February 8, 2022
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National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Through this Notice of Request for Information (RFI), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) is soliciting input on important new research directions for cancer control and population sciences.
Background
In 2022, the Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences (DCCPS) at NCI commemorates 25 years since its founding. As we look toward the future to end cancer as we know it, innovative solutions will be needed. DCCPS requests broad public input from, but not limited to, the extramural research community, professional organizations, advocates, cancer survivors, healthcare practitioners, and research participants concerning directions that will accelerate scientific progress and increase the impact of DCCPS-sponsored research.
The mission of DCCPS is to reduce the risk, incidence, morbidity, and deaths from cancer and to enhance the quality of life for cancer survivors and others affected by cancer. DCCPS supports a broad range of research across the cancer care continuum from prevention to end-of-life. Current programs include surveillance, environmental and genetic epidemiology, behavioral research, and healthcare delivery research. Cross-cutting themes that span all current programs include implementation science, cancer survivorship, health disparities/health equity, and methodological issues common across cancer control research. Further details concerning currently funded programs can be found at cancercontrol.cancer.gov.
Although NCI/DCCPS requests input to identify the most important research directions to accelerate progress in the three areas described below, comments need not be limited to these domains. Recommendations concerning modifications to current programs and directions are welcome, as are recommendations concerning entirely new directions and programs. Given that these three domains reflect the current mission, structure, and programmatic efforts of DCCPS, ideas concerning high-priority research directions not currently supported or mentioned here are especially welcome.
Information Requested
NCI requests input to identify the most important research directions to accelerate progress in the three areas described below. Comments need not be limited to these domains. Recommendations concerning modifications to current programs and directions are welcome, as are recommendations concerning entirely new directions and programs. Given that these three domains reflect the current mission, structure, and programmatic efforts of DCCPS, NCI seeks comments that address, but are not limited to, any of the following topics:
Nascent and Emerging Opportunities in Cancer Control
Innovative solutions to cancer control will include fostering and developing emerging scientific areas and methodologies that are promising and can be widely applied. Ideas could include, but are not limited to
- Compelling cancer research questions that might be addressed by basic behavioral, psychological, communication, or neurosciences or their interdisciplinary integration and application;
- Understanding genetic and environmental factors that predict cancer risk, prognosis, or susceptibility to cancer treatment-related toxicities;
- Translation of basic understandings of cancer biology and human behavior into more effective cancer prevention and control interventions;
- Development and testing of innovative new approaches to promote the adoption and maintenance of health behaviors that reduce cancer risk and improve outcomes for cancer survivors, including physical activity, healthy diets, weight control and maintenance, sun safety, tobacco cessation, and reduced alcohol use;
- Social determinants of health and contextual influences on cancer control, including geospatial approaches to cancer control; and development of rapid-cycle research strategies and digital health technologies, including telemedicine.
Cancer Control Resources, Methods, and Measures
An efficient, scalable, and integrated approach to cancer control requires the application and development of novel and innovative research resources, measures, and methods, perhaps borrowing from different disciplines such as biology, computer science, engineering, and economics. Ideas could include
- New research and surveillance resources, tools, or infrastructure that are needed to accelerate cancer control and sustainable impact;
- Promising new methods and measures that increase precision or accuracy, including objective measures and those measured at multiple levels that should be used more widely in cancer control;
- Data linkages or analytic methods that will substantially enhance the capabilities of existing resources and to enhance more rapid and responsive use of data;
- Common/agreed upon measures included across many data sets for understanding small populations;
- Big data/predictive analytics;
- Application of machine learning, artificial intelligence, and other more specific methodologies;
- Data elements that require improved measurement to advance cancer control.
Implementation of Effective Cancer Control Interventions into Practice Across All Communities in the U.S.
Research is needed to design and evaluate more rapid, effective, and widespread uptake and sustained implementation of effective cancer control interventions, guidelines, and recommendations to improve public health and especially those that address health disparities and inequities. Interventions can be delivered to individuals, families, communities, and organizations, or at multiple levels. Ideas could include
- Accelerating the implementation of effective interventions;
- Adapting interventions to new populations or settings;
- Expanding the reach, particularly to low-resource settings and underserved communities;
- Understanding how best to stop or reduce (“de-implement”) the use of interventions that are ineffective, unproven, low-value, or harmful.
Respondents may focus on specific domains of cancer control research opportunity, broad cancer control research priorities, or both. Given the division’s role in supporting population science research infrastructure, comments also are welcome concerning resources and capacities that might efficiently support cutting-edge research opportunities for the research community. Suggestions concerning research strategies and priorities to facilitate progress in the elimination of health inequities and disparities also are welcome.
How to Submit a Response
Responses to this RFI must be submitted electronically to [email protected].
Responses must be received by 11:59 p.m. on March 25, 2022.
Responses to this RFI are voluntary. Do not include any proprietary, classified, confidential, trade secret, or sensitive information in your response. The responses will be reviewed by NIH staff, and individual feedback will not be provided to any responder. The Government will use the information submitted in response to this RFI at its discretion. Any identifiers (e.g., names, institutions, e-mail addresses, etc.) will be removed when responses are compiled. The Government reserves the right to use only the processed, anonymized results on public NIH websites, in reports, in summaries of the state of the science, in any possible resultant solicitation(s), grant(s), or cooperative agreement(s), or in the development of future funding opportunity announcements.
This RFI is for information and planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a solicitation, grant, or cooperative agreement, or as an obligation on the part of the Federal Government, the NIH, or individual NIH Institutes and Centers to provide support for any ideas identified in response to it. The Government will not 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 RFI or from the Government’s use of such information.
The NIH looks forward to your input and we hope that you will share this RFI document with your colleagues.
and Human Services (HHS)
