, investigators funded by EGRP to conduct research on understudied rare cancers were invited to meet and identify gaps in epidemiologic and genetic research on the cancers, and to discuss ways to foster collaborations and partnerships among basic, clinical, and population scientists within the extramural and intramural communities. The workshop was sponsored by EGRP and NIH's Office of Rare Diseases.

"The four major cancers, lung, breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer, comprise the lion's share of our portfolio, but there are other cancers—some of them highly lethal—that need more study," said Ed Trapido, Sc.D., EGRP Associate Director. "We sought the help of our investigators to identify the gaps and stumbling blocks and suggest new approaches to move forward epidemiologic research on these diseases."

magnifying glassThe workshop focused on cancers of the brain, eye, oral cavity, pharynx, head, neck, endometrium, ovary, testis, digestive and urinary systems, larynx, bones, joints, soft tissues, thyroid and other cancers of the endocrine systems, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, leukemia, myeloma, and Kaposi's sarcoma. Pancreatic cancer was excluded because it is addressed in a trans-NCI PA that EGRP is cosponsoring (PA for Pilot Studies on Pancreatic Cancer [PA 05-116]).

Four major themes emerged from the workshop discussions. The investigators expressed the need for: (1) improvements to the review process for rare cancer proposals, (2) targeted funding for rare cancers, (3) suggestions for promoting formation of consortia, and (4) exploration of the potential usefulness of greater involvement of cancer registries in research. EGRP plans to use the information gathered from the workshop to prioritize funding mechanisms, develop new initiatives, and to discuss review issues with appropriate NIH staff.

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Timeline Shifts to 2007 for R01 Transition to Electronic Submission of Applications

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has adjusted the implementation timeline for electronic application submission to provide an additional four months (one submission round) before the transition of the traditional research grant (R01) mechanism and all subsequent mechanisms. The new transition date for R01/U01s is February 1, 2007 (non-AIDS applications) and May 1, 2007 (AIDS applications).

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NIH Begins New Pathway to Independence Award for Postdoctoral Scientists

Golden Gate BridgeThe NIH Pathway to Independence Award is an innovative new program that will provide an opportunity for promising postdoctoral scientists to receive both mentored and independent research support from the same award. NIH plans to issue between 150 and 200 awards for this program in the first year, and for each of the next 5 years, amounting to about $390 million. The actual number and distribution of awards made by the NIH Institutes and Centers will depend upon the quality of the applications received and the results of the scientific peer-review process.

This program is designed to facilitate investigators in receiving R01 awards earlier in their research careers. Awards will provide up to 5 years of support consisting of two phases. The initial phase will provide 1–2 years of mentored support for highly promising postdoctoral research scientists. This phase will be followed by up to 3 years of independent support contingent on securing an independent research position.

Recipients will be expected to compete successfully for independent R01 support from NIH during the career transition award period. The award is limited to postdoctoral trainees who propose research relevant to the mission of one or more of the participating NIH Institutes and Centers. NCI is a participant.

The initial application for the mentored phase may be submitted on behalf of the candidate (Principal Investigator) by any domestic for-profit or non-profit institution/organization such as universities, colleges, hospitals and laboratories, and eligible agencies of the Federal government, including NIH intramural laboratories. Foreign institutions are not eligible to apply.

Eligible Principal Investigators include outstanding postdoctoral candidates who have terminal clinical or research doctorates (including Ph.D., M.D., D.O., D.C., N.D., D.D.S., D.V.M., Sc.D., D.N.S., or equivalent doctoral degrees) who have no more than 5 years of postdoctoral research training at the time of initial application or resubmission(s).

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NIH Pilots Multiple Principal Investigators on Team Science Grants

Beginning in May 2006, NIH will begin implementing a Federal-wide policy that will allow formally more than one Principal Investigator (PI) on individual research awards. This change, announced in the NIH Guide, presents a new and important opportunity for investigators seeking support for projects or activities that clearly require a "team science" approach and do not fit the single-PI model. The multiple-PI model is to supplement, and not to replace, the traditional single PI model. The overarching goal is to encourage collaboration among equals when that is the most appropriate way to address a scientific problem.

NIH will make the multiple-PI option available for applications submitted in response to a selected group of RFAs and PAs with May–June 2006 receipt dates. Additional initiatives are likely to be selected to pilot the option in the October time frame. Based on experience from these pilot initiatives, the multiple-PI option is expected to become available for most investigator-initiated research grant mechanisms submitted for January 2007 and later application receipt dates.

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REMINDER: Advance Notice Required to Submit Large Budget Applications

NIH requires grant applicants with a requested budget of $500,000 or more in direct costs in any year to contact the appropriate program staff member before submitting applications to the NIH Center for Scientific Review (CSR) for peer review. The Notice in the NIH Guide states that approval must be sought 6 weeks prior to submitting the grant. However, approval for NCI epidemiology applications must be sought at least 8 weeks prior to submission to CSR to complete the internal processing by the deadline.

Investigators must follow this policy, speak to the appropriate Program Director, and respond to requests for information. If advance notice about the proposed study and budget is not received, applications will be returned, causing a delay in submission and review of one round. This policy applies to new, competing continuation, competing supplement, and amended/revised applications. The policy does not apply to applications submitted in response to RFAs or in response to other announcements that include specific budgetary limits.

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NCI's New Strategic Plan for Leading the Nation

Cover of NCI's Strategic PlanTHE NCI STRATEGIC PLAN FOR LEADING THE NATION, newly in print this month, will serve as a reference and guide for the development of operational-level NCI plans and an organizer for measuring and reporting progress. NCI's strategic objectives are to understand the causes and mechanisms of cancer; accelerate progress in cancer prevention; improve early detection and diagnosis; develop effective and efficient treatments; understand the factors that influence cancer outcomes; improve the quality of cancer care; improve the quality of life for cancer patients, survivors, and their families; and overcome cancer health disparities.


Cover of The Nation's Investment in CAncer ResearchNCI will continue to publish THE NATION'S INVESTMENT IN CANCER RESEARCH as its annual operational plan and budget where it outlines milestones for the fiscal year and provides more specificity as to how it will carry out the objectives described in the NCI Strategic Plan.

THE NATION'S INVESTMENT IN CANCER RESEARCH: A PLAN AND BUDGET PROPOSAL FOR FISCAL YEAR 2007 describes current and future activities encompassing three key components for a strong cancer research enterprise: capitalizing on powerful scientific opportunities, targeting specific public health needs, and continuing to build a sound research infrastructure and capacity for the future.

The report describes the major components of the NCI research portfolio, infrastructure, and resources. It also details five proposed high-impact strategic investments for 2007 and how they will improve patient care and public health. These investments will foster integration within and among NCI-designated Cancer Centers, respond to recommendations for re-engineering cancer clinical trials, link cancer science and technology, advance and support medical informatics and health information systems, and integrate the disciplines and cultures in cancer science. The FY 2007 budget request comprises the increase required to maintain the present level of operations or "current services," plus the increases required for the five new strategic investments.

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Last Updated: 27 Oct 2009

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