Notice Number: NOT-CA-18-002
Key Dates
Release Date: November 2, 2017
Response Date: December 15, 2017
None
Issued by
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Purpose
Through this Request for Information (RFI), the Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine (OCCAM) of the National Cancer Institute is seeking information on:
- Existing cancer informational resources (e.g. clinical data sets) that include lifestyle and behavioral information (i.e. diet, physical activity, and stress reduction practices) and outcomes of cancer therapy.
- Ongoing research projects or clinical trials where there is an opportunity to collect information on lifestyle and behavioral information
- Information on planed or potential new research projects or clinical trials to study lifestyle and behavioral factors contributing to the effectiveness of cancer therapies
- Strategies to develop and analyze new cancer informational resources which include lifestyle and behavioral information along with outcomes of cancer therapies
This solicitation is being issued to provide information to assist in formulating potential programs to analyze the impact of lifestyle on the outcome of cancer therapy. Response to this RFI is voluntary. Responders are free to address any or all of the items in Sections I and II, delineated below, or any other relevant topics respondents recognize as important for NIH to consider. Respondents should not feel compelled to address all items.
Background
Lifestyle and behavioral factors such as physical activities, exercises, diet, and stress reduction measures such as yoga and meditation, have been reported to affect human health and wellbeing. Some of these factors are also considered important for cancer prevention. However, there is a gap in our knowledge regarding the effects of these factors on the outcome of cancer therapies such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy or immunotherapy. Specifically, NCI is interested in understanding how these factors in cancer patients affect the outcome of the treatment as measured by response to therapy, post treatment survival, relapse-free survival and quality of life during and after therapy. The responses to this RFI will be considered by OCCAM in developing future research programs to fill knowledge gaps by creating or identifying resources with relevant information. There is no solicitation available at this time; no basis for claims against NCI shall arise as a result of this RFI, responses thereto or the NCI’s use of such information as either part of our evaluation process or in developing specifications for any subsequent requirement.
Information Requested
NIH recognizes the complexity of this multifactorial topic. There are many different lifestyle and behavioral factors and the role of each one may vary by patient age, disease, disease stage, ethnicity, and therapy. Such factors must be considered when determining what, when, and how lifestyle and behavior affect the outcome of cancer therapy. The NIH seeks information on any or all of the following topics to help formulate strategic approaches to prioritizing its programmatic efforts.
SECTION I. Information on existing cancer informational resources that include lifestyle and behavioral information and outcomes of cancer therapies
- Survey or epidemiological datasets available for research that include information on lifestyle and behavioral factors such as physical activity, exercise, diet, yoga, meditation,
- Clinical trial datasets available for research that include information on lifestyle and behavioral factors
- Data from electronic health records that is available for research and contains information on lifestyle and behavioral factors
- Any other source with deidentified clinical trial data that includes information on lifestyle and behavioral factors
SECTION II. Information on ongoing cancer therapy research projects or clinical trials where there is an opportunity to collect additional information on lifestyle and behavioral factors.
- Information is needed on research entities with ongoing cancer research projects or clinical trials involving cancer therapy which can add additional specific aims on lifestyle measurements.
- Duration and cost estimates for such projects
SECTION III. Information on potential planed or new research projects or clinical trials which can be designed specifically to study lifestyle and behavioral factors contributing to the effectiveness of cancer therapies
- Information is needed on research entities with capabilities and interests in conducting cancer research projects or clinical on the impact of lifestyle and behavior on the outcomes of cancer therapies including:
- Strategies on how to conduct new research addressing the complexities of this multifactorial research question
- Duration and cost estimates for such projects
SECTION IV. Any other approaches not listed above aimed to:
- Study lifestyle and behavioral factors contributing to the effectiveness of cancer therapies
- Collect and analyze data to determine the effects of lifestyle and behavioral factors on the outcome of cancer therapies
- Duration and cost estimates for such projects
How to Submit a Response
Comments on the topic areas of interest should be submitted electronically to the following link: https://goo.gl/forms/avHjrMSXiwBTzLjo2 .
To ensure consideration, responses must be communicated by December 15, 2017.
We look forward to your input and hope that you will share this RFI document with your colleagues.
Inquiries
Please direct all inquiries to:
Avraham Rasooly, Ph.D.
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Telephone: 240-276-6196
Email: rasoolya@mail.nih.gov
and Human Services (HHS)
