HDRP Newsletter, May 2021

Research Spotlight: HDRP Initiatives to Advance Research on Pediatric and AYA cancer survivors

In response to the Childhood Cancer Survivorship, Treatment, Access and Research (STAR) Act, HDRP has led several recent initiatives to advance research on the delivery of care to pediatric and AYA cancer survivors The STAR Act is a bipartisan childhood cancer bill that was passed in 2017 to advance pediatric and AYA cancer research and treatment, improve cancer surveillance, improve care and quality of life, and enhance resources for survivors and their families.

• Through RFA-CA-19-033 Improving Outcomes for Pediatric, Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors (U01 Clinical Trial Required), NCI funded seven U01s to accelerate cancer research and stimulate the development, testing, and/or scaling of innovative, feasible, and effective interventions to address adverse physical and psychosocial late- and long-term effects in survivors of pediatric and/or adolescent/young adult cancer.
• Through RFA-CA-20-027 and RFA-CA-20-028, NCI will support Research to Reduce Morbidity and Improve Care for Pediatric, and Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Cancer Survivors (R21 Clinical Trial Optional). These projects are designed to improve the care and/or quality of life for childhood, and adolescent young adult (AYA) cancer survivors by addressing one or more of the following domains related to survivor outcomes: (1) disparities in survivor outcomes; (2) barriers to follow-up care (e.g., access, adherence); (3) impact of familial, socioeconomic, and other environmental factors on survivor outcomes; (4) indicators for long-term follow-up needs related to risk for late effects, recurrence, and subsequent cancers; (5) risk factors and predictors of late/long-term effects of cancer treatment; and (6) development of targeted interventions to reduce the burden of cancer for pediatric/AYA survivors. Applications for the next round of review are due July 30, 2021.

Further, through an agreement with NCI’s HDRP and Office of Cancer Survivorship that was established in February 2020 in response to the STAR Act, HHS’s Agency for Health Care Research and Quality (AHRQ) is preparing three reports to assist in identifying research gaps and setting future research priorities. These reports address the following topics:

• Transitions of Care from Pediatric to Adult Services for Children with Special Healthcare Needs
• Cancer Survivorship Care Models that include Primary Care for Pediatric Cancer Survivors
• Disparities and Barriers for Pediatric Cancer Survivorship Care

Announcements

2021-2022 NCI/AcademyHealth Visiting Scholars Program

Thank you to all who applied for the 2021-2022 NCI/AcademyHealth Visiting Scholars Program! The application cycle is now closed, and we look forward to announcing the next Scholar in summer 2021. Learn more about this program on our NCI/AcademyHealth Healthcare Delivery Research Visiting Scholars Program page.

Policy Updates

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

For more information about NOSIs sponsored by HDRP, visit the funding opportunities page of our website and read more in our Funding Opportunities section of this newsletter.

COVID-19 Updates and Funding Opportunities

NIH is working to accelerate the development and delivery of therapeutic interventions, vaccines, and diagnostics for COVID-19. For more information, visit the latest research information from NIH.

NCI is mobilizing its scientific experts and cutting-edge resources to conduct research on COVID-19. For information about ongoing research initiatives, visit NCI COVID-19 Research Initiatives.

NCI COVID-19 Funding Opportunities

Click the links below for information about these funding opportunities, eligibility, and the application and review process.

• PA-20-172 - Long-Term Effects of Disasters on Health Care Systems Serving Health Disparity Populations (R01 - Clinical Trial Optional)

For information about other funding opportunities at NCI visit NCI Funding Announcements and Notices for COVID-19.

For information about funding opportunities sponsored by other institutes and centers at NIH, visit

COVID-19 Information for NIH Applicants and Grant Recipients

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 grant recipient community that NIH will be doing its part to help you continue your research.

For up-to-date information, guidance, and resources, visit the NIH Applicant/Recipient COVID-19 Update History.

COVID-19 is an evolving situation and NIH/NCI is committed to keeping you informed.

• What people with cancer should know: Coronavirus: What People with Cancer Should Know
• The latest public health information from CDC: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
• Guidance for cancer researchers: COVID-19 Information for Cancer Researchers

Requests for Applications (RFAs)

This section includes links to Requests for Applications for health care delivery research.

Request for Information (RFI): Seeking Stakeholder Input on Enhancing Cancer Health Disparities Research, NOT-CA-21-066

Contact: Brenda Adjei
Responses due: June 25, 2021

Request for Information (RFI): Seeking Stakeholder Input on Enhancing Cancer Health Disparities Research, NOT-CA-21-067

Contact: Brenda Adjei
Responses due: July 15, 2021

Research to Reduce Morbidity and Improve Care for Pediatric, and Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Cancer Survivors (R21 Clinical Trial Optional), RFA-CA-20-028

Contact: Michelle Mollica
Expiration Date: July 31, 2021
Click here to view the archived webinar.

Research to Reduce Morbidity and Improve Care for Pediatric, and Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Cancer Survivors (R01 Clinical Trial Optional), RFA-CA-20-027

Contact: Michelle Mollica
Earliest Start: July 31, 2021
Click here to view the archived webinar.

Centers on Telehealth Research for Cancer-Related Care (P50 Clinical Trial Required), RFA-CA-21-029

Contact: Roxanne Jensen and Robin Vanderpool
Earliest Start: April 22, 2022

HDRP Funding Opportunities

This section includes links to funding opportunities for health care delivery research.

Funding Opportunities

Investigator-initiated Research on Genetic Counseling Processes and Practices (R21 Clinical Trial Optional), RFA-HG-20-048 (R01)

Contact: Erica Breslau
Expiration Date: July 8, 2021

Surgical Disparities Research, PAR-20-079 (R01)

Contact: Brenda Adjei
Expiration Date: July 8, 2021

Linking 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, 2022

Increasing Uptake of Evidence-Based Screening in Diverse Adult Populations, PA-18-932 (R01)

Contact: Erica Breslau
Expiration Date: January 8, 2022

Dissemination 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, 2022

Surgical Disparities Research, PAR-20-079 (R01)

Contact: Brenda Adjei
Expiration Date: July 6, 2022

Intervening 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.

Advancing Research to Develop Improved Measures and Methods for Understanding Multimorbidity (R01 Clinical Trial Optional), PAR-20-179 (R01)

Contact: Bryan Kim
Expiration Date: September 8, 2023

Identifying Innovative Mechanisms or Interventions that Target Multimorbidity and Its Consequences (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) PAR-20-180 (R01)

Contact: Bryan Kim
Expiration Date: September 8, 2023

Notices of Special Interest (NOSI)

NOSI: Administrative Supplement for Modifiable Factors Potentially Affecting the Cost of Cancer Treatment, NOT-CA-21-055

Contact: Michael Halpern
Expiration Date: June 19, 2021

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: Research to Improve the Interpretation of Patient-Reported Outcomes at the Individual Patient Level for Use in Clinical Practice, NOT-OD-20-079

Contact: Ashley Wilder Smith
Expiration Date: January 8, 2022

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: Health Services Research on Minority Health and Health Disparities, NOT-MD-20-011

Contact: Brenda Adjei
Expiration Date: September 8, 2022

NOSI: Tailoring Follow-up Care for Survivors Using Risk-Stratified Pathways, NOT-CA-21-019

Contact: Michelle Mollica
Expiration Date: February 5, 2023

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

NOSI: Telehealth in Cancer Care (R01 and R21 Clinical Trial Optional), NOT-CA-21-043

Contact: Gurvaneet Randhawa and Kelly Blake
Expiration Date: March 8, 2024

For more information about funding including additional Notice of Funding Opportunities, please visit our Funding page.

HDRP Workshops

Meeting on Survivorship Needs for Individuals Living with Advanced and Metastatic Cancers

On May 10-11, 2021, HDRP, in collaboration with other DCCPS Programs, hosted a virtual Meeting on Survivorship Needs for Individuals Living with Advanced and Metastatic Cancers. The goals of this meeting were to bring together researchers, clinicians, survivors, and advocates representing a broad range of expertise and experiences to 1) define the current state of metastatic and advanced cancer survivorship research, 2) identify unmet needs among this population, 3) discuss research gaps and opportunities in the areas of epidemiology, healthcare delivery, behavioral sciences, and symptom management. To learn more about this meeting, visit the webinar page.

Workshop on Advancing Rapid-cycle Research to Improve Cancer Care Delivery

On September 29-30, 2021, HDRP will host a workshop on Advancing Rapid-Cycle Research to Improve Cancer Care Delivery in collaboration with the Implementation Science Team (IS). The goals of this workshop are to bring together researchers, clinicians, patients, survivors, advocates, administrators, and payors representing a broad range of expertise to describe key features, identify barriers, and discuss opportunities for advancing rapid-cycle research to optimize cancer care delivery.

In preparation for the workshop, we will hold a webinar on rapid cycle research in cancer care delivery on July 21, 2021, from 3-4 pm EST (see below).

Additional details about the workshop will be available soon on the HDRP News & Events webpage and on the Implementation Science Team website.

Workshop on Post-treatment Surveillance for Recurrence in Patients Treated with Curative Intent

On October 21-22, 2021, HDRP will host a virtual Workshop on Post-treatment Surveillance for Recurrence in Patients Treated with Curative Intent. This workshop will build on reviews of relevant clinical practice guidelines and descriptive studies on current practice patterns, as well as an in-depth data extraction from a 2019 Cochrane review of comparative studies of specific surveillance interventions across cancer types. The goal of this workshop is to identify and prioritize key research gaps for surveillance regimens, which will inform NCI research activities. More information about this event will be available on the HDRP News & Events webpage.

2021 New Grantee Workshop

The 2021 New Grantee Workshop will take place in Fall 2021. DCCPS will bring together new investigators who received their first R01 in 2020 and 2021 to build a strong and vibrant cancer control research program and to help advance their careers. For additional information, please email Tonya Parker.

For information about HDRP’s previous events, visit the Events webpage.

Upcoming Webinars

Telehealth Cyber Discussion Webinar Series

• June 11, 2021 - Enhancing Cancer Care of Rural Dwellers Through Telehealth and Engagement, Dr. Debra Friedman, Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Register here.
• TBD - Optimizing Telehealth Across the Cancer Care Continuum During the COVID 19 National Emergency, Dr. Ana Maria Lopez, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson.

Rapid-cycle Research to Improve Cancer Care Delivery Fireside Chat

July 21, 2021 - In preparation for the Advancing Rapid-cycle Research to Improve Cancer Care Delivery workshop, we will hold a webinar on rapid-cycle research in cancer care delivery on July 21, 2021, from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. EST. The webinar will use a fireside chat format to discuss key issues in rapid-cycle research, with presenters Dr. Paul Jacobsen (HDRP), Dr. Wynne Norton (IS), and Dr. Brian Mittman (Kaiser Permanente), and moderator Dr. David Chambers (IS). Additional details about the webinar will be available soon on the HDRP News & Events webpage.

For other upcoming events please check our News & Events page. Events are updated regularly. To view our archived events, check our Events page.

Data and Resources

This section features information about a select number of HDRP’s data resources. A complete list of HDRP’s data and resources is available here.

SEER-Medicare, SEER-CAHPS, SEER-MHOS

SEER-CAHPS: The new linkage is being completed now, and we hope to have updated data available for researchers soon.

SEER-Medicare: We have completed the SEER-Medicare linkage update and have started taking applications for the new data, which includes cancer cases diagnosed from 1999-2017 and Medicare data from 1999-2018.

SEER-MHOS: HDRP has released a SEER-MHOS sample-size estimator. Researchers can now quickly estimate a SEER-MHOS project sample size using a wide range of cancer, survey, and Medicare enrollment variables. Learn more on the SEER-MHOS Sample Size Estimator webpage.

To learn more about the SEER linkages, visit SEER-Medicare, SEER-CAHPS, and SEER-MHOS.

PRO-CTCAE™ and Pediatric Module Language Translations and Website Updates

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. Currently, 33 language translations have been validated, and 17 additional languages being developed and tested in adults.

A pediatric module is also available to permit self-reporting by children and adolescents ages 7-17 (Ped-PRO-CTCAE™) or proxy reporting by a caregiver for children who are unable to self-report (Ped-PRO-CTCAE™ [Caregiver]). The pediatric module is currently available in English, Italian, and Simplified Chinese, and several other languages are currently being tested including Spanish, German, Korean, Danish, and French.

For more information visit PRO-CTCAE™.

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.

Employment and Training Opportunities

HDRP is excited to announce that we are recruiting for the following employment opportunities:

• Cancer Research Training Award, Office of the Associate Director - This fellowship opportunity includes helping to coordinate, evaluate, and manage highly visible programmatic projects in the OAD and across HDRP. Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following: managing planning activities for major funded research initiatives in HDRP; supporting strategic planning efforts; maintaining project databases and preparing summary reports; promoting HDRP activities through health communication and social media; and contributing to specific areas of scientific research within HDRP. The Fellow would also help manage, coordinate, and plan special projects with HDRP’s Associate Director, Deputy Associate Director, and Program Directors, including preparing and organizing presentations and proposals; conducting literature searches; and coordinating the evaluation of the HDRP grant portfolio. Additional duties include participating in and assisting with HDRP-supported scientific meetings, webinars, and other project management tasks.
• Cancer Research Training Award, Outcomes Research Branch – This fellowship opportunity is for postdoctoral scientists to gain skills and knowledge critical to becoming independent investigators. The fellow will work on projects focused on survivorship issues for individuals living with advanced and metastatic cancers. Project activities may include systematic reviews; analyses of large datasets, including the SEER-CAHPS and SEER-MHOS data resources; survey data analysis; presentation and publication of findings; and other activities. For this position, experience developing and executing analytical plans for large data sets, interpreting results, and presenting findings results is required. Fellows are expected to design and conduct their own research, in addition to collaborating and contributing to ongoing work, with mentorship and support from staff in HDRP and the Office of Cancer Survivorship.

Visit the Employment and Training webpage to learn more about HDRP Employment and Training opportunities.