Request for Information (RFI): To Solicit Input for Investigational Human Nutrigenetic Studies for Personalizing Cancer Prevention Strategies


Notice Number: NOT-CA-11-009

Key Dates

Release Date: March 4, 2011
Responses Due by: April 15, 2011

Issued by

National Institutes of Health (NIH)
National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Purpose

The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to gather information in order to help establish priorities for targeted nutrigenetic investigations in human studies for cancer prevention. The Nutritional Science Research Group of the NCI’s Division of Cancer Prevention is interested in well-designed dietary intervention trials to investigate nutrigenetics as a determinant of the response to bioactive food components and to evaluate their utility as biomarkers for predicting risk and/or tumor behavior.

This RFI is for information and planning purposes only and should not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation on the part of the Federal Government, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and/or the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The NCI does not intend to make any awards based on responses to this RFI or to otherwise pay for the preparation of any information submitted or for the Government's use of such information.

Background

Increasing evidence points to diet as a modifier of cancer risk and tumor behavior. Numerous bioactive food components may be involved in bringing about these responses. However the literature is filled with many inconsistencies. Genetic variants involved with absorption, metabolism and/or excretion of specific food components and their associated molecular targets may provide valuable predictive insights into human response to foods and dietary supplements. The scientific literature suggests incorporating information on genetic variations involved with absorption, metabolism and/or excretion processes may help to predict which individuals are likely to benefit most by dietary modification. Genetic factors that might be useful in this context include functionally relevant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), copy number variants, and deletions and haplotype blocks. These interactions may predict which individuals may be placed at risk when consuming suboptimal diets occurring at low, exaggerated, and/or excessive intakes. Careful consideration of the impact of these diet-sensitive genetic variants on their molecular targets may help identify vulnerable populations for targeted diet-based cancer prevention interventions.

Information Requested

The NCI Division of Cancer Prevention seeks information and feedback from interested researchers and other interested parties on the areas for further investigation:

  • Diet-sensitive genetic modifications that warrant further focus for potential intervention studies.
  • Nutrient, bioactive food components from foods or supplements that warrant further study.
  • Any specific cancer process related genes with molecular targets that are diet-sensitive that should be evaluated. If so, which ones?
  • Critical issues that are limiting this area of investigation.

If you are willing to provide information and feedback, please indicate your primary affiliation/role from the categories listed below:

  • Academia;
  • Small Business
  • Pharmaceutical/Biotechnology Industry;
  • Federal Government;
  • State Government;
  • Healthcare Professional;
  • Patient Advocacy Group; and
  • Other (briefly define).
How to Submit a Response

Responses will be accepted through April 15, 2011. Interested members of the nutrigenetics community and other interested members of the medical, nutrition and genetics research communities are invited to respond. Responses should be limited to three pages and marked with this RFI identifier NOT-CA-11-009. Responses are preferred in electronic format and can be e-mailed to emenaken@mail.nih.gov.

All individual responses will remain confidential. Any identifiers (e.g., names, institutions, e-mail addresses, etc.) will be removed when responses are compiled. Only the processed, anonymized results will be shared internally with scientific working groups convened by the NCI, as appropriate. Nonetheless, no proprietary information should be submitted.

Respondents will receive an automated email confirmation acknowledging receipt of their response and will receive individualized feedback.

Inquiries

Inquiries regarding this RFI should be directed to:

Nancy Emenaker, Ph.D., R.D.
Program Director
Nutritional Science Research Group
Division of Cancer Prevention
National Cancer Institute
6130 Executive Blvd., Executive Plaza North, Room 3158
Bethesda, MD 20892-7328
Rockville, MD 20852 (Express/Courier Service)
Office: 301-496-0116
Fax: 301-480-3925
Email: emenaken@mail.nih.gov
Website: http://prevention.cancer.gov/programs-resources/groups/ns