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NOT-CA-23-014 Request for Information (RFI): Priorities for Precision Cancer Prevention of Pancreatic and Liver Cancer Science at NCI

Issued by

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Purpose

Through this Notice of Request for Information (RFI), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) is soliciting input on important new research directions for cancer screening, prevention and symptom management science.

Background

The Division of Cancer Prevention (DCP) furthers the mission of the National Cancer Institute by leading, supporting, and promoting rigorous, innovative research and training to prevent cancer and its consequences to improve the health of all people. To achieve the goal of ending cancer as we know it, DCP will need innovative solutions and strategies. Thus, DCP is seeking broad public input from all interested parties, including but not limited to, the extramural research community, professional organizations, advocates, cancer survivors, healthcare practitioners, and research participants, on research directions that will accelerate cancer prevention and symptom management scientific progress and increase the impact of DCP-sponsored research.

The National Cancer Institute Division of Cancer Prevention (DCP) is devoted to research on cancer prevention, interception, screening and early detection, and symptom science. To accomplish this, DCP provides funding and administrative support to clinical, population science, and laboratory researchers, community and multidisciplinary teams, and collaborative scientific networks. Ongoing programs include early detection, screening, and surveillance of cancers, clinical and translational, nutritional science, palliative care, and symptom management. A core value that is integrated into the goals of all DCP programs is consideration of the needs of diverse populations. Now DCP seeks specific information on research gaps and priorities in the field of carcinogenic environmental exposures in relation to early detection, screening, and cancer prevention. In addition, DCP is seeking input to inform research priorities related to the application and development of novel and innovative research technologies, resources, measures, and method that Further details concerning currently funded programs can be found at https://prevention.cancer.gov/about-dcp/scientific-scope

While NCI/DCP requests input to identify the most important research directions to accelerate progress in the two areas described in the next section, 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. In addition, although these two domains are based on the current mission, structure, and programmatic efforts of DCP, other high-priority research directions not currently supported or mentioned here are also welcome.

Information Requested

NCI requests input to identify the most important research directions to accelerate progress in the two 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 two domains reflect the current mission, structure, and programmatic efforts of DCP, NCI seeks comments that address, but are not limited to, any of the following topics:

Nascent and Emerging Technologies in Cancer Screening and Prevention

An efficient, scalable, and integrated approach to precision cancer screening and prevention requires the application and development of novel and innovative research technologies, resources, measures, and methods. These include novel in vitro and in vivo diagnostic and imaging approaches for detection of precancer and early cancer, developing novel methods, such as point-of-care, self-sampling, and self-testing technologies, for delivering these interventions to underserved populations, perhaps borrowing from different disciplines such as biology, physics, computer science, and bioengineering. Ideas could include, but are not limited to

• Promising new or reimagined tools, devices, methods, and measures that increase precision or accuracy and/or reduce measurement errors, including objective measures and those measured at multiple levels that can provide a better understanding of risk stratification at stages of precancers to cancer transition, symptoms during cancer and chemotherapy-induced symptom management
• New or reimagined research and surveillance resources, tools, or infrastructure that are needed to accelerate precision cancer screening, prevention/interception, and symptom management
• Promising new tools, devices, methods and measures that increase precision or accuracy and/or reduce measurement errors, including objective measures and those measured at multiple levels that should be used more widely in cancer early detection, screening, prevention, and symptom management
• Data linkage tools or analytic methods that will substantially enhance the capabilities of existing resources and that lead to more efficient, rapid, and responsive use of data
• Common/agreed upon measures and computational modeling methodologies for use in a wide range of datasets from small prevention and screening studies that when combined and compared could inform definitive studies or changes in practice
• Big data/predictive analytic tools for precise cancer early detection, screening, prevention, and symptom management
• Application of machine learning, artificial intelligence, and other more specific methodologies for precise cancer early detection, screening, prevention, and symptom management

Monitoring and Modulation of Environmental Exposures for Cancer Screening and Prevention

NCI DCP seeks information for topics on scientific gaps and research opportunity areas related to the effects of environmental exposures on risk of precancers and cancer as well as precision cancer screening and prevention strategies that might prevent or reverse these carcinogenic processes. Any exposures that are not intrinsic (e.g., genomic and epigenomic) should be considered, including but not limited to oncogenic infections, pollution (climate change, industrial, smoke exposure due to fires, e.g., burn-pits exposure, firsthand or secondhand smoke, firefighters, etc.), geospatial factors, built environment factors and social determinants of health. It is well established that certain sub-population groups are disproportionately affected by environmental exposures and socio-economic disparities that affects their uptake of cancer screening and preventive measures impacting cancer health disparities. NCI also seeks insights as to specific new resources or approaches that may be needed to address these gaps. The focus is on effective enduring and sustainable evidence-based precision cancer screening and prevention and interception approaches rather than short-term self-contained projects.

Examples of topics related to monitoring and modulation of environmental exposures for cancer screening and prevention approaches for which input is sought include, but are not limited to, the following areas:

• Translational research that leads to a better understanding of the environmental exposures that initiate or exacerbate carcinogenesis especially as a basis for the development of and inform interventions that can prevent, intercept, or reverse these processes
• Research that leads to the discovery, validation, and implementation of biomarkers of disease progression and prognosis related to environmental exposure as well as biomarkers of preventive intervention effects on exposure-related processes
• Research strategies to understand underlying mechanisms for disease development, and progression, as well as the role of tumor and immune microenvironment relevant to environmental exposure
• Identification and validation of targets for precision cancer prevention/interception approaches that might target environmental exposures
• Development and characterization of preclinical model systems that include, precancerous organoids, animal models, and other in vitro approaches that elucidate mechanisms of environmental carcinogenesis
• Research strategies that reduce health inequities for early detection, screening (if applicable), and interventions relevant to environmental exposures
• Improving diverse participants' enrollment in screening and prevention studies and trials addressing environmental carcinogenesis
• Defining and evaluating the quality and value of early detection, screening, and prevention strategies for environmental carcinogenesis
• Identifying and understanding mechanisms and pathways for the progression or modulation of disease process due to environmental exposures from precancer to cancer
• Research that leads to the identification of underlying mechanisms that underly the increased probability of mortality in exposure-related malignancies as compared to other cancers.

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 January 20, 2023.

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.

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Email: [email protected]