Notice Number: NOT-CA-09-032

Key Dates
Release Date: August 26, 2009

Issued by
National Cancer Institute (NCI), (http://www.cancer.gov)
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), (http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/index.htm)
National Institute on Aging (NIA), (http://www.nia.nih.gov)
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development  (NICHD), (http://www.nichd.nih.gov/)
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), (http://www.niddk.nih.gov)
National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), (http://www.ninr.nih.gov/)
Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS), (http://dietary-supplements.info.nih.gov/)

Purpose

The purpose of this Notice is to clarify the Specific Research Objectives in Program Announcement PAR-09-224 “Improving Diet and Physical Activity Assessment (R01)”.

Clarification of Specific Research Objectives

Among the potential topics of research appropriate for PAR-09-224(Section I. Funding Opportunity Description, 1. Research Objectives), research projects related to biomarker-based validation of diet and physical activity measures, are explicitly encouraged. The following Specific Research Objective is included in this FOA:

• Validate methods for measuring dietary and/or supplement intake or physical activity using appropriate reference instruments, including biomarkers, objective measures, or physiologic outcomes such as strength and fitness.

Biomarker based validation studies of newly developed Internet-based diet and physical activity assessment instruments in existing cohorts are highly encouraged. Biomarker studies of interest might include resting metabolic rate, total energy expenditure, body composition, fasting bloods, and 24-hour urines. Further comparisons of the Internet-based and conventional self-report instruments with newer biomarkers/instruments, including heart rate monitors, metabolomic profiles, and urinary markers of sugar and meat intake would be appropriate for this FOA. NIH has developed novel internet-based diet and physical activity recall instruments and new statistical techniques that combine data from the Internet-based tools with data from conventional instruments, self-reports, and biomarker studies. This FOA encourages cohorts that: 1) have access to clinical facilities for biomarker studies; and, 2) can administer conventional food frequency and physical activity questionnaires along with the new internet-based diet and physical activity recalls. Large numbers of people from cohorts in diverse geographic areas and among different racial and ethnic groups are encouraged. Collaboration among cohorts is also encouraged. A white paper indicating the type of study design encouraged by NCI is available at: http://riskfactor.cancer.gov/tools/biomarker_validation_in_cohorts.pdf
No other aspects of this FOA are changed.  The next due date for new applications is October 5, 2009.  Please note that this FOA uses alternating cycle standard due dates. 

Inquiries

Amy Subar, Ph.D.
Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences (DCCPS)
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
6130 Executive Boulevard, EPN Room 4005, MSC 7344
Bethesda, MD  20892-7344
Telephone:  (301) 594-0831
Fax:  (301) 435-3710
Email: subara@mail.nih.gov

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	Office of Extramural Research (OER)			National Institutes of Health (NIH) 9000 Rockville Pike Bethesda, Maryland 20892			Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
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