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NOT-CA-22-069 - Notice to Extend the Response Date for NOT-CA-22-047 "Request for Information (RFI): Seeking Stakeholder Actionable Input to Improve Research on Health and Well-being for Asians, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders"

Issued by

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)

National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)

Purpose

The National Institute of Health (NIH) is seeking information on enhancing research progress on Asians', Native Hawaiians', and Other Pacific Islanders' health and well-being across health conditions by identifying gaps, needs, opportunities, and actionable recommendations for priorities.

Background

In 1999, the White House established a first Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) to improve their quality of life and opportunities to participate in federal programs. On May 28, 2021, the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI) was reinstated and reinvigorated to advance equity, justice, and opportunity, See Executive Order 14031. The Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Other Pacific Islander population is the fastest growing racial/ethnic group in the United States. However, the health research for Asian and Native Hawaiian, and Other Pacific Islander are almost invisible and Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Other Pacific Islander is one of the understudied racial/ethnic populations. Asian and Native Hawaiian, and Other Pacific Islander have experienced striking disparities in incidence and mortality of many diseases or health conditions, and in seeking medical care. In addition, recent evidence indicates that COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected the health of Asian and Native Hawaiian, and Other Pacific Islander populations.

Asian and Native Hawaiian, and Other Pacific Islander populations are the most socioeconomically heterogeneous racial/ethnic group with more than 100 different languages. Examples of the disparities in health concerns include hepatitis B and chronic liver disease, diabetes without obesity, liver cancer and lung cancer in never-smoker female. Asianss were less likely to have received mental health treatment as compared to non-Hispanic whites. Native Hawaiian, and Other Pacific Islanderpopulations have higher rates of smoking and alcohol consumption. The disparity in health conditions and disease therapeutic outcomes can vary among heterogeneous Asian and Native Hawaiian, and Other Pacific Islander populations. The lack of disaggregated data and underrepresentation in clinical trials are among several challenges that limit our understanding of the complex risk factors, such as genetic predisposition, social determinants, environmental, behavioral and lifestyle (e.g., diet, exercise, and sleep) factors that may contribute to the health of Asian and Native Hawaiian, and Other Pacific Islander subpopulations.

To enhance Asian and Native Hawaiian, and Other Pacific Islander health disparities research consistent with WHIAANHPI, this Request for Information (RFI) is to gain feedback, comments, and novel ideas from the members of scientific communities in the United States (U.S.) and abroad as well as from persons representing other segments of the American public as listed below to help identify the gaps, needs and opportunities and develop strategies and priorities of actionable recommendations that will enhance research in Asian and Native Hawaiian, and Other Pacific Islander health disparities contributing to precision health and medicine. This RFI is intended to solicit input from stakeholders, including extramural researchers, clinicians, academic institutions, healthcare and community organizations, and the public.

Information Requested

NIH seeks information and actionable recommendations on research gaps, needs, best practices, innovative study designs and measurement, resources and data resources, and opportunities to enhance health disparities research, and to promote equity and improve Asian and Native Hawaiian, and Other Pacific Islander health and well-being. Specifically, respondents are asked, but not limited to, briefly address the following topics or categories in the context of specific disease or health conditions (e.g., type of cancer, diabetes, aging, or mental health etc.) and to the specific Asian and Native Hawaiian, and Other Pacific Islander racial or ethnic populations.

Consistent with the 1997 OMB issued federal register notice, Revisions to the Standards for the Classification of Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity, for the purpose of this RFI, the terms:

Asian and Native Hawaiian, and Other Pacific Islander racial/ethnic groups or subpopulations*:

• Asian. A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam.

• Native Hawaiian, and Other Pacific Islander. A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands.

Research field** may include but not limited to:

A. Epidemiology and population research (e.g., population cohorts on specific risk factors or diseases in the context of race/ethnicity)

B. Basic biological research (e.g., basic cellular or molecular pathways and mechanisms)

C. Disease prevention and symptom management (e.g., mechanism and translational preclinical and clinical research in the context of race/ethnicity or health disparity)

D. Disease diagnosis, treatment or treatment outcome (e.g., mechanism and translational preclinical and clinical research in the context of race/ethnicity or heath disparity)

F. Community engagement and implementation science

G. Research infrastructure and resource/data resource (e.g., research collaboration network or consortium, biological human relevant preclinical model, biomarkers of health or disease intervention and outcome, or database and tool)

H. Technology development

I. Workforce development

J. Others (e.g., sex/gender or age as biological variables)

Provide feedback to this Request for Information to Improve Research on Health and Well-being for Asian, Native Hawaiians, and Other Pacific Islanders in the context of (1) specific health or disease condition (e.g., type of cancer, diabetes, mental health, or aging condition etc.) (2) racial/ethnic group or subpopulation* (e.g., Chinese, Asian Indian, or Native Hawaiians etc.), and (3) research field** (e.g., disease prevention preclinical study or treatment clinical trial etc.):

1. Understudied scientific areas
2. Emerging opportunities in research strategies
3. List top 5 of actionable high priorities
4. Barriers or challenges in research and how to overcome
5. Any other issues or research topics that the National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), and NIH should consider in developing a program on enhancing disparity research for Asian and Native Hawaiian, and Other Pacific Islander in health and disease outcome.

Responses will be accepted through April 22, 2022
Note: Do not include any proprietary or confidential information.
If you are willing to do so, please indicate your primary affiliation/role from the categories listed below:

• Academia (basic or clinical research);
• Small Business;
• Pharmaceutical/Biotechnology Industry;
• Federal Government;
• State Government;
• Healthcare Professional organization;
• Integrative Medicine Professional organization;
• Patient Advocacy Group;
• Country; and
• Other (briefly define).

How to Submit a Response

• Responses will be accepted through April 22, 2022. Responses should be limited to one to two page(s) and marked with this RFI identifier "NOT-CA-22-047" in the email subject line as well as in the title of the response.
• Responses in electronic formats are preferred and can be E-mailed to NIHAANHPIRFI@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 the National Institutes of Health (NIH) staff members and any member of scientific working groups convened by the NCI and NIH, as appropriate.

Respondents will receive an automated e-mail confirmation acknowledging receipt of their response but will not receive any individualized feedback. The NIH will use all information submitted in response to this RFI Notice at its discretion and will not provide comments to any responder’s submission. The NIH may use information gathered by this RFI Notice to inform the development of future funding opportunity announcements and/or in any resultant solicitations.

This RFI Notice is for information and planning purpose only and should not be interpreted as a solicitation or as an obligation on the part of the Federal Government, the NIH, NCI. No monetary awards will be made to pay for the preparation of any information submitted or for the Government’s use of such information. No basis for claims against the U.S. Government shall arise as a result of a response to this request for information or from the Government’s use of such information.

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Dan Xi, Ph.D.
Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Telephone: 240-276-6143
Email: xida@mail.nih.gov

Gabriela Riscuta, M.D.
Division of Cancer Prevention
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Telephone: 240.276.7118
Email: gabriela.riscuta@nih.gov

Anil Wali, Ph.D.
Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Telephone: 240.276.6183
Email: walia@mail.nih.gov

Ming Lei, Ph.D.
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Phone: 301-827-7616
E-mail: leim@mail.nih.gov

Rina Das, Ph.D.
National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)
Phone: 301-402-1366
E-mail: dasr2@mail.nih.gov