Notice Number: NOT-CA-18-087
Key Dates
Release Date: June 29, 2018
PA-18-591
Issued by
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Purpose
This Notice informs current NCI awardees that NCI is interested in Administrative Supplement applications that seek to integrate/merge or link two or more independent datasets to answer novel cancer prevention and control questions.
NCI is interested in requests that seek to integrate or link multiple existing datasets to answer research questions that cannot be addressed with any single dataset. Collaborations are encouraged among of multi-disciplinary investigators to examine cancer-related data at multiple contextual levels. NCI encourages data-sharing and integration of data resources to enable novel approaches to investigate cancer risk and disease outcomes across multilevel contexts (i.e., basic biobehavioral and individual health behavior factors; family, school, workplace, social, and community networks; and natural, built, economic, policy, institutional, and health care environments).
Background
Integrative Data Analysis (IDA) methods can be used to study cancer control and behavioral risk factors for cancer, including tobacco and alcohol use, diet and physical activity, UV and environmental exposures, sleep, and medical adherence to screening and vaccine uptake. IDA can merge multiple iterations of survey, cohort, or experimental data; or linking data by matching entity (e.g., person, hospital, school) or geocodes (e.g., zip code; county or state or another geographic identifier).
IDA-related research can yield efficient and productive research that reduces costs, bridges behavioral research with other disciplines, and enhances longitudinal analyses and assessment of small populations. Integrating or merging datasets using IDA provides an opportunity to study a broader swath of factors without having to collect new data. This requires collaboration among researchers to share data, and the data must meet certain conditions before merging is possible. These conditions include having common data elements that assess process or outcome measures across studies and respondents with at least one common age (or any common variable that assesses a time-varying component) that serves to ‘link’ studies together. IDA can overcome limitations of size, dispersion, or accessibility of small populations that makes it difficult to obtain adequate sample sizes. Examples of small populations include racial/ethnic and gender minorities, individuals with rare cancers, and individuals with low base-rate behaviors.
Potential Research Objectives
Multi-level analysis involves addressing two or more of the following levels: basic biobehavioral and individual health behavior factors; family, school, workplace, social, and community networks; and natural, built, economic, policy, institutional, and health care environments.
Examples of potential data integration efforts of interest to NCI may include (but is not limited to) research that will:
- Combine multiple diverse data types for study of cancer risk or outcomes, or combine multiple cohorts to create enhanced longitudinal data.
- Integrate analyses with prolonged exposure (for example, diet, radon, socioeconomic status, and infection), or a single exposure at multiple time points and the influence on cancer risk or outcomes.
- Combine data to examine small populations, particularly among disparate groups (such as racial/ethnic or gender minorities), rural populations, and/or among individuals with rare cancers or low base-rate behaviors.
- Integrate genomic, host factors, geospatial data, and environmental exposures to examine effects on behavior, clinical outcomes, and enhance cancer surveillance.
- Use "big data" (e.g., accelerometer data, sensors [e.g. heart rate, blood pressure], or clinical data) to develop systems models or frameworks that identify relationships between provider/health care and community factors or determinants on cancer prevention or disease outcomes.
It is encouraged that the data being merged are from different sources and types (including both quantitative and qualitative); and span different levels and include at least one source of behavioral data. Applicants are encouraged to use existing data sources, but are not prohibited from collecting new data if the research aims can still be met, given time and budget limitations. In addition, work to create harmonized measures, develop culturally-sensitive measures, replicate results, and research with cross-study comparisons is encouraged.
NCI is interested in supporting Administrative Supplements that make a compelling case for the following:
- The merged data will identify patterns or inform future hypotheses for observational studies or clinical trials.
- IDA will extend the existing available data to answer novel cancer prevention and control questions that could not be addressed by one single dataset.
- Merging data will allow for generalizability of findings from parent grants to other populations.
Some examples of IDA include (but are not limited to):
- Link data through demographic information, such as that seen in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare data set; or at multiple levels such as the environmental or policy level (e.g., linking state- or county-level information with individual-level data).
- Combine data from geocodes to supplement what is known about self-report data, such as from existing cohort data and/or the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS), to elucidate state/local cancer behaviors and outcomes.
- Incorporate unstructured data that were not originally intended for the examination of theoretically-relevant measures. For example, internet searches for health-related topics as an objective measure of information-seeking behavior, or social media content to assess perceptions and knowledge.
NCI is most interested in applications that include two or more existing datasets, and examine multiple levels one of which in behavior to answer novel questions in cancer prevention and control. This mechanism is suitable for projects where proof-of-principle of the proposed methodology has already been established and supportive preliminary data are available.
Application Process
Applicants should begin their Research Strategies by referencingis Notice's number (NOT-CA-18-087) in their submission. Applicants should also inform Mary O'Connell ([email protected]) of the submission to ensure correct routing.
Investigators must submit applications as responses to the parent active administrative supplement PA: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-18-591.html.
Submissions must be received by August 17, 2018 at 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization for FY 2018 funding. Applicants are encouraged to apply early to allow adequate time to make any corrections to errors found in the application during the submission process by the due date.
Investigators are encouraged to discuss their application with the scientific/research contact prior to submission.
Award Budget and Project Period
NCI will consider application budget requests of no more than $150,000 in total costs and must reflect the actual needs of the proposed project.
The funding mechanism being used to support this program, administrative supplements, can be used to cover cost increases that are associated with achieving certain new research objectives, as long as the research objectives are within the original scope of the peer reviewed and approved project, or the cost increases are for unanticipated expenses within the original scope of the project. Any cost increases need to result from making modifications to the project that would increase or preserve the overall impact of the project consistent with its originally approved objectives and purposes.
The project and budget periods must be within the currently approved project period for the existing parent award. Requests for no-cost extensions on the parent grant to accommodate a supplement will not be permitted.
Inquiries
Please direct all inquiries to:
Mary O'Connell
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Telephone: 240-276-6873
Email: [email protected]
and Human Services (HHS)
