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HDRP Newsletter, April 2020
Message from the HDRP Associate Director
On behalf of all my colleagues in the Healthcare Delivery Research Program (HDRP), we hope that you are all well and managing both personally and professionally during the COVID-19 pandemic.
We know that for many individuals at risk for or with cancer, the pandemic has affected the delivery of their cancer-related care. Cancer research has also been affected, with many observational studies and clinical trials unable to proceed as planned. NCI and NIH are committed to taking steps to support the extramural cancer research enterprise during this challenging time. This edition of the HDRP Newsletter identifies resources and provides information about what NIH and NCI are doing to respond to COVID-19. You will find guidance for investigators whose grants have been affected by the pandemic as well as links to funding opportunities to support research related to COVID-19.
As NCI Director Ned Sharpless mentioned in a recent blog post
, "The COVID-19 pandemic only reinforces the importance of our work and the work of so many others who are dedicated to protecting and improving public health." We look forward to continuing to work with you while we are currently teleworking to advance our shared goal of advancing innovative research to improve the delivery of cancer-related care. I encourage you especially now to reach out to me or any of our staff to learn more about the work of HDRP and the resources and services we provide. A full staff listing is available on our website.
COVID-19 Updates and Funding Opportunities
COVID-19 is an emerging, rapidly evolving situation. For more information:
- What people with cancer should know
- The latest research information from NIH
- The latest public health information from CDC:
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Information for NIH Applicants and Grant Recipients
The NIH is deeply concerned for the health and safety of people involved in NIH research, and about the effects on the biomedical enterprise in the areas affected by the HHS declared public health emergency for COVID-19. Due to the potential exceptional impact, we want to assure our recipient community that NIH will be doing our part to help you continue your research.
Please view this video from NIH’s Office of Extramural Research Director, Mike Lauer, regarding information for applicants and recipients of NIH Funds on Flexibilities Needed for COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.
Guidance and Resources
- Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) Information for Applicants and Recipients
- Flexibilities Available to Applicants and Recipients of Federal Financial Assistance Affected by COVID-19 - NOT-OD-20-086
- General Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Proposal Submission and Award Management Related to COVID-19 - NOT-OD-20-083
- NIH Late Application Policy Due to Public Health Emergency for United States for 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) - NOT-OD-20-091
NCI Notices of Special Interest for COVID-19 Research
NCI has published two Notices of Special Interest (NOSIs) for COVID-19 research. Click on the links below for information about the purpose of these funding opportunities, eligibility, and the application and review process.
- NOT-CA-20-042 Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): National Cancer Institute Announcement Regarding Availability of Urgent Competitive Revision and Administrative Supplements on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
- NOT-CA-20-043 Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): National Cancer Institute Announcement regarding Availability of Competitive Revision SBIR/STTR Supplements on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
HDRP Achievements
Dr. Paul Jacobsen selected as the 2020 International Psycho-Oncology Society, Arthur M. Sutherland Award and Memorial Lecture Winner
On behalf of HDRP staff, we are thrilled to announce that Dr. Paul Jacobsen was named as the recipient of the 2020 International Psycho-Oncology Society, Arthur M. Sutherland Award and Memorial Lecture Winner! Dr. Jacobsen received the prestigious 2020 International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS) Arthur M. Sutherland Award for his outstanding lifetime achievement in the field of psycho-oncology!
This is IPOS’ most important award and recognizes Dr. Jacobsen’s sustained and distinguished output in psycho-oncology over his whole career. For more information, please visit the most recent issue from International Psycho-Oncology Society.
Funding Opportunities
Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, NCI remains committed to funding research that will improve the health and quality of life of people diagnosed with cancer. Please see a message from NCI Director, Ned Sharpless.
This section includes links to funding opportunities for healthcare delivery research.
Notice of Funding Opportunities for Research Answers to NCI’s Provocative Questions
NCI has published Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) as Request for Applications (RFAs) to solicit applications responding to the new set of Provocative Questions (PQ). The NOFOs will utilize the R01 and R21 activity codes.
The PQ Initiative includes a new set of 9 PQs, two of which are directly relevant to HDRP:
- PQ7: What methods can be developed to integrate patient-generated health data into electronic health records?
- PQ8: What strategies improve and sustain the coordination of comprehensive healthcare for underserved cancer patients with comorbid conditions?
REMINDER: Application due dates: June 2, 2020 (updated) and November 17, 2020.
Additional information defining the research scope for responsive projects is provided in the NOFOs and posted at the PQ website.
Notice of Special Interest (NOSI):
NOSI: Administrative Supplements for Development of Risk-stratified Cancer Survivorship Care Algorithms, NOT-CA-20-038
Contact: Michelle Mollica
Expiration Date: May 16, 2020
View the archived webinar.NOSI: NCI’s Interest in Research to Improve Interprofessional Teamwork and Coordination During Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment, NOT-CA-19-059
Contact: Sallie Weaver
Expiration Date: January 8, 2022
View the archived webinar.NOSI: De-implementation of Ineffective or Low-value Clinical Practices along the Cancer Care Continuum, NOT-CA-20-021
Contact: Erica Breslau
Expiration Date: May 10, 2022
View the archived webinar.NOSI: Research on Oral Anticancer Agents in the Contexts of Utilization, Adherence, and Health Care Delivery, NOT-CA-20-026
Contact: Kate Castro
Expiration Date: May 8, 2023
Other Funding Opportunities:
Multilevel Interventions in Cancer Care Delivery: Follow-up to Abnormal Screening Tests, PA-17-495
(R01)Contact: Erica Breslau
Expiration Date: January 8, 2021Using Information Technology to Support Systematic Screening and Treatment of Depression in Cancer, PA-18-493
(R01), PA-18-492 (R21)Contact: Gurvaneet Randhawa
Expiration Date: May 8, 2021Linking the Provider Recommendation to Adolescent HPV Vaccine Uptake, PAR-19-360
(R01), PAR-19-358 (R21), PAR-19-359 (R03)Contact: Veronica Chollette
Expiration Date: September 8, 2022 (R01 and R21); July 17, 2022 (R03)
View the archived webinar.End-of-Life and Palliative Needs of Adolescents and Young Adults (AYA) with Serious Illnesses, PAR-19-136
(R01), PAR-19-153 (R21)Contact: Ashley Wilder Smith
Expiration Date: January 8, 2022Increasing Uptake of Evidence-Based Screening in Diverse Adult Populations, PA-18-932
(R01)Contact: Erica Breslau
Expiration Date: January 8, 2022Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health, PAR-19-274
(R01), PAR-19-275 (R21), PAR-19-276 (R03)Contact: Gila Neta, Wynne E. Norton, and David Chambers (DCCPS Implementation Science Team)
Expiration Date: May 8, 2022Surgical Disparities Research, PAR-20-079
(R01)Contact: Brenda Adjei
Expiration Date: July 6, 2022Intervening with Cancer Caregivers to Improve Patient Health Outcomes and Optimize Health Care Utilization, PAR-19-352
(R01), PAR-19-355 (R21)Contact: Michelle Mollica
Expiration Date: September 8, 2022
View the archived webinar.
For more information about funding including additional Notice of Funding Opportunities, please visit our Funding page.
Grants Announcements
NIH Expanding Usage of Notices of Special Interest (NOT-OD-19-107)
This Notice informs the extramural community that NIH is expanding and formalizing the use of Notices of Special Interest (NOSI) posted in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts to announce interest in specific scientific research topics.
How Does a NOSI Work?
A NOSI is a standard, formal format for NIH institutes to share and update their research priorities. A NOSI describes specific topics of interest and will direct applicants to one or more active notice of funding opportunities for application submission. A NOSI is not a NOFO and is listed as a notice in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts. Applicants should read NOSIs carefully for any special requirements related to that specific announcement.
HDRP currently sponsors two NOSIs. For more information, visit HDRP’s website and read more in our Funding Opportunities section of this Newsletter.
Upcoming Events
Webinar: Pre-Application Webinar for RFA-CA-20-027 and RFA-CA-20-028, Research to Reduce Morbidity and Improve Care for Pediatric, and Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Cancer Survivors
May 12, 2020 at 1:00 PM ET
Webinar: Healthcare Teams Cyber Discussion Series: The Evolving Role of the Financial Counselor in an Oncology Care Model Pilot Program
May 26, 2020 at 12:00 PM ET
Webinar: Healthcare Teams Cyber Discussion Series: Current Approaches for Addressing Medical Financial Hardship During Cancer Care Delivery
August 27, 2020 at 12:00 PM ET
For other upcoming events please check our News & Events page. Events are updated regularly.
Data and Resources
Release of 2018 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) Data
The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) released the 2018 NHIS data files and supporting documentation in June 2019. The 2018 NHIS includes a 5-minute Cancer Control Supplement (CCS) that focused on cancer screening. The CCS was developed by NCI’s Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Division of Cancer Prevention and Control. The 2018 NHIS data can be downloaded from the NCHS website
. For more information, visit NHIS.SEER-Medicare, SEER-Medicaid, SEER-CAHPS, SEER-MHOS:
The SEER-Linkages (SEER-MHOS, SEER-CAHPS, SEER-Medicare, SEER-Medicaid) are in the process of updating! Stay tuned for more information. For more information, visit SEER-Medicare, SEER-CAHPS, SEER-MHOS.
HealthMeasures
HealthMeasures is an online measurement resource that provides four precise and flexible measurement tools for the assessment of physical, mental, and social health, as well as performance measures of cognition, motor and sensory function. These tools were developed for use across a range of chronic diseases as well as the general population. They provide clinicians, researchers, healthcare administrators, and policymakers with efficient, precise, valid, and responsive measures of symptoms, functional abilities, and general health perceptions surrounding life quality and satisfaction. For more information, visit HealthMeasures.
- HealthMeasures Transition to Independence: 2020 marks the historic transition from an NIH-funded resource to a sustainable extramural resource. At the end of 2019, the NIH grant supporting HealthMeaures completed and HealthMeasures is expected to continue to be available to the research community at little or no cost. Robust assessment of patient health directly from patients can strongly influence the quality and effectiveness of data collected in a research study. We encourage the NIH scientific community grantees to continue using these comprehensive, flexible measurement tools in research and clinical practice.
MEPS Experiences with Cancer Survivorship Supplement
The Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) cancer working group has begun discussing a new Experience with Cancer supplemental questionnaire for a future MEPS. New questions on this supplement may include use of navigation services, participation in survivorship care programs, chronic/long-term symptoms, social isolation, and conversations with health care providers about clinical trial participation. For more information, visit MEPS.
Patterns of Care
Data collection for the most recent Patterns of Care study has begun, with participating registries abstracting data from almost 3,000 patients with advanced melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer. Data to be collected will include several new items, including symptom management, palliative care, and financial conversations between patients and health care provides. For more information, visit POC.
Availability of a PRO-CTCAE™ Module for Child Reporting of Symptomatic Toxicity
The National Cancer Institute’s Patient-Reported Outcomes version of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (PRO-CTCAE™) is a patient-reported outcomes (PRO) measurement system developed to capture symptomatic toxicity in cancer clinical trials. A new module of items is now available to permit self-reporting by children and adolescents ages 7-17 (Ped-PRO-CTCAE™), or proxy reporting by a caregiver for children younger than 7 years of age (Ped-PRO-CTCAE™ [Caregiver]). For more information, visit PRO-CTCAE.