BREAST CANCER RESEARCH PROGRAMS IN NCI-DESIGNATED CANCER CENTERS

NIH GUIDE, Volume 22, Number 43, November 26, 1993



RFA AVAILABLE:   CA/ES/AG-94-005



P.T. 34



Keywords:

  0715036 

  Biomedical Research, Multidiscipl 



National Cancer Institute

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

National Institute on Aging



Letter of Intent Receipt Date:  January 12, 1994

Application Receipt Date:  February 17, 1994



THIS IS A NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF A REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS (RFA);

IT IS ONLY AN ABSTRACT OF THE RFA.  POTENTIAL APPLICANTS MUST REQUEST

THE COMPLETE RFA, WHICH CONTAINS ESSENTIAL INFORMATION FOR THE

PREPARATION OF AN APPLICATION, FROM THE CONTACT LISTED IN

"INQUIRIES," BELOW.  FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE

COMPLETE RFA MAY RESULT IN AN INCOMPLETE APPLICATION, WHICH WILL BE

RETURNED TO THE APPLICANT WITHOUT REVIEW.



PURPOSE



This RFA is sponsored by the Cancer Centers Branch, Division of

Cancer Biology, Diagnosis and Centers (DCBDC) of the National Cancer

Institute (NCI); the Chemical Exposures and Molecular Biology Branch,

Division of Extramural Research and Training of the National

Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS); and the

Extramural Research Programs of the National Institute on Aging

(NIA).  The co-sponsoring Institutes announce the availability of

planning and development grants for the purpose of developing and

establishing broad, multidisciplinary research programs in breast

cancer within existing NCI-designated cancer centers (i.e., those

institutions currently awarded a Cancer Center Support Grant, P30).



The primary purpose of this RFA is to encourage Cancer Centers that

do not currently have a formal breast cancer research "program" to

develop and establish the research infrastructure for an organized,

interactive activity within the center.  A secondary purpose is to

encourage cancer centers with established breast cancer research

programs to expand their competitive research base by focusing on

breast cancer in the elderly and/or on environmental factors

affecting the incidence, morbidity, and mortality of breast cancer.

In the primary area, emphasis should be placed on developing

"programs" that will involve a broad array of research approaches in

basic, clinical, and prevention and control research and that will

have the potential for medical application and impact on reducing the

incidence and mortality of breast cancer on a local, regional, and/or

national level.  In the secondary area, the center should already

have a strong, broadly-based research "program" in place with

potential for medical application, and emphasis should be placed on

expanding the existing "program" to take advantage of research

opportunities related to the elderly and/or to environmental factors.

Under both purposes, the sponsoring Institutes will be particularly

receptive to applications that include or involve a focus on the

problem of breast cancer in underserved minority populations and

populations of women that have disproportionately high death rates

due to cancer.



Upon completion of these planning and development grants, it is

anticipated that recipient institutions will either have a formal

breast cancer research "program" in place or an expanded "program"

addressing breast cancer in the elderly and/or environmental factors

contributing to breast cancer.  It is also expected that those

"programs" will be sustained in the future through the same types of

competitive funding sources that support other established programs

in the Cancer Center.



HEALTHY PEOPLE 2000



The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the health

promotion and disease prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2000,"

a PHS-led national activity for setting priority areas.  This RFA,

Breast Cancer Research Programs in NCI-designated Cancer Centers, is

related to the priority area of cancer.  Potential applicants may

obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full Report:  Stock No.

017-001-00474-0) or "Healthy People 2000" (Summary Report:  Stock No.

017-001-00473-1) through the Superintendent of Documents, Government

Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325 (telephone 202-783-3238).



ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS



Only institutions that are current recipients of Cancer Center

Support Grants (CCSG) (P30) awards from the NCI are eligible to apply

for a planning and development grant in response to this RFA.  Two

different levels of eligibility are as follows:



Option A



1.  Eligibility.  Cancer Centers that currently have neither:  (a) an

existing breast cancer research "program" or substantial breast

cancer research activity equivalent to a program that is part of the

CCSG-supported Cancer Center; or (b) a Specialized Program of

Research Excellence (SPORE) (P50) grant in breast cancer.



2.  Purpose/Funds.  These institutions may apply for up to $400,000

in total costs per year for up to four years for the purpose of

developing a broadly based research program in breast cancer (see

FUNDS AVAILABLE).



Option B



1.  Eligibility.  Cancer Centers that currently already have either:

(a) an existing research "program" or substantial breast cancer

research activity equivalent to a "program" that is part of the

CCSG-supported Cancer Center; or (b) a Specialized Program of

Research Excellence (SPORE) (P50) grant in breast cancer.



2.  Purpose/Funds.  These institutions may apply for up to $150,000

in total costs per year to develop research activities focused on

breast cancer in elderly women or on environmental factors

influencing breast cancer.  An Institution may apply for both of

these expansion components, but must provide separate applications

for each.  The maximum period of support will be four years. (see

FUNDS AVAILABLE)



MECHANISM OF SUPPORT



This RFA is a one-time solicitation.  Support of this program will be

through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) exploratory grant

mechanism (P20).  Applicants will be responsible for the planning,

direction, and execution of the proposed project.  Awards will be

administered under PHS grants policy as stated in the Public Health

Service Grants Policy Statement, DHHS Publication No. OASH 90-50,000

(rev. October 1, 1990) and this RFA.



The P20 Planning and Development Grant will support:  (1) the partial

salary of the Program Development Director; (2) funds for special

retreats and meetings; (3) developmental funds for recruitment of new

scientists; (4) developmental funds for pilot projects; and (5)

expansion of an existing shared resource or development of a new

shared resource.



FUNDS AVAILABLE



Approximately $4.9 million is anticipated for availability in Fiscal

Year 1994 to fund applications submitted in response to this RFA.  Up

to eight awards for the development of new breast cancer programs

could be made for approximately $400,000 total costs per year.  For

those Centers applying for expansion of their existing programs, up

to 12 subcomponents could be awarded at $150,000 total costs each per

year.  The funding level is dependent on the receipt of a sufficient

number of applications of high merit.  The sponsoring Institutes

could fund more or fewer grants than the numbers estimated above

depending on the scientific merit of the applications received.  The

total project period is limited to not more than four years.  The

earliest possible start date for the initial awards will be September

30, 1994.  Although this program is provided for in the financial

plans of the NCI, NIEHS and NIA, the award of grants pursuant to this

RFA is also contingent upon the availability of funds for this

purpose.



RESEARCH OBJECTIVES



Breast cancer is the most common cancer among U.S. females and the

incidence of breast cancer has increased at a rate of approximately

two percent per year since 1980.  This RFA is to encourage research

that draws from expertise in many disciplines to focus on the problem

of breast cancer in the basic, clinical and prevention and control

research arenas, and in research that bridges basic science with

clinical research.  Significant scientific and clinical expertise in

breast cancer exists in many of the NCI-designated Cancer Centers

throughout the country.  Cancer Centers have well-established

interactive research environments, and they have the leadership,

space, equipment, structure and resources already available to take

advantage of new research directions as opportunities arise.  This

RFA is designed to provide a significant part of the developmental

resources necessary to establish the program in order to encourage

qualified institutions to make the long term commitment necessary to

sustain the program as a ongoing part of the Cancer Center.



The goal of this RFA is to establish a solid, broad-based

infrastructure for the conduct and continued development of breast

cancer research.  The planning effort should result in an integrated,

interactive research capability with a significant base of externally

funded, peer reviewed research projects, focused on the problem of

breast cancer.  The functions of the Cancer Center Support Grant and

the definitions of and requirements for formal cancer research

"programs," are described in "Guidelines:  Cancer Center Support

Grants."  This document is available from the NCI program staff

listed under INQUIRIES.



STUDY POPULATIONS



SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN

CLINICAL RESEARCH STUDIES



Clinical research conducted under this RFA is likely to accrue women

predominantly.  However, applicants should also ensure that special

attention is given to the inclusion of minorities in study

populations.  If minorities are not included in the study population

for any clinical study, a specific justification for the exclusion

from the study must be provided.  Applications without such

documentation will not be accepted for review.



LETTER OF INTENT



Prospective applicants are asked to submit, by January 12, 1994, a

letter of intent that includes a descriptive title of the proposed

application; the name, address, and telephone number of the Principal

Investigator; the names of other key personnel; the participating

institution(s); and the number and title of the RFA in response to

which the application may be submitted.  Although a letter of intent

is not required, is not binding, and does not enter into the review

of a subsequent application, the information that it contains allows

Institute staff to estimate the potential review workload, to

establish the peer review group as soon as possible, and to avoid

conflict of interest in the review.



The letter of intent is to be sent to Dr. Margaret E. Holmes at the

address listed under INQUIRIES.



APPLICATION PROCEDURES



The research grant application form PHS 398 (rev. 9/91) is to be used

in applying for the P20 Planning Grant.  These forms are available at

most institutional offices of sponsored research; from the Office of

Grants Information, Division of Research Grants, National Institutes

of Health, 5333 Westbard Avenue, Room 449, Bethesda, MD 20892,

telephone 301/710-0267; and the program administrators listed under

INQUIRIES.  Supplemental instructions for preparing the application

are provided in the RFA.  The receipt date for applications under

this RFA is February 17, 1994.



REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS



Upon receipt, applications will be reviewed initially for

completeness and responsiveness.  Incomplete or non-responsive

applications will be returned to the applicant without further

consideration.  Applications will be assessed on:  (1) the technical

merit of the proposed plans and all scientific elements critical to

the development of a strong research program; (2) the contributions

of other resources from the cancer center and the institution to the

successful development of a research program; and (3) the potential

of the cancer center to develop a successful, broad-based,

interactive research program with clinical application capability

over the period of the planning process.  The final priority score

will be based on how well the cancer center is expected to build upon

its current research capabilities to establish or expand a breast

cancer research program with a competitively funded research base

that is multidisciplinary, interactive, and collaborative and that

has the potential for generating results that may have effective

applications.  The specific criteria that will be used by the peer

review group in its evaluation of each application are outlined in

the RFA.  Only highly meritorious applications will be funded.  The

earliest anticipated date of award is September 30, 1994.



INQUIRIES



Written and telephone requests for the RFA and the opportunity to

clarify any issues or questions from potential applicants are

welcome.



Direct requests for the RFA and inquiries regarding programmatic

issues to:



Margaret E. Holmes, Ph.D.

Division of Cancer Biology, Diagnosis, and Centers

National Cancer Institute

Executive Plaza North, Room 502

Bethesda, MD  20892

Telephone:  (301) 496-8531

FAX:  (301) 402-0181



William Suk, Ph.D.

Division of Extramural Research and Training

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

P.O. Box 12233

Research Triangle Park, NC  27709

Telephone:  (919) 541-0797

FAX:  (919) 541-2843



Rosemary Yancik, Ph.D.

Assistant Director for Liaison and Applied Research

National Institute on Aging

Building 31, Room 5C05

Bethesda, MD  20892

Telephone:  (301) 496-5278

FAX:  (301) 496-2793



Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to:



Ms. Crystal Elliot

Grants Administration Branch

National Cancer Institute

Executive Plaza South, Room 242

Bethesda, MD  20892

Telephone:  (301) 496-7800, ext. 19



Mr. David Mineo

Grants Management Branch

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

Building 2, Mail Drop 2-01

P.O. Box 12233

Research Triangle Park, NC  27709

Telephone:  (919) 541-7628



Joseph Ellis

Grants and Contracts Management Office

National Institute on Aging

Gateway Building, Room 2N212

Bethesda, MD  20892

Telephone:  (301) 496-1472



AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS



This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic

Assistance Number 93.397, Cancer Centers Support.  Awards are made

under authorization of the Public Health Service Act, Title IV, Part

A (Public Law 100-607) and administered under PHS grants policies and

Federal Regulations 42 CFR Part 52 and 45 CFR Part 74.  This program

is not subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of

Executive Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency Review.



.

Return to 1993 Index

Return to NIH Guide Main Index

	Office of Extramural Research (OER)			National Institutes of Health (NIH) 9000 Rockville Pike Bethesda, Maryland 20892			Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Note: For help accessing PDF, RTF, MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Audio or Video files, see Help Downloading Files.