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Epidemiology and Genetics Research Program
Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences
June 29 , 2007 |
EGRP BULLETIN
From the Epidemiology and Genetics Research Program
Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences
National Cancer Institute
Contents
EGRP Reorganizes To Better Address Today’s Cancer Epidemiological Scientific Questions
Deborah M. Winn
Acting Associate
Director “We are now positioned to better lead and serve the field and
our investigators,” said EGRP Acting Associate Director Deborah
(Debbie) M. Winn, Ph.D., who spearheaded the reorganization.
For Principal Investigators and prospective grantees, the reorganization
may necessitate some changes in assignment of grants and applications
among EGRP Program Directors. EGRP is working hard to make any transitions
as smooth as possible. Program Directors are accustomed to backing up
one another and have some familiarity with each other’s research
portfolios.
The new EGRP consists of the Office of the Associate Director and four
Branches that address specific aspects of research on cancer epidemiology:
- Modifiable Risk Factors Branch—focusing on
factors that may be modifiable, such as diet and nutrition, alcohol,
physical activity and energy balance, tobacco, infectious diseases,
physical and chemical agents, and medical exposures, including medications
and treatments;
- Host Susceptibility Factors Branch—focusing
on personal susceptibility factors such as genetic, epigenetic, immunological
and hormonal biological pathways, and social, cultural and race/ethnic
factors;
- Methods and Technologies Branch—focusing on
methods to address epidemiologic data collection, study design and
analysis, and to modify technological approaches developed in the context
of other research endeavors for use as biomarkers and methods to understand
cancer susceptibility; and
- Clinical and Translational Epidemiology Branch—focusing
on clinical factors that influence development of cancer among persons
with underlying diseases and conditions; the progression, recurrence,
and mortality from cancer; and new primary cancers.
The new organizational structure will facilitate the formation and strengthening
of partnerships between the Branches and potential collaborators, for
example, between the Modifiable Risk Factors Branch and cancer control
activities within DCCPS, or between the Clinical and Translational Epidemiology
Branch and clinical applications of epidemiologic research. The four
Branch Chief positions were advertised via USAJOBS, the Federal
Government’s jobs Web site, with June 7 the deadline for receipt
of applications.
Until permanent Branch Chiefs are appointed, the following EGRP staff
members are serving as Acting Branch Chiefs:
 |
Mukesh Verma, Ph.D.
Host Susceptibility Factors Branch and
Methods
and Technologies Branch |
 |
Virginia (Ginny) W. Hartmuller, Ph.D., R.D.
Modifiable Risk Factors
Branch |
 |
Isis S. Mikhail, M.D., M.P.H., Dr. P.H.
Clinical and Translational
Epidemiology Branch |
Staff assignments to the Office of the Associate Director and by Branch:
Office of the Associate Director
Deborah (Debbie) M. Winn, Ph.D., EGRP Acting Associate Director
John Fox, M.P.H., Program Analyst
Chinonye (Nonye) Harvey, M.P.H., Program Analyst
Diane Horn-Cruder, Program Analyst
Shannon Lynch, M.P.H., Program Analyst
Scott Rogers, M.P.H., Program Analyst
Daniela Seminara, Ph.D., M.P.H., Consortia Coordinator and Program
Director
Host Susceptibility Factors Branch
Mukesh Verma, Ph.D., Acting Chief
J. Fernando Arena, M.D., Ph.D., Program Director
Shannon Lemrow, Ph.D., Program Director
Sheri Dixon Schully, Ph.D., Program Director
Modifiable Risk Factors Branch
Virginia (Ginny) W. Hartmuller, Ph.D., R.D., Acting Chief
Britt C. Reid, D.D.S., Ph.D., Program Director
Leah Sansbury, Ph.D., M.S.P.H., Program Director
Vaurice Starks, Program Director
Methods and Technologies Branch
Mukesh Verma, Ph.D., Acting Chief
Jay Choudhry, M.S., Program Director
Clinical and Translational Epidemiology Branch
Isis S. Mikhail, M.D., M.P.H., Dr.P.H., Acting Chief
Carol Kasten, M.D., Medical Officer, Geneticist, and Project Officer
EGRP Grantees Meet
To Stimulate Research on Rare Cancers
Isis Mikhail
Rashmi
Gopal-Srivastava “We appreciate the difficulties that investigators focusing on
rare cancers encounter in recruiting sufficient numbers of patients quickly
in the face of often rapidly lethal disease and want to see what we can
do to facilitate research on understudied rare cancers,” said Isis
S. Mikhail, M.D., M.P.H., Dr.P.H., Acting Chief of EGRP’s Clinical
and Translational Epidemiology Branch.
The workshop’s goals were to suggest ideas to synergize the development
of collaborations and consortia in epidemiologic research on understudied
rare cancers, address best practices and successful models to aid in
collaborations, and explore mechanisms to promote further research aimed
at investigating the etiology of these understudied and often rapidly
fatal cancers.
Rare cancers were defined as those cancers for which the incidence rate
is less than 15 cases per 100,000 population or fewer than 40,000 new
cases per year in the United States. Although these numbers are relatively
small, all rare cancers combined account for 27 percent of cancers diagnosed
each year and 25 percent of cancer-related deaths, and the morbidity
and mortality that they cause are increasing.
Working groups spent time focusing on specific cancers that are underrepresented
in EGRP’s grant portfolio, including sarcoma, multiple myeloma,
and esophageal and liver cancer, and on discussing methods and strategies
for stimulating overall research on rare cancers.
Invited speakers described a variety of consortia as models for collaborations
to pool data, expertise, and other resources to more effectively study
rare cancers. To begin the meeting, Julie Ross, Ph.D., M.P.H., of the
University of Minnesota, gave a presentation on the Childhood Cancer
Research Network (CCRN), which is a unique project to establish a national
research registry of children with cancer, including a tissue bank for
tumor and blood specimens, to use to identify environmental and other
causes of childhood cancer. The project is part of the NCI-funded Children’s
Oncology Group (COG).
Melissa Bondy, Ph.D., of the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer
Center, described the establishment of the International Study of Familial
Glioma (Gliogene) Consortia, which has been funded by EGRP since 2006
along with other support provided by the American Brain Tumor Association,
National Brain Tumor Foundation, and the Tug McGraw Foundation.
Bob Graham, a survivor of carcinoid syndrome, spoke eloquently about
his experiences as a patient and his perspective on improving patient
participation in epidemiologic research.
Among the workshop recommendations, participants encouraged the development
of mechanisms to support and facilitate data sharing, such as creation
of central data management or coordinating centers, standardized exposure
collection questionnaires, and guidelines to assist pre- and post-doctoral
researchers and trainees become involved in rare cancer research and
consortia; development of new Web-based tools to pool existing data;
conducting symposia about methodological research for study of rare cancers
at national cancer meetings; and greater collaboration between investigators
and community or advocacy groups and concerned foundations to improve
enrollment in studies.
“The enthusiasm and interest of the investigators attending this
workshop were remarkable. Scientists are ready to work together to further
the study of rare cancers. We expect to build on the momentum of this
meeting,” said Dr. Mikhail. Plans now are under way to publish
a summary of the proceedings and to consider possible funding mechanisms
or initiatives based on the input from the workshop in order to solicit
new research proposals. The speakers’ PowerPoint presentations
also will be made available on EGRP’s Web site.
“Synergizing Epidemiologic Research on Rare Cancers” was
organized by Dr. Mikhail and Rashmi Gopal-Srivastava,
Ph.D., Director,
Extramural Research Program, ORD. Other members of the organizing committee
were Dr. Winn, EGRP Acting Associate Director;
Patricia Hartge, Sc.D., Office of the Director, DCCPS; Shelia Zahm, Sc.D.,
Deputy Director, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics (DCEG);
and Nonye Harvey, M.P.H., and Scott Rogers, M.P.H., Program Analysts,
Office of the EGRP Associate Director.
Conference Focuses
Attention on Vitamin D and Cancer Research
Vitamin D and Cancer Planning Committee members (front row, from left),
D. Michal Freedman, J.D., M.P.H., Ph.D., Epidemiologist, Division of Cancer
Epidemiology and Genetics (DCEG); John Milner, Ph.D., Chief, Nutritional Science
Research Group, Division of Cancer Prevention (DCP); Cindy Davis, Ph.D.,
Program Director, Nutritional Science Research Group, DCP.
In the back row, from left, Virginia Hartmuller, Ph.D., R.D., Acting Chief, Modifiable
Risk Factors Branch, EGRP; Patricia Hartge, Sc.D.; Deputy Director, Epidemiology
and Biostatistics Program, DCEG; and Mary-Frances Picciano, Ph.D., Senior
Nutrition Research Scientist, NIH Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS).
Not pictured: Christine Swanson, Ph.D.,
Director, Dietary Supplements Research Centers Program, ODS.
Participants focused on the following questions that could be
made part of a research agenda for the future:
- How strong is the evidence that vitamin D status is related
to cancer risk?
- How has nutrigenetics advanced our understanding
of the relationship between vitamin D and cancer risk?
- What other
genes determine the response to vitamin D?
- What are the important
dietary components that modify the effect of vitamin D?
- What
information have preclinical models provided about the relationship
between vitamin D, calcium, and cancer?
The workshop was cosponsored by NCI’s DCCPS, of which the
EGRP is a part; the Division of Cancer Prevention (DCP); DCEG;
and the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS).
Compelling evidence
continues to accumulate on vitamin D’s protective effects
against cancer. Epidemiologic studies suggest that a deficiency
of the vitamin is associated with increased risk for colorectal,
prostate, and breast cancer, and perhaps for other cancers. The
conference provided the opportunity to consider the state of the
science on the vitamin and research that needs to be tackled
next to more clearly understand its role in cancer risk.
Among the participants were EGRP-funded investigators who provided
the epidemiologic perspective on the role of vitamin D and cancer
risk, including Cedric Garland, Dr.P.H., University of California,
San Diego; Edward Giovannucci, M.D., Sc.D., Harvard University; Sue
Ingles, Dr.P.H., University of Southern California; Thomas Rohan,
M.D., Ph.D., Albert Einstein School of Medicine; Martha Slattery,
Ph.D., University of Utah; and Walter Willett, M.D., Dr.P.H., Harvard
University.
The workshop organizers were EGRP’s Virginia (Ginny) Hartmuller,
Ph.D., R.D., Acting Chief, Modifiable Risk Factors Branch; Patricia
Hartge, Sc.D., DCCPS and DCEG; Cindy Davis, Ph.D., and John Milner,
Ph.D., DCP; D. Michal Freedman, Ph.D., DCEG; and Mary-Frances Picciano,
Ph.D., and Christine Swanson, Ph.D., ODS.
A publication summarizing
the proceedings is planned, and a follow up conference that will
focus on an evidence-based
review of vitamin D in food is set for
September 5–6, 2007, on the NIH Campus. Interested individuals
should consult the ODS
Web site for details.
EGRP Staff News
 Leah Sansbury, M.S.P.H., Ph.D., has joined EGRP as
a Program Director in the Modifiable Risk Factors Branch (MRFB). She
had been an NCI Cancer Prevention Fellow and worked in the Institute’s
Laboratory of Cancer Prevention, Center for Cancer Research. Her research
focused on whether inflammatory cytokine gene polymorphisms influenced
serum biomarkers of inflammation, and whether these polymorphisms modified
the associations between dietary and lifestyle factors in relation to
adenoma recurrence in the Polyp Prevention Trial. Much of Dr. Sansbury’s
research to date has focused on combining molecular and genetic information
with data on lifestyle and exposure factors in epidemiologic studies
on colon cancer to investigate associations related to the inflammatory
pathway and immune response.
Dr. Sansbury received her M.S.P.H. and Ph.D. in Epidemiology from the
University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill, School of Public Health,
where she investigated interactions between polymorphisms in the cyclooxygenase-2
gene and use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in relation
to colon cancer risk. While at UNC, she was awarded the National Research
Service Award (NRSA) Cancer Training Grant in the Department of Epidemiology,
and she received the Population Sciences Research Award for her dissertation
research.
 Helen French joined
EGRP for the summer as an Introduction to Cancer Research Careers (ICRC)
Fellow and a C-Change Intern. This spring, Helen received her B.A. in Psychology, graduating cum laude,
from George Mason University in Virginia. Among Helen’s awards
and honors are: successful completion of the Psychology Honor Awards
Program, a selective three-semester program designed to foster undergraduate
scholarship through the completion of a research project under the guidance
of a faculty advisor; Undergraduate Faculty-Student Apprenticeship
to conduct research; Outstanding Honors Thesis/Project award; Honorable
Mention – Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher; Honorable Mention – Text
and Community Critical Essay Contest; Psi Chi National Honor Society
in Psychology; and Dean’s List from August 2005 through May 2007.
 Mukesh Verma, Ph.D., Acting Chief, Methods and Technologies
Branch and Host Susceptibility Factors Branch, was honored for his contributions
to cancer research by the Society of Asian American Scientists in Cancer Research
(SAASCR) at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research
(AACR) in April in Los Angeles. Dr. Verma was part of an elite group of nine
Asian-American scientists recognized by the Society, which includes a membership
of more than 3,000 scientists of Indian origin who work in the field of cancer
research in the United States and Canada. He was cited for “his outstanding
support in providing NIH resources to academic scientists throughout the nation.”
Funding Opportunities
Funding Opportunities Sponsored by EGRP
EGRP is sponsoring or cosponsoring the Program Announcements (PAs/PARs)
listed below. Please be aware that beginning in January of this
year, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) changed the standard
receipt dates for grant applications submitted to NIH, the Agency for
Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), and the National Institute
for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) for both paper and electronic
applications. See NIH Changes Standard Receipt Dates
for Grant Applications (below)
for details on the new receipt dates.
Note, however, that applications for Program Announcements (PAs/PARs/PASs)
and Requests for Applications (RFAs) with special receipt dates continue
to be due on the dates specified in the Funding Opportunity
Announcements (FOAs).
- Note: Key to grant mechanism numbers:
- R01—Research Project Grant
- R03—Small Research Grant
- R21—Exploratory/Developmental Grant
- R41/R42—Small Business Technology Transfer Grant
- R43/R44—Small Business Innovation Research Grant
 =
new PA
Development,
Application,
and Evaluation of Prediction
Models for Cancer Risk
and
Prognosis
PA 07-021 for R01
PA 07-022 for R21 |
These PAs are to encourage researchers working in the field of
cancer control and prevention to: (1) improve existing models for
cancer risk and prognosis by developing innovative research projects
that use existing data, (2) develop new models for cancer risk and
prognosis, and (3) validate new models and evaluate their utility
in research and clinical settings. The PAs provide a mechanism of
support for investigators to address two major challenges in model
development: integrating diverse types of data and ensuring adequate
validation. The PAs are not for applications that focus on the identification
and characterization of prognostic/diagnostic markers. They are cosponsored
with the Applied Research Program (ARP), Division of Cancer Control
and Population Sciences (DCCPS), and the Division of Cancer Treatment
and Diagnosis (DCTD).
Contact: Isis Mikhail, M.D.,
M.P.H., Dr.P.H., Acting Chief, Clinical and Translational Epidemiology
Branch; e-mail: mikhaili@mail.nih.gov |
Epigenetic Approaches in
Cancer Epidemiology
PA-07-298 for R01
PA-07-299 for R21 |
These EGRP-sponsored PAs are to stimulate population-based epidemiology
research on the roles of DNA methylation markers in cancer. The
objectives of the PAs are for researchers to evaluate determinants
of methylation patterns, risks of cancer associated with DNA methylation,
and markers and modifiers of cancer risk using epidemiologic approaches
in existing human population studies.
Contact: Mukesh Verma, Ph.D., Acting Chief,
Methods and Technologies Branch and Host Susceptibility Factors
Branch; e-mail: vermam@mail.nih.gov |
Occupational Safety and
Health Research
PA-07-318
for R01 |
This reissue of PA-04-038 is to encourage research that develops
an understanding of the risks and conditions associated with occupational
diseases and injuries, explores methods for reducing risks and
for preventing or minimizing exposure to hazardous conditions in
the workplace, and translates significant scientific findings into
prevention practices and products that will effectively reduce
work-related illness and injury. Of special interest to the National
Cancer Institute (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 priority areas include applicable
research approaches and methods (e.g., exposure and risk assessment,
bio-monitoring and surveillance techniques, analysis of cancer
risk factors, and characterization of possible carcinogens in mixed
exposures). The National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health (NIOSH) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) announced this PA, which is cosponsored with several NIH
Institutes.
Contact: Mukesh Verma, Ph.D., Acting Chief,
Methods and Technologies Branch and Host Susceptibility Factors
Branch; e-mail: vermam@mail.nih.gov |
Small Grants Program for
Cancer Epidemiology
PAR-06-294
for 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. Note that this PAR
stipulates a 10-page limit to the research plan, including tables
and figures.
Contact: Mukesh Verma, Ph.D., Acting Chief,
Methods and Technologies Branch and Host Susceptibility Factors
Branch; e-mail: vermam@mail.nih.gov
Our Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences (DCCPS)
also sponsors a PAR for Small Grants for Behavioral Research
in Cancer Control (PAR-06-458). Contact Veronica Chollette, R.N.,
M.S., Behavioral Research Program; e-mail: vc24a@nih.gov |
Pilot Studies in Pancreatic
Cancer
PA-06-314 for R03
PA-06-303 for R21 |
These trans-NCI PAs are to encourage innovative research across
multiple disciplines for better understanding of the biology, etiology,
detection, prevention, and treatment of pancreatic cancer. Inquiries
about cancer control, epidemiology, and survivorship research proposals
are handled by EGRP. Please refer to the PAs for the complete list
of contacts.
Contact: Mukesh Verma, Ph.D., Acting Chief,
Methods and Technologies Branch and Host Susceptibility Factors
Branch; e-mail:
vermam@mail.nih.gov |
Research on Malignancies
in AIDS and Acquired
Immune Suppression
PA-07-173 for R01
PA-06-338 for R21 |
These PAs are to encourage 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.
Novel approaches to discovery and preclinical development of
novel therapeutic agents and biomarkers for early diagnosis
and monitoring of disease progression are encouraged. 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 also are of interest. These PAs are cosponsored
with NCI’s Division of Cancer Biology (DCB), DCTD, and
the Office of AIDS Malignancies Program, and with the National
Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR).
Contacts: Mukesh
Verma, Ph.D., Acting Chief, Methods and Technologies Branch
and Host Susceptibility Factors Branch; e-mail: vermam@mail.nih.gov;
and Vaurice Starks, Program Director, Modifiable Risk Factors
Branch; e-mail: starksv@mail.nih.gov
|
Studies of Energy Balance and Cancer in Humans
PA-07-176 for R01
PA-06-405 for R21 |
These PAs invite investigator-initiated
research 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 these PAs, an applicant
previously must have 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.
These PAs are cosponsored with NCI’s Office of Cancer Survivorship
(OCS), DCCPS, and the Division of Cancer Prevention (DCP).
Contact: Virginia (Ginny) Hartmuller, Ph.D., R.D.,
Acting Chief, Modifiable Risk Factors Branch, e-mail: hartmulv@mail.nih.gov |
Exfoliated Cells, Bioactive Food
PA-07-207 for R01
PA-06-360 for R03
PA-06-359 for R21 |
These PAs invite researchers 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 aim is to encourage interdisciplinary
collaborations between scientists using exfoliated cells
in research and those conducting nutrition research related
to cancer prevention. This research will help determine the
use 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.
Contact: Virginia (Ginny) Hartmuller, Ph.D., R.D.,
Acting Chief, Modifiable Risk Factors Branch; e-mail: hartmulv@mail.nih.gov |
| Small Business Grants |
Small businesses may obtain support through the Small Business
Innovation Research (SBIR) (R43/44) and the Small Business Technology
Transfer Research (STTR) (R41/42) 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 about topics of special interest to EGRP
in the areas of tools for assessment of exposures and biomarkers
and tools for cancer epidemiology studies at epi.grants.cancer.gov/ResPort/sbir.html. See
also related article "Update on Funding Opportunities for
Small Businesses" immediately below.
Contact: Jay Choudhry, M.S., Program Director,
Methods and Technologies Branch; e-mail: choudhrj@mail.nih.gov |
Update on Funding Opportunities for Small Businesses
In January, NIH and other government agencies issued a Small Business
Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR)
Omnibus Solicitation to request grant applications for 2007.
In the SBIR Program, funding usually is provided for
up to 6 months and $100,000 total cost for Phase I feasibility studies,
and for up to 2 years and $750,000 for Phase II projects. The STTR
Program requires close collaboration between the small business and
a partnered research institution. The small business is to conduct
at least 40 percent of the research project, and the single partner
institution conducts at least 30 percent of the work. Funding usually
is provided for up to 1 year and $100,000 total cost for Phase I feasibility
studies, and for up to 2 years and $750,000 for Phase II projects.
EGRP, which participates in the Solicitation, is interested particularly
in supporting small business research on the development of tools for
assessing exposures and biomarkers and tools for cancer epidemiology
studies. Learn more about EGRP's interests in these two areas
at epi.grants.cancer.gov/ResPort/sbir.html.
The Solicitation may be accessed from the NIH Small Business Funding
Opportunities Home Page at grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/sbir.htm.
 Direct questions about EGRP and the Small Business Grants Program to
Jay Choudhry, M.S., Program Director, Methods and Technologies Branch;
e-mail: choudhrj@mail.nih.gov.
Other Small Business
Opportunities
Although not EGRP-sponsored, three Program Announcements (PAs) announced
in March 2007 in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts may
be of interest to our small business grant applicants. The PAs, which
use the SBIR (R43/R44) grant mechanism for Phase I, Phase II, and Fast-Track
applications, are for:
- Technology Development for the Detection and Evaluation
of Chemical and Biological Carcinogens (SBIR) (PAS-07-240).
This PA invites small businesses to develop or improve on technologies
that detect or evaluate chemical and biological carcinogens in clinical
and/or environmental specimens. The goal is to develop innovative
technologies into commercially viable assays.
- Technology for the Detection and Characterization of Low
Abundance Proteins, Peptides, or micro RNAs (SBIR) (PAS-07-241).
This PA solicits grant applications from small businesses that wish
to develop new technologies or improvements to existing technologies
for the detection, isolation, and characterization of proteins, peptides,
or micro RNAs that exist normally in complex biologically relevant
mixtures at concentrations that are beyond the lower limits of current
technologies (e.g., low abundance proteins present in < 5000 copies
per cell).
- Technologies and Software to Support Integrative Cancer
Biology Research (SBIR) (PAS-07-242). This PA
solicits grant applications from small businesses for the development
of software tools, computational/mathematical methods and technologies
that enable integrative cancer biology research. Integrative cancer
biology focuses on understanding cancer as a complex biological system
by using both computational and experimental biology to integrate
heterogeneous data sources and ultimately to generate predictive
computational models of cancer processes.
Proposals Sought on Improving Diet and Physical Activity Assessment
DCCPS is cosponsoring two Program Announcements (PARs) inviting research
grant applications for Improving Diet and Physical Activity Assessment.
Diet and physical
activity are assessed for both surveillance and epidemiologic/ clinical
research purposes. The measurement of usual dietary intake or physical
activity over varying time periods or in the past, by necessity, has
relied on self-report instruments. Such subjective reporting instruments
are difficult cognitively for respondents and are prone to considerable
measurement errors that may vary among population subgroups and depend
on the time frame considered and the characteristics of the respondents.
One PAR, PAR-07-259, uses the Research Project Grant (R01) mechanism;
and the second PAR, PAR-
06-103, uses the Exploratory Grant (R21) mechanism.
Direct scientific inquiries to Amy Subar, Ph.D., e-mail: subara@mail.nih.gov;
or Richard Troiano, Ph.D., troianor@mail.nih.gov,
Applied Research Program, DCCPS.
RFA for Proposals on Biology of Breast
Pre-Malignancies
NCI’s Division of Cancer Biology (DCB) is sponsoring a Request
for Applications (RFA) for research on the biology of breast pre-malignancies.
The RFA, RFA-CA-07-047,
is designed to stimulate multidisciplinary efforts focused on the characterization
of the genetic, molecular, and/or cellular changes, and/or functional
biology of pre-malignancy states of human breast cancer. Applications
are due November 14, 2007.
Proposals for research projects are invited to facilitate the identification
of those attributes of the earliest identifiable breast lesions that
distinguish benign lesions from precancerous lesions. Applicants are
encouraged to exploit resources and technologies that already exist,
such as: well characterized risk estimates from epidemiologic studies;
collections of human specimens and their related clinical and population
data; molecular, genetic, and functional tissue characteristics; and
analytical, biochemical, genomic, imaging, and nanotechnologies. Projects
taking advantage of information already available from well-validated
animal model systems and quantitative modeling may also be appropriate. The
outcomes of this initiative should enable further basic and translational
cancer research with the goal of informing clinical practice. The RFA
uses the Research Project Grant (R01) award mechanism.
NCI will award a total of $4.5 million over 3 years to fund two to
three individual multidisciplinary research programs. Support
for this FOA comes from the Stamp-Out Act, under which the U.S. Postal
Service sells a special-issue postage stamp with a surcharge to support
breast cancer research.
The earliest date an application may be submitted to Grants.gov: September
14, 2007. Letters of Intent are due: October 14, 2007. Applications
are due: November 14, 2007 (by 5 p.m. local time of applicant
institution).
Direct scientific questions to Ms. Anne Tatem, Division of Cancer Biology,
NCI, tel.: (301) 594-5371; e-mail: tatema@mail.nih.gov
NIH Pathway to Independence Award Offers Support for New Investigators
The NIH Pathway to Independence Award Program facilitates the transition
of promising postdoctoral scientists to research independence by providing
opportunities to receive both mentored and independent research support
from the same award. NIH expects to award between 150 and 200 grants
per year (the PA expires in 2010). The award features an initial 1–2-year
mentored phase that allows investigators to complete their supervised
research work, publish results, and search for an independent research
position. The second, independent phase, in years 3–5, provides
awardees who secure an assistant professorship or equivalent position
significant research support, including full indirect costs that will
allow them to establish their own research program and successfully
apply for an NIH investigator-initiated (R01) grant. During the full
program period, NIH will provide almost $400 million in support. All
NIH Institutes and Centers are participating. The next deadlines for
new applications are June 12 and October 12.
Additional information can be found in the NIH Guide, PA-07-297.
Our Grantees' Research Highlighted Online
 View on EGRP's Web site highlights
of some of the many research findings reported by our grantees. We can't
begin to capture all their research contributions, and welcome your suggestions
on additions to make to the Web pages. Please contact EGRP's Shannon
Lynch if you would like to suggest additions for 2007; e-mail: lynchs@mail.nih.gov.
Grantsmanship
New Online Training Resources on Electronic Submissions Now Available
Three new modules have been added to the NIH
Electronic Submission of Grant Applications training Web site.
These modules cover:
- finding grant opportunities in the NIH Guide and downloading
the application package,
- checking the submission status and viewing the assembled application
in eRA Commons for the Signing Official, and
- checking the submission status and viewing the assembled application
in eRA Commons for the Principal Investigator.
These modules are highlighted as new on the training Web site.
NIH Changes Standard Receipt Dates for Grant Applications
Changes in the standard receipt dates for grant applications submitted
to NIH, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), and the
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) began this
January for both paper and electronic applications.
Some key points are:
- The heaviest receipt dates from all agencies on Grants.gov are
the first of the month, the 15th of the month, the first Friday, and
last day of the month. The new receipt dates have been intentionally
offset from these dates to improve Grants.gov response times
for NIH applicants.
- Effort was made to use recurring days of the month for simplicity
(i.e., new R01s would come in on February 5 and renewals on March
5).
- The R01s, NIH’s most frequently used mechanism, were kept
early in the receipt window to allow time for processing. The receipt
date of the 5th of the month was chosen to be sure the bulk of submissions
that come in on the receipt date and the few days prior miss Grants.gov’s heaviest
volume days.
Applications for Requests for Applications (RFAs) and Program Announcements
(PAs, PARs, PASs) with special receipt dates continue to be due on the
specified dates listed in the Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOA).
For an application to be considered on time, it must be received by Grants.gov by
5 p.m. local time of the applicant institution (NIH Guide NOT-OD-06-050).
The changes are announced in the NIH Guide, NOT-OD-07-001.
| |
Receipt Cycle I |
Receipt Cycle II |
Receipt Cycle III |
Program Project Grants and Center Grants—all
P Series
new, renewal, resubmission, revision |
January 25
(old date Feb. 1) |
May 25
(old date June 1) |
September 25
(old date Oct. 1) |
Research Grants—R10, R18, R24, R25
new, renewal, resubmission, revision* |
January 25
(old date Feb. 1, March 1) |
May 25
(old date June 1, July 1) |
September 25
(old date Oct. 1, Nov. 1) |
Research-Related and Other Programs—all
S and G Series,C06, M01
new, renewal, resubmission, revision* |
January 25
(old date Feb. 1) |
May 25
(old date June 1) |
September 25
(old date Oct. 1) |
Institutional Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service
Awards—T Series (Training)**
new, renewal, resubmission, revision* |
January 25
(old date Jan. 10) |
May 25
(old date May 10) |
September 25
(old date Sept. 10) |
Research Grants—R01
new |
February 5
(old date Feb. 1) |
June 5
(old date June 1) |
October 5
(old date Oct. 1) |
Research Career Development—all K Series
new |
February 12
(old date Feb. 1) |
June 12
(old date June 1) |
October 12
(old date Oct. 1) |
Research Grants—R03, R21, R33,R21/R33, R34,
R36
new |
February 16
(old date Feb. 1) |
June 16
(old date June 1) |
October 16
(old date Oct. 1) |
Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA)—R15
new, renewal, resubmission, revision* |
February 25
(no change) |
June 25
(no change) |
October 25
(no change) |
Research Grants—R01
renewal, resubmission, revision* |
March 5
(old date March 1) |
July 5
(old date July 1) |
November 5
(old date Nov. 1) |
Research Career Development—all K Series
renewal, resubmission, revision* |
March 12
(Old date March 1) |
July 12
(old date July 1) |
November 12
(old date Nov. 1) |
Research Grants—R03, R21, R33,R21/R33, R34,
R36
renewal, resubmission, revision* |
March 16
(old date March 1) |
July 16
(old date July 1) |
November 16
(Old date Nov. 1) |
New Investigator—R01
resubmission* for those applications involved in pilot ONLY |
March 20
(no change) |
July 20
(no change) |
November 20
(no change) |
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR), Small Business
Technology Transfer (STTR) Grants—R43, R44, R41,
and R42
new, renewal, resubmission, revision* |
April 5
(old date April 1) |
August 5
(old date Aug. 1) |
December 5
(old date Dec. 1) |
Individual Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service
Awards(Standard)—all F Series Fellowships
new, renewal, resubmission* |
April 8
(old date April 5) |
August 8
(old date Aug. 5) |
December 8
(old date Dec. 5) |
Conference Grants and Conference Cooperative Agreements—R13,
U13
new, renewal, resubmission, revision* |
April 12
(old date April 15) |
August 12
(old date Aug. 15) |
December 12
(old date Dec. 15) |
AIDS and AIDS-Related Grants
ALL of the mechanisms cited above
new, renewal, resubmission, revision* |
May 1
(no change) |
September 1
(no change) |
January 2
(no change) |
- * The new Grants.gov terminology (included in the table above)
corresponds to traditional NIH terms:
- New = new
- Resubmission = a revised or amended application
- Renewal = Competing Continuation
- Continuation = Noncompeting Progress Report
- Revision = Competing Supplement
** Institutional Research Training Grants (T32) are accepted by many
NIH Institutes and Centers (IC) for only one or two of the dates. Applicants
should contact the relevant IC for specific dates.
At present, NIH receives and processes applications for NIOSH and for
components of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that participate
in the Omnibus Solicitation for Small Business Innovation Research grant
applications. The application deadlines above apply only to these two
groups of applications and not to other CDC submissions.
Advance Notice of 8 Weeks a MUST to Submit Large-Budget Epidemiology
Applications!
NIH requires grant applicants with a requested budget of $500,000
or more in direct costs in any year to contact the appropriate program
staff member before submitting applications to the NIH Center for Scientific
Review (CSR) for peer review. The Notice in the NIH Guide states
that approval must be sought 6 weeks prior to submitting the grant. However,
approval for NCI epidemiology applications must be sought at least
8 weeks prior to submission to CSR to complete the internal processing
by the deadline.
Investigators must follow this policy, speak to the appropriate
Program Director, and respond to requests for information.
If advance notice about the proposed study and budget is not received,
applications will be returned, causing a delay in submission and
review of one round. This policy applies to new, competing continuation,
competing supplement, and amended/revised applications. The policy
does not apply to applications submitted in response to RFAs or in
response to other announcements that include specific budgetary limits.
See the NIH Guide, NOT-OD-02-004 and NOT-CA-02-029.
Multiple Principal Investigator Option on Grants Expanded
NIH will allow research grant applicants and their institutions
to identify more than one Principal Investigator on most applications
submitted electronically through Grants.gov, including Research
Project Grants (R01), Small Research Grants (R03), and Exploratory/Development
Grants (R21). The aim of this multiple-Principal Investigator option
is to encourage multidisciplinary and other types of “team science” projects
that are not optimally served by the single-Principal Investigator
model. Projects suitable for the multiple-Principal Investigator option
could include as few as two Principal Investigators who are jointly
responsible for the scientific and technical direction of the project.
Further information is available on NIH’s Multiple
Investigators Web page and in the NIH Guide, NOT-OD-07-017.
Direct questions to multi_PI@mail.nih.gov.
Data-Sharing Information Resources Available for You
NIH’s Office of Extramural Research (OER) has a Web page
that provides access to various information resources on data
sharing. Investigators who submit NIH grant, cooperative
agreement, or contract proposals seeking $500,000 or more
in direct costs in any single year are expected to include a
plan for data sharing or state why data sharing is not possible. Access
the Web site.
EGRP-Supported Services and Research Resources
EGRP Provides Assistance
To Develop Cancer Epidemiology Consortia
Daniela Seminara The following operating definition for a Consortium is used:
A consortium in epidemiology is a group of scientists from multiple
institutions who have agreed to cooperative research efforts involving,
but not limited to, pooling of information from more than one population
study for the purpose of combined analyses. The consortium group
is able to address scientific questions that cannot otherwise be
addressed through the effort of a team of investigators at a single
institution due to scope, resources, population size, and need
for an interdisciplinary approach. The cooperation usually involves
multiple projects over an extended time. Groups participating in
a consortium may partner in the writing of research grant applications,
but consortia activities are not limited to a specific grant/project.
Creation of a consortium is independent from funding mechanisms and
does not indicate definite grant support; however, EGRP and its staff
can provide supportive activities and tools.
The Program currently is facilitating and/or funding about 30 cancer
epidemiology consortia. View
information about them on our Web site.
Daniela Seminara, Ph.D., M.P.H., is EGRP Consortia Coordinator; e-mail: seminard@mail.nih.gov.
Long
Island Breast Cancer GIS Available for Use, Custom Extensions Available
 The
Geographic Information System for Breast Cancer Studies on Long Island
(LI GIS) is an enterprise geographic information system combining an
Oracle data warehouse, ESRI ArcGIS Suite, and statistical and spatial
software and extensions. The LI GIS is designed to study potential
relationships between environmental exposures and breast cancer on
Long Island (Suffolk and Nassau counties) and is available to researchers
with approved protocols. It also can be used to study other diseases.
This unique research tool offers a full suite of GIS software and
extensions related to the study of breast cancer. Included are four
custom ArcGIS software extensions specially developed for LI GIS users
but also freely available for researchers to download from the Web
site and use for applications beyond Long Island. The extensions are
tools for cluster analysis and applying the Empirical Bayes method,
a disease rate calculator, and an areal interpolator. They are available
for ArcView versions 3.x, 8, and 9.
The LI GIS warehouse has more than 80 datasets covering topographic
data; demographic data; health outcome data, including relative breast
cancer incidence; and environmental data for Long Island. Additional
environmental data are included with less detail and geographic precision
for areas 50 kilometers from the two counties, and very limited data
for areas within a 100-mile radius from the midpoint of the boundary
line between the two counties. The extended area includes counties
in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and
Massachusetts.
Researchers can access the LI GIS remotely or work in its laboratory
located in Reston, VA. There is no fee to use the LI GIS or its laboratory;
however, funding for research is not provided.
The LI GIS was developed as part of the Long Island
Breast Cancer Study Project (LIBCSP).
Contact: Shannon Lynch, M.P.H., Co-Project Officer;
e-mail: lynchs@mail.nih.gov.
Breast
and Colon Cancer Family Registries
 The
Breast and Colon Cancer Family Registries (CFRs) are international
registries available to researchers who are planning to conduct population-
and clinic-based interdisciplinary research with a main focus on the
genetic and molecular epidemiology of breast and colon cancers. The
CFRs have information and biospecimens contributed by more than 23,300
families among whom there is a history of breast or colon cancer. The
spectrum of cancer risk is represented.
Of special interest are collaborations to identify and characterize
cancer susceptibility genes; define gene-gene and gene-environment
interactions in cancer etiology; and conduct cooperative research on
the translational, preventive, and behavioral aspects of such findings.
Researchers who are interested in accessing data and/or biospecimens
can learn more about the CFRs and the application process at the
Web site. The Web site has much information for potential
collaborators and the public. The CFRs do not provide funding for research.
Contact: Daniela Seminara, Ph.D., M.P.H., Program
Director; e-mail: seminard@mail.nih.gov.
Cancer Genetics Network
The Cancer Genetics Network (CGN) supports research on the genetic
basis of human cancer susceptibility, the integration of this information
into medical practice, and the psychosocial, legal, and public health
issues associated with human genetics. Its interests include gene discovery
and characterization, gene-environment interaction, and translational
and behavioral research.
The database has information on 26,000 individuals (16,000 families)
with cancer and/or a family history of cancer. Data available include
demographic information, relevant medical history, and a four-generation
pedigree on each enrollee. The population enrolled makes research possible
on both common and uncommon tumors.
For approved studies, the CGN can offer a variety of services for
a fee(s), including: assembling information for and completing medical
extraction forms; obtaining pathology reports and tumor blocks for
molecular testing or to verify diagnosis; collecting biospecimens,
including fresh tissue, with desired medical and demographic information;
shipping or storing biospecimens; recruiting patients from high-risk
clinics and tumor registries; conducting telephone interviews with
enrollees; providing genetic counseling; contacting enrollees’ treating
physicians prior to enrollment; developing software, including computerized
followup for the study; and using multiple software systems for breast
cancer risk assessment.
Specialized expertise is available in certain areas, including biostatistics,
statistical genetics, epidemiology, genetic epidemiology, and behavioral
research. Also, CGN principal investigators welcome opportunities to
collaborate with research groups on important studies.
Researchers interested in accessing CGN data or including registry
enrollees in ongoing or proposed studies should prepare a 1-page summary
of their proposed research, specific aims, and explanation of the role
of CGN enrollees in the research. Priority is given to funded investigators
or to those who are planning to submit grant proposals to NIH. Funding
for research is not provided. For further information, access
the Web site.
Contact: Carol Kasten, M.D., Program Director; e-mail: kastenca@mail.nih.gov.
Other Sources of Information
on Grant Policies and Funding
Subscribe to EGRP Bulletins and News Flashes
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