Full Text PA-97-086 CHEMICAL MODIFIERS OF RADIATION RESPONSE OF TUMORS NIH GUIDE, Volume 26, Number 24, July 25, 1997 PA NUMBER: PA-97-086 P.T. Keywords: National Cancer Institute PURPOSE The Division of Cancer Treatment, Diagnosis, and Centers (DCTDC) of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) invites research grant applications for Program Projects (P01s) from interested investigators for preclinical exploration of the therapeutic potential of new and novel chemical modifiers of radiation response of tumors. Optimization of leads arising from the applicant's own work or from the published literature should include the design and synthesis of new compounds, using combinatorial chemistry, and preclinical evaluation in vitro and in vivo. The following classes of radiation modifiers are of particular interest: o Small-molecule inhibitors that target genetic alterations associated with solid tumors o Small-molecule modifiers of cell growth and regulation (modifiers of cell cycle checkpoints, cell signal transduction modifiers) o Compounds that exploit or modulate tumor physiology (e.g., inhibitors of tumor cell respiration, modulators of the tumor micro environment, or inhibitors of tumor angiogenesis) o Prodrugs activated by tumor physiology or by other innovative mechanisms HEALTHY PEOPLE 2000 The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the health promotion and disease prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2000," a PHS-led national activity for setting priority areas. This PA, "Chemical Modifiers of Radiation Response of Tumors" is related to the priority area of cancer. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full Report: Stock No. 017-001-00474-0) or "Healthy People 2000" (Summary Report: Stock No. 017-001-0473-1) through the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325 (telephone 202-512-1800). ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS Applications may be submitted by domestic, for-profit and non-profit organizations, public and private, such as universities, colleges, hospitals, laboratories, units of state and local governments, and eligible agencies of the Federal government. Foreign applicants are not eligible. Racial/ethnic minority individuals, women, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply as principal investigators. MECHANISM OF SUPPORT Support of the program will be through the National Cancer Institute (NCI) program project (P01) award. Applicants will be responsible for the planning, direction, and execution of the proposed project. All PHS and NIH grants policies will apply to applications received and awards made in response to this program announcement. The Principal Investigator of any new application requesting $500,000 or more in direct costs in any one year must notify the NCI Program Director (see INQUIRIES section) and the NCI Referral Officer (see APPLICATION PROCEDURES section) of intent to submit an application. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES Background About 60% of cancer patients in the US receive radiotherapy with curative or palliative intent. About 30% of the patients with localized disease eventually succumb to the disease, and would stand to benefit from improvements in radiotherapy. The factors contributing to local failure of radiotherapy are the subject of numerous studies, and include inherent radioresistance of tumor cells, tumor hypoxia, and defects in signal transduction mechanisms and cell cycle checkpoints. The purpose of this PA is to discover and develop new agents with clinical potential for enhancing the radiation response of tumors, from leads arising out of basic research. Research Goals and Scope Applicants should propose to discover and develop novel compounds that act through mechanisms that target cellular or tumor properties known to affect radiation response, in particular those emerging from current basic research. The ultimate goal is to improve local tumor control and survival of cancer patients treated with radiotherapy. This multidisciplinary effort will require close collaboration among radiation biologists, chemists skilled in design and synthesis of organic compounds, and pharmacologists. Projects involving design and synthesis of novel compounds, determination of physicochemical properties, evaluation in cultured cells in vitro with and without ionizing radiation, and evaluation in vivo in animal models, including confirmation of proposed mechanism of action, would be appropriate. The new compounds generated may represent a de novo collection of novel structures or efforts to optimize lead structures with promising but incompletely studied potential. In no case should the compounds to be studied be iterations of well-studied structural classes. APPLICATION PROCEDURES The research grant application form PHS 398 (REV. 5/95) is to be used in applying for these grants. These forms are available at most institutional offices of sponsored research and may be obtained from the Division of Extramural Outreach and Information Resources, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 6095, MSC 7910, Bethesda, MD 20892, telephone 301/710-0267, e-mail: asknih@odrockmi.od.nih.gov. Applicants must use the NCI Program Project Guidelines when preparing an application. These guidelines are available on the World Wide Web at: http://156.40.252.246/awards/P01.htm or on the NCI Home Page at: http://www.nci.nih.gov/extra/deaweb/dea.htm Copies of the NCI P01 Guidelines can also be obtained from the NCI Referral Officer listed below: REFERRAL OFFICER DIVISION OF EXTRAMURAL ACTIVITIES NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE EXECUTIVE PLAZA NORTH, ROOM 636A 6130 EXECUTIVE BOULEVARD MSC 7405 BETHESDA, MD 20892-7405 TELEPHONE: 301-496-3428 FAX: 301-402-0275 E-MAIL: FRIEDBET@DEA.NCI.NIH.GOV The completed original application and three legible copies must be sent or delivered to: DIVISION OF RESEARCH GRANTS NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH 6701 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE, ROOM 1040-MSC 7710 BETHESDA, MD 20892-7710 BETHESDA, MD 20817 (for express/courier service) In addition, send two complete copies under separate cover to: REFERRAL OFFICER DIVISION OF EXTRAMURAL ACTIVITIES NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE EXECUTIVE PLAZA NORTH, ROOM 636A 6130 EXECUTIVE BOULEVARD MSC 7405 BETHESDA, MD 20892-7405 Applications will be assigned on the basis of established PHS referral guidelines. Applications that are complete and responsive to the program announcement will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by an appropriate peer review group convened by DEA, NCI in accordance with the standard NIH peer review procedures, and receive a second level review by the National Cancer Advisory Board. REVIEW CRITERIA Reviewers will be instructed to (a) address the five review criteria below and (b) assign a single, global score for each scored application. The score should reflect the overall impact that the project could have on the field based on consideration of the five criteria, with the emphasis on each criterion varying from one application to another, depending on the nature of the application and its relative strengths. The goals of NIH-supported research are to advance our understanding of biological systems, improve the control of disease, and enhance health. In the written comments reviewers will be asked to discuss the following aspects of the application in order to judge the likelihood that the proposed research will have a substantial impact on the pursuit of these goals. Each of these criteria will be addressed and considered in assigning the overall score, weighting them as appropriate for each application. Note that the application does not need to be strong in all categories to be judged likely to have major scientific impact and thus deserve a high priority score. For example, an investigator may propose to carry out important work that by its nature is not innovative but is essential to move a field forward. 1) Significance: Does this study address an important problem? If the aims of the application are achieved, how will scientific knowledge be advanced? What will be the effect of these studies on the concepts or methods that drive this field? (2) Approach: Are the conceptual framework, design, methods, and analyses adequately developed, well-integrated, and appropriate to the aims of the project? Does the applicant acknowledge potential problem areas and consider alternative tactics? (3) Innovation: Does the project employ novel concepts, approaches or method? Are the aims original and innovative? Does the project challenge existing paradigms or develop new methodologies or technologies? (4) Investigator: Is the investigator appropriately trained and well suited to carry out this work? Is the work proposed appropriate to the experience level of the principal investigator and other researchers (if any)? (5) Environment: Does the scientific environment in which the work will be done contribute to the probability of success? Do the proposed experiments take advantage of unique features of the scientific environment or employ useful collaborative arrangements? Is there evidence of institutional support? In addition to the above criteria, in accordance with NIH policy, all applications will also be reviewed with respect to the following: o The adequacy of plans to include both genders, minorities, and their subgroups as appropriate for the scientific goals of the research. Plans for the recruitment and retention of subjects will also be evaluated. o The reasonableness of the proposed budget and duration in relation to the proposed research o The adequacy of the proposed protection for humans, animals or the environment, to the extent they may be adversely affected by the project proposed in the application. AWARD CRITERIA Applications will compete for available funds with all other approved applications assigned to the NCI. The following will be considered in making funding decisions: Quality of the proposed project as determined by peer review, responsiveness to the goals and objectives of this Program Announcement, availability of funds, and program balance. INQUIRIES Inquiries are encouraged. The opportunity to clarify any issues or questions from potential applicants is welcome. Direct inquiries regarding programmatic matters to: Helen B. Stone, Ph.D. Division of Cancer Treatment, Diagnosis, and Centers National Cancer Institute EPN 800 6130 Executive Blvd. Bethesda, MD 20892-7440 Telephone: (301) 496-9360 Fax: (301) 480-5785 E-mail: stoneh@dtpepn.nci.nih.gov Direct inquires regarding NCI P01 review policy and procedures to: David Irwin, Ph.D. Chief, Research Programs Review Section Grants Review Branch Division of Extramural Activities Executive Plaza North, Room 635E 6130 Executive Boulevard MSC 7405 Bethesda, MD 20892-7405 Telephone: 301-402-0371 Fax: 301-496-6497 E-mail: IrwinD@DEA.NCI.NIH.GOV Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to: Ms. Victoria Price Grants Administration Branch National Cancer Institute EPS 243 6120 Executive Blvd. Bethesda, MD 20892-7150 Telephone: (301) 496-7800, ext. 252 Fax: (301) 496-8601 E-mail: pricev@gab.nci.nih.gov AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance No. 93.395 Cancer Treatment Research. Awards are made under authorization of the Public Health Service Act, Title IV, Part A (Public Law 78-410, as amended by Public Law 99-158, 42 USC 241 and 285) and administered under PHS grants policies and Federal Regulations 42 CFR and 45 CFR Parts 74 and 92. This program is not subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency review. The PHS strongly encourages all grant and contract recipients to provide a smoke-free workplace and promote the non-use of all tobacco products. In addition, Public Law 103-227, the Pro-Children Act of 1994, prohibits smoking in certain facilities (or in some cases, any portion of a facility) in which regular or routine education, library, day care, health care or early childhood development services are provided to children. This is consistent with the PHS mission to protect and advance the physical and mental health of the American people. .
Return to NIH Guide Main Index
Office of Extramural Research (OER) |
National Institutes of Health (NIH) 9000 Rockville Pike Bethesda, Maryland 20892 |
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) |
||||||||
Note: For help accessing PDF, RTF, MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Audio or Video files, see Help Downloading Files. |