Notice of Availability of Administrative Supplements for NCI Grant and Cooperative Agreement Awards to Support Pediatric Cancer Control Research Across the Lifespan (Admin Supp Clinical Trial Optional)

Notice Number: NOT-CA-18-088

Key Dates
Release Date: June 28, 2018

Related Announcements
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 enhance pediatric cancer control research across the lifespan.

NCI recognizes that the late effects of pediatric cancer therapy can have profound physical, emotional, and other consequences for survivors, including a shortened life expectancy. NCI is interested in uncovering methods to minimize and address these late effects. Efforts to improve both the quality and the length of life of pediatric cancer survivors is a cancer control research priority for NCI.

Background

Over 10,000 new cancer cases are estimated to be diagnosed among children ages 0-14 years; and about 70,000 adolescents and young adults (AYA) ages 15-39 are diagnosed with cancer each year in the United States. Cancer incidence in children and adolescents has risen slightly over the past 5 years, although death rates have declined. However, cancer is still the leading cause of death by disease past infancy among children and AYA in the United States. Evidence suggests that some cancers diagnosed in childhood and adolescence may have unique genetic and biological features, as well as etiology. In addition, pediatric and AYA cancer survivors have potential for substantial late and long-term symptoms due to their cancer and its treatment(s). Extending currently-funded NIH research to expand cancer control research on pediatric and AYA cancer can reduce burden for patients and their families across the cancer continuum.

Potential Research Objectives

NCI is interested in supporting Administrative Supplements that make a compelling case for the following:

  • The proposed research will increase the understanding of the parent grant by exploring the effects of childhood cancer and its treatment, on healthy development among survivors across the lifespan.
  • The proposed research will enhance existing cancer control data of pediatric and AYA cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers; and adult survivors of pediatric cancers.

Examples of potential activities of interest to NCI may include (but is not limited to) research that will:

  • Enhance recruitment for cancer control clinical trials and cohort studies.
  • Enhance recruitment of minority or other medically-underserved populations.
  • Assess fertility planning, communication, education, and outcomes.
  • Measure financial hardship and employment outcomes.
  • Measure adherence to guideline-based treatment (including oral medications) and symptom/toxicity prevention and management, and/or barriers to patient adherence.
  • Develop, validate, and/or pilot test data collection instruments or relevant measures, including patient-reported outcomes such as health-related quality of life.
  • Analyze existing genetic datasets in combination with environmental, lifestyle, survival, treatment and biologic data.
  • Enhance the collection of behavioral factors (e.g., diet and physical activity data) to assess the relationship between these lifestyle factors and cancer treatment, recurrence, and other cancer-related outcomes.
  • Support the preparation and deposition of individual-level data from pediatric and AYA cancer studies (e.g., epidemiologic cohorts) into NIH/NCI-supported controlled-access databases.
  • Extend studies of pediatric cancer patients or survivors to collect data on family systems (e.g., parents, siblings) and/or caregivers.
  • Study mechanisms (i.e., biologic/molecular, biopsychosocial, or biobehavioral) that contribute to frailty or premature aging, also known as "accelerated aging," among childhood cancer survivors.
  • Conduct social, behavioral and psychological studies to inform interventions aimed at addressing cancer-related morbidity and mortality outcomes to promote healthy aging across the lifespan.
  • Study the effects of childhood cancer and its treatment, on healthy development among survivors, including measures of cognition and/or sleep and circadian regulation.
  • Examine variables of symptom management, palliative care, and/or end-of-life topics.
  • Study health communication environments and information-seeking behaviors (including exposure to misinformation) and the use of innovative technology and health informatics in the care of pediatric and AYA patients and survivors.
  • Investigate components of quality survivorship care (e.g., surveillance for recurrence and late effects, health promotion, HPV vaccination, smoking cessation).
  • Work within the scope of the original project of the eligible parent award is most appropriate for this Notice, and activities (i.e., augmented efforts) beyond the activities covered in the budget of the original grant are eligible for supplemental funding. Activities that were originally proposed in the parent grant are NOT appropriate for this initiative.

This Notice informs current NCI awardees that NCI is interested in Administrative Supplement applications to currently funded projects supported by NCI. Projects funded by other NIH Institutes/Centers will not be considered for funding under this program.

Application Process

Applicants should begin their Research Strategies by referencingis Notice's number (NOT-CA-18-088) in their submission. Applicants should also inform Dr. Michelle Mollica (michelle.mollica@nih.gov) 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:

Michelle Mollica, Ph.D., M.P.H., R.N., O.C.N.
National Cancer Institute
Telephone: 240-276-7621
Email: michelle.mollica@nih.gov