Contact:

Sandra L. Melnick, Dr.P.H.
Analytic Epidemiology Research Branch
Epidemiology and Genetics Research Program
Division of Cancer and Population
National Cancer Institue
Telephone: 301-435-4914
E-mail: melnicks@mail.nih.gov

Objective of Project:

The purpose is to coordinate the submission, review, and funding of population-based epidemiologic or survivorship cohort studies, and covers applications characterized by their cohort design and direct costs of $500,000 or more in any one study year. This PA represents a continuation of previous NCI policy, in that the NCI does not accept unsolicited applications at these budget levels for population-based cohorts.

Description of Project:

Coordination of research infrastructure in the arena of population-based cohorts may be expected to yield new and expanded opportunities for study as the biomedical resources are made available to outside investigators. These large databases will afford the opportunity to study hypotheses that would be underpowered in smaller studies. This is especially true in the study of gene-environment and gene-gene interactions, in which large numbers of study participants followed in a standardized fashion are required. In addition, NCI coordination of population-based epidemiologic and survivorship cohorts will make it possible to identify gaps, whether in special populations, special cancers of high interest, or other special outcomes. Once gaps are identified, since because resources will be more effectively managed, it will be easier for the Institute to encourage the development of new, targeted cohorts.

Applications pursuant to this PA are limited to population-based epidemiologic and survivorship cohort studies of human cancers.

This PA covers population-based epidemiologic and survivorship cohort applications requesting $500,000 or more in direct costs (excluding third-party facility and administrative, formerly indirect, costs) in any one project year. Potential applicants are encouraged to become familiar with existing resources that can be viewed on the following web site, http://epi.grants.cancer.gov/ResPort/cohorts.html.

Examples of applications that MUST be submitted under this solicitation include the following:

• o applications for new population-based epidemiologic cohort studies of human cancers requesting $500,000 direct costs or more in any one project year

• applications for new survivorship cohorts of human cancers requesting $500,000 direct costs or more in any one project year

• applications for competitive supplements to an NCI-funded population-based epidemiologic or survivorship cohort study that would result in such study costing $500,000 direct costs or more in any one project year

• applications for competitive renewal (Type 2) of an NCI-funded population-based epidemiologic or survivorship cohort study requesting $500,000 direct costs or more in any one project year

This solicitation specifically EXCLUDES the following:

• applications for new and existing epidemiologic cohort studies of HIV-related malignancies, which will continue to be submitted and reviewed under existing NIH guidelines for AIDS-related research and under PA-03-024, Molecular Epidemiology of Cancers Associated with Acquired Immunodeficiency

• applications for new and existing epidemiologic cohort studies of individuals at high genetic risk for cancer

• applications for new and existing intervention studies, including randomized controlled trials

• administrative supplements, such as those resulting from unexpected loss of equipment or increase in costs of a test