Cancer Control

To reduce cancer incidence, morbidity, and mortality through an orderly sequence from research on interventions and their impact in defined populations to the broad, systematic application of the research results through dissemination and diffusion strategies.

Primary emphasis is on the inclusion

credit:
of a cancer prevention and control intervention in any proposed study.

Cancer Prevention and Cancer Control research studies are classified into one of five phases that represent the orderly progression noted in the definition: (1) Hypothesis development; (2) methods development and testing; (3) controlled intervention trials to establish cause-and-effect relationships; (4) research in defined populations; and (5) demonstration and implementation studies.

Primary interests are in research on cancer control interventions in Phases 2 through 5, and on cancer prevention research in all phases.

Cancer Prevention and Control programs include those in the following areas: (1) chemoprevention; (2)cancer communications; (3) nutrition, diet, and physical activity; (4) screening and early detection, including biomarker development and validation; (5) biobehavioral mechanisms; (6) tobacco control; (7) special populations research; (8) symptom management, cancer rehabilitation and survivorship; (9) health services and outcomes research; and (10) surveillance research.

Both Cancer Prevention and Cancer Control use the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs to encourage research participation by the small business community.

The goals of each program are as follows.

SBIR: To expand and improve the SBIR program; to increase private sector commercialization of innovations derived from Federal research and development; and to foster and encourage participation of socially and economically disadvantaged small business concerns and women-owned small business concerns in technological innovation.

STTR: To stimulate and foster scientific and technological innovation through cooperative research and development carried out between small business concerns and research institutions; to foster technology transfer between small business concerns and research institutions; to increase private sector commercialization of innovations derived from Federal research and development; and to foster and encourage participation of socially and economically disadvantaged small business concerns and women-owned small business concerns in technological innovation.
Related Programs

Examples of Funded Projects

Projects include: (1) Smoking Prevention - Transdisciplinary Tobacco Use Research Centers (TTURCs); (2) Energy Balance - Diet, Weight and Physical Activity research; (3) Transdisciplinary Research on Energetics and Cancer; (4) Special Populations - Centers for Population Health and Health Disparities; (5) Community Clinical Oncology Program; (6) Early Detection - Prostate, Lung, Colon, Ovarian Cancer Trial (PLCO) and the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST); (7) Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial for Prostate Cancer (SELECT); and (8) Early Detection Research Network; (9) Community Networks To Reduce Cancer Health Disparities - Center To Reduce Cancer Health Disparities.


Agency - Department of Health and Human Services

The Department of Health and Human Services is the Federal government's principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, especially to those who are least able to help themselves.


Relevant Nonprofit Program Categories





Program Accomplishments

In fiscal year 2007, of 97 competing applications, 49 were funded for 51 percent; 209 total competing and noncompeting awards were made. It is estimated that 202 total awards will be made in fiscal year 2008 and 215 total awards are estimated for fiscal year 2009.

Uses and Use Restrictions

Grants and cooperative agreements may be made to eligible institutions for the support of cancer research projects.

The grants and cooperative agreements may be used for personnel, consultant costs, equipment, supplies, travel, patient costs, animals, alterations and renovations, miscellaneous items, and indirect costs.

Restrictions are imposed against the use of funds for entertainment, foreign travel (unless specifically authorized), office equipment, and other items not normally necessary for the effective prosecution of such research.

SBIR Phase I grants (of approximately 6- months' duration) are to establish the technical merit and feasibility of a proposed research effort that may lead to commercial product or process.

Phase II grants are for the continuation of the research initiated in Phase I, and that are likely to result in commercial products or processes.

Only Phase I awardees are eligible to apply for Phase II support.

STTR Phase I grants (normally of 1-year duration) are to determine the scientific, technical, and commercial merit and feasibility of the proposed cooperative effort that has potential for commercial application.

Phase II funding is based on results of research initiated in Phase I and scientific and technical merit and commercial potential of Phase II application.

The SBIR Fast-Track Initiative provides additional assistance to applicants by expediting the decision and award of SBIR Phase II funding for scientifically meritorious applications for projects that have a high potential for commercialization.

Fast-Track is a parallel review option whereby Phase I and Phase II projects are reviewed concurrently with the aim of reducing or eliminating the funding gap between Phase I and Phase II.