Title:
Small Grant Program for Cancer Epidemiology (R03)(Reissued PAR)

Contact:

Objective of Project:

The proposed PAR, using the R03 mechanism, is a reissuance of the current Small Grants Program for Cancer Epidemiology, PAR-03-010, which focuses on etiologic cancer research and provides support for pilot projects, testing of new techniques, secondary analyses of existing data, and development of innovative projects that could provide a basis for more extended research.

Description of Project:

This PAR focuses on pilot projects for integration of technologies in special populations, pooled analyses of existing data from consortia, and web-based tools.

Investigators will be encouraged to propose epidemiologic studies using new approaches such as circulating DNA, exfoliated cells, haplotype analysis, immunoassays, in silico assays, mass spectrometry, microsatellite assay, and proteomic arrays. They will be also encouraged to submit applications to study cancer sites that were not well-funded in the past by this PAR and that are needed for Epidemiology and Genetics Research Program (EGRP) portfolio balance, such as cancers of the esophagus, endometrium, liver, hematopoietic system (especially multiple myeloma), pancreas, testes, and brain. Investigators are encouraged to validate measurements in body fluids and tissues of exogenous exposures associated with development of cancer using biospecimen repositories from existing epidemiologic cohorts. The R03 mechanism is critical for helping ensure that these larger studies are feasible, that the approaches are valid, and that pilot data are available for the grant applications. For cost management, the small grant mechanism is very significant because modest investment in these grants generate pilot data that is required for R01 grants that otherwise will take enormous resources and time to achieve goals in the cancer epidemiology field.