Program Collaborations
Cancer Imaging Program (CIP)
As part of its cutting-edge program, the Cancer Imaging Program (CIP) plays a critical role in the activities of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and NCI, contributing to the integration of imaging with emerging technologies such as nanotechnology, proteomics, and high-throughput screening. In addition to funding projects in key areas, CIP supports researchers by providing pooled resources and developing protocols that encourage the sharing of data, samples, and results.
Cancer Disparities Research Partnership
Cancer health disparities are exemplified by differences in cancer morbidity and mortality as a function of gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. Health care institutions that provide cancer services to medically underserved, low-income, minority populations often are not linked effectively to the national cancer research enterprise and struggle to maintain state-of-the-art cancer care. RRP’s Cancer Disparities Research Partnership (CDRP) program was designed to test novel approaches toward reducing the negative consequences associated with cancer health disparities. Following two 5-year funding periods, the CDRP program is no longer an active funding mechanism, however, the RRP continues to work with CDRP and others interested in addressing this critical issue. A manuscript summarizing the highlights and lessons learned is in preparation.
- Clinical trial research infrastructures at community-based institutions to facilitate the participation of targeted ethnic and minority, medically underserved, or low-income populations in the latest NCI-sponsored radiation oncology or combined modality treatment trials
- Mentoring partnerships with cancer centers and institutions with clinical trials expertise, and particularly, cancer centers experienced in clinical trials; these partnerships were facilitated by the provided telemedicine system (TELESYNERGY®)
- Community education and outreach activities and patient navigation program to facilitate patient recruitment and accrual into clinical trials
From these accomplishments, RRP succeeded in 2008 to reissue the CDRP program as a limited competition RFA (RFA-CA-09-502). In September 2009, three grantees (Rapid City Regional Hospital in Rapid City, South Dakota; Singing River Health System in Pascagoula, Mississippi; and New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, North Carolina) received five-year funding, while the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s McKeesport Hospital in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, received a two-year award.
This final U54 implementation phase of the CDRP program (2009 – 2014) has provided the necessary time for the grantees to stabilize their existing clinical research infrastructure and modify or adopt new strategies. This time will allow them to maximize: the access, accrual, and participation of their minority and underserved populations onto all forms of NCI-sponsored cancer clinical trials, including cancer prevention, symptom management, cancer control, surgical, medical, and radiation oncology. The successful CDRP grantees will have to apply for other NCI funding, especially the Division of Cancer Prevention’s Community Clinical Oncology Program, in order to sustain established cancer disparities programs that address the needs of minority and underserved populations.
Radiobiology Bioterrorism Research and Training Group
The Radiobiology Bioterrorism Research and Training Group (RABRAT) is an informal workgroup of Scientists and Program Managers in federal agencies that are involved in radiation research. The purpose of RABRAT is to help keep the agencies informed of ongoing activities, to avoid gaps and duplications in efforts, and to discuss training and educational opportunities. RABRAT meets three to four times per year by teleconference.
Members of this government-only workgroup include Scientists and Program Managers at:
the Department of Energy (DoE), the Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site (REAC/TS), Radiation and Nuclear Countermeasures Program of NIAID, the Department of Defense/Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute (AFRRI), NASA, the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
In addition to RRP staff, members from NIH include representatives from other NCI divisions and programs - Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics (DCEG), Division of Cancer Biology (DCB), Cancer Imaging Program (CIP), and Division of Cancer Prevention (DCP).
Contact information:
Pataje G Prasanna, PhD, Coordinator
pat.prasanna@nih.gov
International Collaborations
Contact Information:
Bhadrasain Vikram, MD, 240-276-5726, vikramb@mail.nih.gov
The RRP members are all involved in various international collaborations for scientific education and clinical trials. They have had long-standing interest and experiences in global cancer networking and research.
Some RRP staff examples include:
Dr. Vikram served at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and helped establish PACT (below), a program for medically underserved countries. He pioneered the Virtual University for Cancer Control (VUCC).
Dr. Coleman helped develop the All-Ireland Cancer Consortium (coordinated by NCI’s Office of International Affairs), the Singapore Cancer Syndicate, and the King Hussein Cancer Center and has taken an advisory role to numerous countries around the world. He has helped pioneer the International Cancer Expert Corps (below).
Dr. Mansoor Ahmed and Dr. Pat Prasanna helped establish a NCI-India Radiation Research Program that consists of discussions and collaborations which informally advises Indian researchers in the areas of radiation oncology/biology research, training and education. (NCI-RadDG, below)
International Cancer Expert Corps
The International Cancer Expert Corps (ICEC) was developed by professionals within NCI, particularly the Radiation Research Program. While it is not a NCI activity, RRP plays a central role in developing mechanisms for a public-private partnership related to cancer health disparities. There are opportunities for those within NCI and the academic and private sectors to join ICEC and help fill the enormous gap in cancer care for the underserved. Of significance is that there are conditions in the United States and other resource-rich countries with a lack of cancer care and healthcare similar to resource-limited countries. The RRP's Cancer Disparities Research Partnership supported a grant program "Walking Forward" in South Dakota that has brought substantial changes to cancer care for American Indians and for their neighboring communities. Thus, ICEC can help extend the reach of NCI's outreach programs. Details are on the iceccancer.org website.
Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy (PACT)
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) through PACT aims at building strategic partnerships in an effort to maximize the complementary expertise and mandates of the global cancer control community for the benefit of low and middle income countries.
Partnerships with the NCI focus primarily on education and training for healthcare professionals from these low and middle income countries. In order to contribute to capacity building in low and middle income countries, the NCI offers scholarships for professionals supported by the IAEA through PACT, as part of its commitment to strengthening the capacity and knowledge of health professionals.
NCI-India Radiation Modifier Developmental Group (NCI-RadDG)
The NCI-RadDG was established by ongoing communications amongst the Radiation Research Program and India. RRP’s collaborative efforts of working with radiation and clinical oncology experts will help develop a mutually supportive portfolio of modifiers of radiation, with both molecular target therapy and immunotherapy. The NCI does promote inter-group trial networks between Indian cancer institutions to encourage the coordination of translational radiation modifier trials with the National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN) and NRG cooperative groups.
Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA)
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, provides an integrated, systematic approach to the development and purchase of the necessary vaccines, drugs, therapies, and diagnostic tools for public health medical emergencies.
Radiogenomics Consortium (RGC)
The scientific hypothesis underlying the development of the consortium is that a cancer patient’s likelihood of developing toxicity to radiation therapy is influenced by common genetic variations, such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs).
The Consortium members undertake collaborative projects to identify SNPs associated with adverse effects following radiotherapy, share data and samples, perform meta-analyses, and work together to submit research grant applications.