REMINDER: NRG Oncology NCORP is accepting applications for projects focused on the National Cancer Moonshot priorities

Summary

NRG Oncology NCORP is soliciting PILOT projects for applications focused on the National Cancer Moonshot priorities as announced by the White House and led by Vice President Joe Biden. Areas of interest include:

• Patient Reported Outcomes/Toxicities on Molecularly Targeted Therapies;
• Patient Adherence to or Issues of Access to Oral Chemotherapeutic Agents;
• Health Disparities related to Adherence to or Issues of Access to molecular/genetic testing and targeted therapies; and
• Big Data linking the NRG databases and biobank for exploring molecular targets for cancer prevention, cancer screening, or symptom management therapies.

Studies seeking to assess markers for cancer treatment are not included in this request for applications and will not be considered for funding.

Funding can be requested for up to $18,000 and is contingent upon NRG Oncology’s receipt of its NCORP Notice of Award from NCI’s Division of Cancer Prevention. Projects are to be completed by December 31, 2017. No carry over funds will be issued and a completed progress report is due at the end of the project period.

Background

In his 2016 State of the Union address, President Obama announced plans for a Cancer “Mooonshot” to speed molecularly focused precision discovery. Priorities include: Prevention and Cancer Vaccine Development, Early Cancer Detection, Cancer Immunotherapy and Combination Therapy, Big Data to Combine Clinical and Biological Markers; Health Disparities in access to targeted testing and therapies and Recruitment to Precision Medicine Trials.

In the National Institutes of Health 2015 publication, The Precision Medicine Initiative Cohort Program – Building a Research Foundation for 21st Century Medicine, Precision Medicine is defined as “an approach to disease treatment and prevention that seeks to maximize effectiveness by taking into account individual variability in genes, environment, and lifestyle. Precision medicine seeks to redefine our understanding of disease onset and progression, treatment response, and health outcomes through the more precise measurement of molecular, environmental, and behavioral factors that contribute to health and disease.”

Thus, the NRG NCORP will focus on precision medicine concepts that inform the cancer prevention and control portion of the Moonshot priorities.

Examples of high priority concepts could include:

• Prevention and Cancer Vaccine Evaluation: Cancers caused by viruses can often be prevented by vaccinating people before they become infected, as demonstrated by the vaccine for cervical cancer and other cancers caused by human papilloma virus (HPV). Unique or signature genetic changes in cancers may also be targeted by cancer vaccines. The NRG NCORP is seeking pilot studies that evaluate, and seek to optimize the use and uptake of cancer vaccines.
• Early Cancer Detection: The NRG NCORP is seeking pilot studies that evaluate uptake and efficacy of recent genomic and proteomic technologies for screening and early detection of cancer.

• Cancer Immunotherapy and Combination Therapy: The NRG NCORP is seeking pilot studies that evaluate interactions among immunotherapy for cancer treatment, environment and or lifestyle to assess the body’s immune response. Additionally, concepts could include:
  • Studies assessing health disparity gaps in utilization of standard of care recommendations for cancer prevention, screening, and treatment.
  • Patient Reported Outcomes/Toxicities on Molecularly Targeted Therapies;
  • Patient Adherence to or Issues of Access to Oral Chemotherapeutic Agents

• Health Disparities related to Adherence to or Issues of Access to molecular/genetic testing and targeted therapies.

• Big Data linking the NRG databases and biobank for exploring molecular targets for cancer prevention, cancer screening, or symptom management therapies. (Studies seeking to assess markers for cancer treatment are not responsive for this call).

Instructions for Applicants

If you have an interest in this application, please submit a [5 page proposal to fielde@nrgoncology.org by 5pm ET, Friday, May 27, 2016.

• Description of project, including summary of specific aims
• How the project will help lead to a Phase II or Phase III NCORP trial.
• Are NRG Oncology resources required? (i.e. biospecimen materials, statistical support, etc.)
• Investigators who will participate in project
• Timeline [not included in the 5 page limit]
• NIH biosketch of PI [not included in the 5 page limit]
• Detailed budget [not included in the 5 page limit]

Submit applications to:
Erica Field, MPH, MHA, CCRP
Project Administrator
fielde@nrgoncology.org
215-940-8824

Direct scientific questions to NRG NCORP Co-Chairs:
Deborah Watkins Bruner, RN, PhD, FAAN
deborah.w.bruner@emory.edu

Larry Wickerham, MD
wickerhamd@nrgoncology.org

Joan Walker, MD
Joan-walker@ouhsc.edu