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Epidemiology and Genomics Research Program

June 2023 EGRP Cancer Epidemiology News

EGRP Cancer Epidemiology News

June 2023

Systems Modeling Approaches for Cancer Epidemiology Research: Insights and Opportunities

The Epidemiology and Genomics Research Program (EGRP) in NCI’s Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences (DCCPS) is pleased to announce that a special open access PLOS journal collectionExternal Web Site Policy is available, focused on cancer systems epidemiology insights and future opportunities. Systems epidemiology is an approach to study cancer risk and outcomes that incorporates high-dimensional measurements from multiple domains, such as environmental, genetic, sociodemographic, and clinical data. This collection of seven papers stems from a 2019 workshop hosted by EGRP to facilitate interdisciplinary discussion of opportunities and challenges associated with the application of systems modeling approaches for population-based cancer epidemiology research.

This special collection includes a summary of the themes and opportunities identified during the 2019 workshop by Barajas et al.External Web Site Policy, along with a review of NIH-supported research focused on systems epidemiology and cancer between 2013-2018 by Shams-White et al.External Web Site Policy Additionally, the collection includes:

  • A manuscript by Mabry et al.External Web Site Policy describing systems science approaches and how they can be used in cancer research, common misconceptions to overcome, and how systems epidemiology can transform cancer research;
  • A review by Trentham-Dietz et al.External Web Site Policy reflecting on breast cancer modeling in the NCI-supported Cancer Intervention and Surveillance Modeling Network (CISNET);
  • A model by Hiatt et al.External Web Site Policy illustrating the role of multiple biological, behavioral, and environmental factors in breast cancer incidence;
  • A model by Ferguson et al.External Web Site Policy to study the impact of all schools in Mexico City offering physical education on weight, weight-associated health conditions, and corresponding costs; and
  • A model by Tessler Lindau et al.External Web Site Policy to study the population-level impact of a clinic-based community resource referral intervention.

NCI collaborates with other institutes and centers at NIH to incorporate more comprehensive analytical approaches to understanding cancer etiology in epidemiology research. For example, EGRP has had a long-standing interest in research focused on gene-environment interactions. NCI and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) hosted a two-day workshop in February 2023, Integrating Environmental Data with Other Omics for Cancer Epidemiology. Integrating diverse types of data is needed to support systems modeling methods in epidemiology research.

Additionally, the following are examples of NIH notices of funding opportunities that may support systems epidemiology approaches:

  • RFA-HG-23-017, Investigator-Initiated Research in Genomics and Health Equity (R01, Clinical Trial Optional)
  • NOT-HD-20-032, Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Using Systems Science Methodologies to Protect and Improve Child and Reproductive Population Health
  • NOT-OD-22-135, NOSI: Stimulating Research to Understand and Address Hunger, Food and Nutrition Insecurity

EGRP also encourages investigator-initiated grant applications that use systems epidemiology approaches for cancer epidemiology research. To view all DCCPS-related notices of funding opportunities, visit https://cancercontrol.cancer.gov/funding/funding-opportunities.

Funding Opportunities

  • RFA-HG-23-017, Investigator-Initiated Research in Genomics and Health Equity (R01, Clinical Trial Optional)
  • RFA-HG-23-018, Investigator-Initiated Research in Genomics and Health Equity (R21, Clinical Trial Optional)*
  • PAR-23-199, ClinGen Genomic Curation Expert Panels (U24, Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
  • PAR-23-181, Accelerating Behavioral and Social Science Through Ontology Development and Use: Dissemination and Coordination Center (U24, Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
  • PAR-23-182, Accelerating Behavioral and Social Science Through Ontology Development and Use: Research Network Projects (U01, Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
  • PAR-23-184, Center for Inherited Disease Research (CIDR) High Throughput Sequencing and Genotyping Resource Access (X01, Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
  • PAR-23-191, HIV-associated Non-Communicable Diseases Research at Low- and Middle-Income Country Institutions (R21, Clinical Trial Optional)
  • PAR-23-190, Interventions for Stigma Reduction to Improve HIV/AIDS Prevention, Treatment, and Care in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (R01, Clinical Trial Optional)
  • PAR-23-166, Native American Research Centers for Health (S06, Clinical Trial Optional)
  • PAR-23-203, Limited Competition: Collaborative Partnership to Advance Global Health Research (U01, Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
  • NOT-CA-23-070, Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Research on HIV-associated Malignancies
  • NOT-OD-23-123, NOSI: Administrative Supplements to Enhance Institutional Data Science Capacity
  • NOT-CA-23-037, NOSI: Technology Development for Cancer Control and Population Science Research
  • NOT-CA-23-066, Notice of Intent to Publish a Funding Opportunity Announcement for Advancing Cancer Control Equity Research Through Transformative Solutions (U19, Clinical Trial Optional)
  • NOT-CA-23-068, Notice of Intent to Publish a Funding Opportunity Announcement for Advancing Cancer Control Equity Research Through Transformative Solutions (U24, Clinical Trial Optional)
  • NOT-RM-23-014, Notice of Intent to Publish a Funding Opportunity Announcement for Human Virome Project: Developing Novel and Innovative Tools to Interrogate and Annotate the Human Virome (U01, Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
  • NOT-RM-23-015, Notice of Intent to Publish a Funding Opportunity for the NIH Common Fund Human Virome Program: Characterization of Functional Interactions Between Viruses and Human and Microbial Hosts (U01, Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
  • NOT-RM-23-016, Notice of Intent to Publish a Funding Opportunity for the NIH Common Fund Human Virome Program: Consortium Organization and Data Collaboration Center for the Human Virome Project (U24, Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
  • NOT-RM-23-017, Notice of Intent to Publish a Funding Opportunity for the NIH Human Virome Program: Characterize the Human Virome in Longitudinal, Diverse Cohorts Across the Lifespan (U54, Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

*NCI is not participating in this notice of funding opportunity.

Prize Competitions

Grants Policy Notices

  • NOT-OD-23-132, Updates to NIH Genomic Data Sharing Policy Institutional Certification Forms
  • NOT-OD-23-133, NIH Updated Policy Guidance for Subaward/Consortium Written Agreements

Requests for Information

  • NOT-OD-23-110, Recommendations for Improving NRSA Fellowship Review (responses due by June 23, 2023)
  • NOT-OD-23-107, Food is Medicine Research Opportunities (responses due by June 30, 2023)
  • GDC-002, Analysis Tool Integration with the NCI Genomic Data Commons (responses due July 14, 2023)
  • NOT-RM-23-013, NIH Common Fund is Soliciting Ideas for NIH-wide Challenges and Opportunities (responses due by August 11, 2023)
  • NOT-OD-23-140, Catalyzing the Development and Use of Novel Alternative Methods to Advance Biomedical Research (responses due by August 16, 2023)

Training Opportunities

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Last Updated: 21 Jun, 2023