Epidemiology and Genetics Research Program
Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences
September 28, 2004
EGRP NEWS FLASH
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
Update on Funding Opportunities
- Research on Malignancies in AIDS and Acquired Immune Suppression (R21, R01)
- Studies of Energy Balance and Cancer in Humans (R01, R21, competitive supplements to existing NCI-funded grants)
- Exfoliated Cells, Bioactive Food Components, and Cancer (R01, R21, R03)
- Occupational Health and Safety Research (R01)
- Cohort Studies in Cancer Epidemiology (R01)
- Small Grants Program for Cancer Epidemiology (R03)
- Small Business Grants
Other Funding Opportunities Through the Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences (DCCPS)
- Obesity and the Built Environment (R01, R21)
- Transdisciplinary Research on Energetics
and Cancer (TREC) Centers
(U54) Coordinating Center (U01) - Improving Diet and Physical Activity Assessment (R01, R21)
- Testing Tobacco Products Promoted To Reduce Harm (R01, R21)
This News Flash is to update and review Program Announcements (PA) and Requests for Applications (RFA) sponsored by the Epidemiology and Genetics Research Program (EGRP) and other components of the Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences (DCCPS).
Last week, EGRP sponsored a workshop with grantees to identify barriers and gaps in cancer epidemiology related to tobacco, diet, and genes, and ways to facilitate research in these areas. We look forward to reporting to you on the workshop and about other EGRP activities soon.
- Research on Malignancies in AIDS and Acquired Immune Suppression
(R21, R01)
(The PA replaces PA-03-024, Molecular Epidemiology of Cancers Associated With Acquired Immunodeficiency.)This newly issued PA is to stimulate research that will improve our understanding of the biological basis of development and progression of cancer in the context of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), or acquired immune suppression not associated with HIV infection such as organ transplantation. The initiative encourages novel approaches to discovery and preclinical development of novel therapeutic agents and biomarkers for early diagnosis and monitoring of disease progression. Molecular epidemiologic studies of the role of chronic latent viruses and their interaction with one another or with environmental factors in the context of acquired immune suppression or HIV infection leading to the development of tumors or lesions with oncogenic potential are also of interest. It is anticipated that $2 million in total costs will be awarded in the first year to fund 8 to 12 applications. The PA is cosponsored with NCI's Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis (DCTD) and the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR).
Direct programmatic inquiries about molecular epidemiology studies to Sandra Melnick, Dr.P.H., Chief, Analytic Epidemiology Research Branch (AERB), EGRP; E-mail: melnicks@mail.nih.gov; or Vaurice Starks, B.S., AERB Program Director; E-mail: starksv@mail.nih.gov.
For further information, see the NIH Guide, PA-04-157.
- Studies of Energy Balance and Cancer in Humans (R01, R21, competitive
supplements to existing NCI-funded grants)
The PA invites investigator-initiated research applications to define factors affecting energy balance and mechanisms influencing cancer risk, prognosis, and quality of life. These studies may range from new analyses of existing datasets to additional collection of data and biological specimens in ongoing investigations. To be eligible for this PA, an applicant must have previously collected measures from human subjects on two or more of the following exposures: diet, physical activity, body composition, and/or related biomarkers (such as blood, urine, exfoliated cells, and/or tissue samples). The knowledge gained is anticipated to provide additional information to better understand the relationships among energy balance, cancer risk, and prognosis. The PA is cosponsored with the Office of Cancer Survivorship (OCS), DCCPS, and the Division of Cancer Prevention (DCP).
Direct programmatic inquiries to Virginia (Ginny) Hartmuller, Ph.D., R.D., AERB Program Director; E-mail: hartmulv@mail.nih.gov
For further information, see the NIH Guide, PA-04-124.
- Exfoliated Cells, Bioactive Food Components, and Cancer (R01,
R21, R03)
This PA is to encourage grants that focus on research to critically evaluate the use of exfoliated cells to monitor the physiological effects of dietary bioactive food components thought to be involved with cancer prevention. The objective is to encourage interdisciplinary collaborations between scientists engaged in research using exfoliated cells and those conducting nutrition research related to cancer prevention. This research will help determine the utility of exfoliated cells as a model system to monitor both the absorption and retention of bioactive food components and the concomitant alterations in genomic and epigenetic events that occur in intact cells.
Direct programmatic inquiries to Virginia (Ginny) Hartmuller, Ph.D., R.D., AERB Program Director; E-mail: hartmulv@mail.nih.gov.
For further information, see the NIH Guide PA-04-114.
- Occupational Health and Safety Research (R01)
The PA encourages development of knowledge that can be used in preventing occupational diseases and injuries and in better understanding their underlying pathophysiology. Of special interest to NCI is basic, applied, methodological, and statistical research that can advance cancer control activities, including surveillance, dissemination of public health information, and elucidation of susceptibility factors associated with cancer risk in individuals and population subgroups. NCI-relevant National Occupational Research Agenda priority areas include applicable research approaches and methods (e.g., exposure and risk assessment, biomonitoring and surveillance techniques, analysis of cancer risk factors, and characterization of possible carcinogens in mixed exposures). This PA is cosponsored with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and several Institutes of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Direct programmatic inquiries to Kumiko (Kumi) Iwamoto, M.D., Dr.P.H., AERB Program Director; E-mail: iwamotok@mail.nih.gov.
For further information, see the NIH Guide, PA-04-038.
- Cohort Studies in Cancer Epidemiology (R01)
This PAR announces special receipt dates for R01 grant applications from investigators who intend to initiate, competitively supplement, or competitively renew population-based epidemiologic or survivorship cohort studies of human cancers. Investigators using a linked R01 approach for funding of multicenter cohort studies must submit applications under this PAR if the sum total of the funding requests from all research sites is $500,000 or more in direct costs in any study year.
Due dates are:
Letters of intent: Jan. 2, 2005; new applications: Feb. 1, 2005
Letters of intent: Sept. 1, 2005; new applications: Oct. 1, 2005.Application receipt dates for competing continuations, competitive supplements, and revised applications are: March 1, 2005, and Nov. 1, 2005.
Direct programmatic inquiries to A.R. (Joe) Patel, Ph.D., AERB Program Director; E-mail: patelap@mail.nih.gov.
For further information, see the NIH Guide,
PAR-04-011, NOT-CA-04-021, and NOT-CA-04-001. - Small Grants Program for Cancer Epidemiology (R03)
This PAR invites applications relating to cancer epidemiology with a primary focus on etiologic cancer research. These are short-term awards intended to provide support for pilot projects, testing of new techniques, or development of innovative projects that could provide a basis for more extended research. (This PA will be reissued in FY 2005.)
Direct programmatic inquiries to Mukesh Verma, Ph.D., AERB Program Director; E-mail: vermam@mail.nih.gov.
For further information, see the NIH Guide, PAR-03-010.
- Small Business Grants
Small businesses may obtain support through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and the Small Business Technology Transfer Research (STTR) Programs. These programs are designed to support innovative research that has the potential for commercialization. The STTR Program encourages partnerships between small businesses and research institutions. Learn more about the Programs and view research topics of special interest to EGRP.
Direct programmatic inquiries to Jay Choudhry, M.S., EGRP Program Director; E-mail: choudhrj@mail.nih.gov.
Other Funding Opportunities Through the Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences (DCCPS)
- Obesity and the Built Environment (R01, R21)
This RFA is to support studies in two areas related to the built environment and obesity: 1) understanding the role of the built environment in causing/exacerbating obesity and related comorbidities, and 2) developing, implementing, and evaluating prevention/intervention strategies that influence parameters of the built environment in order to reduce the prevalence of overweight, obesity, and comorbidities. Because of the wide range of built environmental issues to be addressed and the diversity of communities, this RFA requires interdisciplinary partnerships. These teams must consist, at a minimum, of a scientist with expertise in health research (e.g., an epidemiologist, behavioral, or social scientist), a clinical specialist, and an expert on planning, design, or transportation. The RFA is cosponsored with the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), CDC, and other NIH components.
Letters of intent are due November 17, 2004; applications are due December 17, 2004.
Direct programmatic inquiries to Louise Masse, Ph.D., Program Director, Health Promotion Research Branch (HPRB), Behavioral Research Program (BRP), DCCPS; E-mail: massel@mail.nih.gov.
For further information, see the NIH Guide, RFA-ES-04-003.
- Transdisciplinary Research on Energetics and Cancer (TREC) Centers
(U54) Coordinating Center (U01)Two RFAs invite applications to establish Transdisciplinary Research on Energetics and Cancer (TREC) Centers in nutrition, energetics, energy balance, and physical activity, and a Coordinating Center. Energetics is the study of the flow and transformation of energy through living systems. The TREC Centers will involve scientists from multiple disciplines and will encompass projects spanning the biology and genetics of behavioral, sociocultural, and environmental influences on nutrition, physical activity, weight, energy balance, and energetics.
They will focus on two great challenges in energetics/energy balance and cancer: 1) to enhance our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the association between energy balance and carcinogenesis across the cancer continuum from causation and prevention through survival; and 2) to develop effective innovative approaches with broad population impact at the social-environmental and policy levels for prevention of obesity, with particular emphasis on children and critical time periods during adulthood where weight gain is likely to occur, such as during smoking cessation, cancer treatment, and major life transitions involving work or family.
The Coordinating Center's primary mission is to foster collaborations among transdisciplinary teams of scientists, facilitate data analyses, examine common research questions across sites, coordinate and facilitate semiannual meetings of the TREC Centers, develop training modules, and evaluate progress with the goal of accelerating progress toward reducing cancer incidence, morbidity, and mortality associated with obesity, low levels of physical activity, and poor diet.
Letters of intent are due October 15, 2004; applications are due November 16, 2004. For more information, access: http://cancercontrol.cancer.gov/TREC.
Direct programmatic inquiries to Linda Nebeling, Ph.D., M.P.H., R.D., Chief, Health Promotion Research Branch (HPRB), Behavioral Research Program (BRP), DCCPS; E-mail: nebelinl@mail.nih.gov.
For further information, see the NIH Guide, RFA-CA-05-010 and RFA-CA-05-011.
- Improving Diet and Physical Activity Assessment (R01, R21)
This PA is to support research to improve diet and physical activity measurement through improved instruments, technologies, or statistical/analytic techniques. Proposals should be aimed at exploring the optimal combination of objective and self-report measures of physical activity or dietary intake that can capture these behaviors in both general and diverse populations. The PA is cosponsored with the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) and the National Institute on Aging (NIA).
Direct programmatic inquiries to Amy Subar, Ph.D., Program Director; E-mail: subara@mail.nih.gov; or Richard Troiano, Ph.D., Program Director; E-mail: troianor@mail.nih.gov; Risk Factor Monitoring and Methods Branch (RFMMB), Applied Research Program (ARP), DCCPS.
For further information, see the NIH Guide, PAR-03-009.
- Testing Tobacco Products Promoted To Reduce Harm (R01, R21)
This PA is to stimulate multidisciplinary research on potential reduced-exposure tobacco products, both smoked and smokeless, through the interplay of basic, biological, and behavioral research, surveillance, and epidemiology. The tobacco industry is currently promoting some new products with claims that they are less harmful or less addictive because these products purportedly deliver lower amounts of toxic, carcinogenic, and/or addictive agents to the user compared with conventional products. However, to date, the scientific evidence is insufficient to evaluate whether these new products actually reduce the users' exposure or risk for tobacco-related diseases. The key research question of this PA is, "Do potential reducedexposure tobacco products provide a truly less-harmful alternative to conventional tobacco products, both on the individual and population level?" The PA is cosponsored with the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).
Direct programmatic inquiries to Mirjana Djordjevic, Ph.D., Program Director, Tobacco Control Research Branch (TCRB), Behavioral Research Program (BRP), DCCPS; E-mail: djordjev@mail.nih.gov.
For further information, see the NIH Guide, PA-04-103.
