Funding Opportunities

New Funding Opportunity: Physical Activity and Weight Control Intervention Among Cancer Survivors: Effects on Biomarkers of Prognosis and Survival (R01 & R21)

The NCI has recently released new R01 and R21 funding opportunity announcements (FOA) encouraging multidisciplinary and translational research projects to investigate the effects of physical activity or weight control on the biomarkers of cancer prognosis among cancer survivors. Potential research designs include, but are not limited to, clinical studies comparing the effects of exercise, weight control or both on cancer-related biomarkers, and the use of animal models to determine how physical activity or weight control affects tumor biology.

Examples of specific research questions this FOA seeks to address include, but are not limited to:

• Does the effect of weight loss on biomarkers differ for overweight/obese cancer survivors with different cancer subtypes (e.g. triple-negative compared to ER+ breast cancer)?
• How are the effects of physical activity on biomarkers different in older vs. younger adult cancer survivors or among those with multiple comorbidities?
• How can information learned from animal models be used to refine the testing of interventions in human cancer survivors?

To view the complete funding announcement for the R01 mechanism, visit the web page http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-12-228.html. To view the R21 grant mechanism, visit the web page http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-12-229.html. For any additional questions regarding these funding announcements contact either Catherine M. Alfano, Ph.D. at alfanoc@mail.nih.gov or Sharon A. Ross, Ph.D., M.P.H. at rosssha@mail.nih.gov.

New Funding Opportunity: Research Answers to NCI’s Provocative Questions

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has released several requests for applications (RFA) to support research projects that address NCI’s Provocative Questions initiative. The newest RFAs utilize the R01 and R21 funding mechanisms and were originally released on September 21, 2012. The provocative question RFAs are arranged in four groups, A-D, to address the following cancer research related topics: cancer prevention and risk; mechanisms of tumor development or recurrence; cancer detection, diagnosis, and prognosis; and cancer therapy and outcomes. Investigators must propose to solve one of the provocative questions in their application for a R01 or R21 grant. Researchers are encouraged to direct additional questions about the R01 or R21 grant mechanisms in groups A-D to NCI’s Scientific/Research Contact, Emily J. Greenspan, Ph.D. at greenspanej@mail.nih.gov. More information about these RFAs is available on the following website: http://provocativequestions.nci.nih.gov/rfa.

Research Answers to NCI’s Provocative Questions — Group A

The provocative questions listed in Group A describe research initiatives for cancer prevention and risk. One provocative question in this group is: How does the level, type, or duration of physical activity influence cancer risk and prognosis?

To view the complete R01 funding announcement for Group A, visit the webpage: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-CA-12-015.html. To view the complete R21 funding announcement for Group A, visit the webpage: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-CA-12-016.html.

Research Answers to NCI’s Provocative Questions — Group B

The provocative questions associated with Group B seek to investigate the mechanisms of tumor development or recurrence. One provocative question in this group is: Why do second, independent cancers occur at higher rates in patients who have survived a primary cancer than in a cancer-naïve population?

To view the complete R01 funding announcement for Group B, visit the webpage: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-CA-12-017.html. To view the complete R21 funding announcement for Group B, visit the webpage: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-CA-12-018.html.

Research Answers to NCI’s Provocative Questions — Group C

The provocative questions listed in Group C relate to cancer detection, diagnosis, and prognosis. One provocative question in this group is: What molecular events establish tumor dormancy after treatment and what leads to recurrence?

To view the complete R01 funding announcement for Group C, visit the webpage: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-CA-12-019.html. To view the complete R21 funding announcement for Group C, visit the webpage: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-CA-12-020.html

Research Answers to NCI’s Provocative Questions — Group D

The provocative questions associated with Group D relate to cancer therapy and outcomes. One provocative question in this group is: What mechanisms initiate cachexia (muscle loss) in cancer patients, and can we target those mechanisms to extend lifespan and quality of life for cancer patients?

To view the complete R01 funding announcement for Group D, visit the webpage: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-CA-12-021.html. To view the complete R21 funding announcement for Group D, visit the webpage: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-CA-12-022.html.