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GOALS: The goals of the program are to 1) fund science-based, theory-driven, user-centered grants and contracts to translate cancer research into programs, interventions, systems, networks, or products needed by professionals or the public to reduce cancer risk or improve the quality of life of cancer survivors; 2) promote the use of innovative media technology and/or communication approaches in cancer prevention and control applications used in medical and community settings; 3) improve the communication behaviors of primary care professionals, patients, and care-givers in cancer-related matters; 4) promote organizational infrastructures that integrate and apply products developed in the program; 5) advance the use of standards in the development of system models and 6) expand the methods for evaluating ehealth research and developed products.
This year, the Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences will focus on:
| The Problem |
Potential Remedy |
1. NEW: Children and youth are engaging in behaviors that increase their risk for cancer later in life, i.e., overeating, minimal exercise, smoking, excessive sun exposure, etc. |
Development of cutting edge games as interventions for young adults. These "serious games" can educate youth about cancer, particularly in the areas of risk assessment, screening and treatment options, and survivorship issues. Applications must include scientific merit, innovative media, and outcome measures for evaluating the impact of the final product. |
2. NEW: A recent NCI HINTS survey indicates that most Americans do not know when or how often to get cancer screening tests. |
Development of reminder systems that include information about the appropriate initiation and follow-up ages for breast, cervical, colon, prostate, lung and skin cancer screening exams. Include pros and cons of screening. |
3. NEW: Care giving in the home is vital to the future of healthcare. However, current healthcare systems provide no systematic support for caregivers. |
Development of:
a) tools, resources and strategies to support caregiver needs and promote patient and family-centered care
c) methods to leverage and partner the knowledge and resources of both federal and local agencies, as well as industry, non-profit and other such organizations
d) outreach programs to increase awareness of senior leaders and policy makers on the role of caregiving |
4. NEW: Most patients do not understand the complex topic of genetic testing or their options. |
Development of tools to educate patients about genetic testing. These tools can teach patients how to make informed and appropriate decisions that will minimize the potential for negative emotional and social consequences. Final products should be engaging, interactive, provide maximum privacy and minimize stress, and provide current news and program updates in advances in specific types of genetic testing. |
5. There are inadequate collaborative infrastructures to actuate positive dietary changes. |
Development of:
a) collaborations with influential public figures in entertainment-education to increase knowledge about healthy eating practices
b) strategies to disseminate nutrition information to a diverse audience with the purpose of minimizing current confusion about what foods enhance or diminish our health
c) communication modes to convey evidence-based information on nutrition and healthy eating practices to a wide audience not currently being reached
d) measures to monitor and evaluate the impact of developed communication products. |
6. There is a lack of standardized systems and effective tools to capture family health histories for use in medical environments. |
Development of products with standardized features that can:
a) download information into health IT systems on all types of chronic diseases, medications, treatments, screening outcomes, x-rays, etc.
b) digitally store handwritten information
c) generate and display subsequent questions based on previous answers
d) display existing informatics while interactively collecting data
e) scan while prompting clinicians to complete a report
f) interactively suggest treatment
g) upload patient histories, progress reports or results from current exams. |
7. There is inadequate communication with patients and their families during end of life. |
Development of programs to improve communication about accurate prognoses, patient values and preferences at end of life.
Development of training programs for physicians and/or pediatric oncologists around:
a) end-of-life care issues
b) emotional support
c) projecting hope
d) communicating with patients and their families
e) accessibility
f) palliative care and access to a palliative care team or pain service
g) the shift to end of life care and adequate pain control
h) ethical training to negotiate diverse changing norms regarding end-of-life decision making
i) psycho-social issues, spiritual matters, difficult-to-raise topics, living wills
j) support systems for caregivers. |
8. Most people are unaware of self (needs, emotions, behavior, etc.) and do not understand that this unawareness impacts choices and consequently the onset of chronic disease. |
Development of programs that enhance self-awareness and identify strengths, vulnerabilities, limitations, personal beliefs, emotions and experiences that impact health. Products should utilize inter-personal skills, information processing skills, and cultural aspects, and assist individuals in how to listen to their body to improve physical and emotional self-awareness. |
2006/07 SBIR CONTRACT CATEGORIES & CURRENT TOPICS
| 1) |
Priority Area: Transform Cancer Care through Medical Informatics Technology: develop a medical informatics infrastructure in cancer care that will make maximum use of NCI investments in cancer communication, statistical modeling, surveillance, cancer treatment, clinical trials, and health systems research. The goal is to ease the movement of medical evidence from bench to bedside and back, in order to create a virtual laboratory of continuous quality improvement. Funding for these investments would enhance our ability to measure cancer incidence, morbidity, survival, and mortality; expand our knowledge of the location of cancer cases, screening and treatment facilities, and high-risk behaviors that are critical in understanding the patterns and determinants of cancer, its risk factors, and its outcomes; and maximize opportunities for intervention as early as possible in the cancer control cycle to take advantage of leverage points in prevention, early detection, treatment, and ongoing survivorship.
Title: Home Centered Coordinated Cancer Care System
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| 2) |
Priority Area: Use Electronic Data Records in the Collection of Population-Based Cancer Surveillance Data: support the development of electronic applications that review sources of cancer surveillance data and select appropriate cases for inclusion in surveillance systems. The goal is to expand the use of data elements available through cancer surveillance systems to include information on insurance, co-morbidities, risk factors, genetic markers, recurrence, treatment sequelae, and other factors. This will result in improved data quality and completeness, as well as more timely data reporting.
Title: Development of Software Systems to Facilitate the Use of Electronic Data Records in the Collection of Population-Based Cancer Surveillance Data
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| 3) |
Priority Area: Expand Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for Cancer Control Research and Patient Care: remove barriers of incompatibility and privacy protection for geospatial databases (i.e., data with location identifiers) and expand the use of GIS technology and methods for patient care applications. Goals are to develop a GIS enterprise database, protect the privacy of data, develop automated methods to identify patterns in high volume imagery data, and develop a coordinate system for the human body that would allow the use of existing GIS software tools to be used for clinical bioimaging, e.g., for targeted cancer therapy.
Title: Develop Automated Methods to Identify Environmental Exposure Patterns in Satellite Imagery Data |
Program Requirements - to be read by Phase I and Phase II applicants
To improve Phase II outcomes and enhance the potential for commercialization, applicants are required to:
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include a "site administrator" on their team. For example, if you are developing a product for an HMO, hire an HMO administrator as a consultant who can advise you on the infrastructure barriers that will limit the use of your proposed product and assist you in removing those barriers. If your product faces no infrastructure problems, state it in the application. |
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devise a means of tracking sales and purchaser demographics. |
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participate in product evaluation at NCI's Technology Center. This evaluation has been developed to complement your independent content evaluation. Applicants should include $24,000 for NCI evaluation in their budget. These funds are used to pay an independent contractor to conduct the evaluation. If the Phase II applicant does not include the funds, the application will not be funded. Email the Program Director if you have any questions |
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participate in a "Linking Science and Business Products Showcase" (in Bethesda, Maryland) in the latter part of their last year of research. The applicant should include travel, ground transportation, and lodging expenses in their budget. |
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Publish grant results in at least one peer-reviewed publication. A publication should be in progress when the grant is completed. |
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