PLANNING GRANTS FOR NCI CANCER RESEARCH CENTERS

Release Date:  November 10, 1999

PA NUMBER:  PAR-00-011

National Cancer Institute

Application Receipt Date:   January 14

This Program Announcement (PA) replaces PAR-97-063, which was published in 
the NIH Guide, Vol. 26, No. 18, May 30, 1997

PURPOSE

The Cancer Centers Branch (CCB), Office of the Deputy Director for Extramural 
Science (ODDES), of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) invites planning 
grant applications for the development of Cancer Research Centers in a 
variety of organizational settings.  The purpose is to expand the scientific, 
geographic and demographic diversity of the Cancer Centers Program of the NCI 
by encouraging research-oriented organizations to develop the qualities of a 
strong cancer research center and become competitive for a Cancer Center 
Support Grant.  Cancer center planning strategies may focus on a specific 
research theme (e.g., diagnosis, therapy, epidemiology) or integrate a broad 
spectrum of research to include the basic, clinical, prevention and control, 
and population sciences (i.e., an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer 
center).  All approaches to planning cancer centers are encouraged, as long 
as they address the six essential features of an NCI Cancer Center (i.e., 
cancer focus, institutional commitment, organizational capabilities, 
facilities, center director authority, and interdisciplinary coordination and 
collaboration) and as long as they take advantage of the full range of the 
organization's capabilities in cancer research.     

This PA will expire three years from the first receipt date.  NIH Grants 
policies apply to these awards. 

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, Planning Grants 
for Cancer Research Centers, 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. 
017-001-00473-1) through the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing 
Office, Washington DC 20402-9235 (telephone 202/512-1800) or 
http://odphp.osophs.dhhs.gov/pubs/hp2000.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Applications may be submitted by domestic for-profit and non-profit 
organizations, public and private, such as universities, colleges, hospitals, 
and laboratories units of State and local governments, and eligible agencies 
of the Federal government.  Applications may be from a single institution or 
several institutions (collaborating institutions or consortia) that do not 
have a Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG), is not one of a set of 
collaborating institutions that make up a CCSG-supported NCI cancer center, 
or has not been supported by a Cancer Center Planning Grant (CCPG) or a CCSG 
in the last three years.  Racial/ethnic minority individuals, women, and 
persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply as principal investigators.

MECHANISM OF SUPPORT

Support for the planning and development of NCI cancer research centers will 
be through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) planning grant (P20) 
mechanism, which the NCI refers to in this PA as the Cancer Center Planning 
Grant (CCPG).  Applicants may request up to $175,000 in direct costs, 
including 3rd party Facility and Administrative (F&A) costs.  Cost-of-living 
increases may be requested for future years according to existing NCI policy.  
Applicants may request up to five years of support.  

Applicants will be responsible for the execution of all activities supported 
by this grant.  Applications submitted in response to this program 
announcement will compete with other CCPG applications submitted during the 
same fiscal year.  The time and amount of all CCPG awards will be contingent 
upon the recommendations of peer reviewers and the availability of funds.  
Awards will be administered under NIH grants policy as stated in the NIH 
Grants Policy Statement October 1998.  

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

Background

The Cancer Centers Program of the NCI currently supports multidisciplinary 
cancer research centers in a variety of institutions through the Cancer 
Centers Support Grant (P30) mechanism.  Since the National Cancer Act of 
1971, the legislative charge of the Program has been to support cancer 
centers that perform research in the basic, clinical, prevention and control, 
and population sciences; that promote and enhance multidisciplinary, 
interdisciplinary and translational research; and that influence how the 
results of research are coupled to medical practice in the communities and 
regions that they serve.  While every cancer center does not meet all of 
these broad expectations (i.e. some are specialized in their research 
approaches), all cancer centers are organized to take maximum advantage of 
their research capability and opportunities in such a way that they can have 
an impact on reducing cancer incidence, mortality and morbidity.

Research Goals and Scope

The strength of the NCI's Cancer Centers Program is founded in the diversity 
of academic, free-standing, and consortial institutions that have become NCI-
supported cancer centers.  The aim of this initiative is to ensure that the 
scientific, institutional, geographical and demographic diversity of the 
Program is maintained and expanded by encouraging new research-oriented 
organizations to apply for CCPGs and develop the research, leadership and 
organization capabilities expected of an NCI cancer center.  The ultimate 
goal is to see new institutions become successful in competing for Cancer 
Center Support Grants and be designated as NCI cancer centers.

INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS

It is the policy of the NIH that women and members of minority groups and 
their subpopulations must be included in all NIH-supported biomedical and 
behavioral research projects involving human subjects, unless clear and 
compelling rationale and justification is provided that inclusion is 
inappropriate with respect to the health of the subjects or the purpose of 
the research.  This policy results from the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993 
(Section 492B of Public Law 103-43).

All investigators proposing research involving human subjects should read the 
"NIH Guidelines for Inclusion of Women and Minorities as Subjects in Clinical 
Research," which have been published in the Federal Register of March 20, 
1994 (FR 59 14508-14513) and in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, 
Volume 23, Number 11, March 18, 1994 available on the web at the following 
URL address: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not94-100.html

INCLUSION OF CHILDREN AS PARTICIPANTS IN RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS

It is the policy of NIH that children (i.e., individuals under the age of 21) 
must be included in all human subjects research, conducted or supported by 
the NIH, unless there are clear and compelling scientific and ethical reasons 
not to include them. This policy applies to all initial (Type 1) applications 
submitted for receipt dates after October 1, 1998.

All investigators proposing research involving human subjects should read the 
"NIH Policy and Guidelines on the Inclusion of Children as Participants in 
Research Involving Human Subjects" that was published in the NIH Guide for 
Grants and Contracts, March 6, 1998, and is available at the following URL 
address: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not98-024.html

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

Applications are to be submitted on the grant application form PHS 398 (rev. 
4/98).  Applications will be accepted on January 14 each year.  Application 
kits are available at most institutional offices of sponsored research and 
may be obtained from the Office of Extramural Outreach and Information 
Resources, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7910, 
Bethesda, MD 20892-7910, telephone (301) 710-0267, email: grantsinfo@nih.gov.  
The title and number of the program announcement must be typed in Section 2 
on the face page of the application and the "Yes box" must be marked.  For 
those applicants with internet access, the 398 kit may be found at 
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/forms_toc.html.  

The format for submission of a Cancer Center Planning Grant is detailed in 
NCI guidelines entitled, "Planning Grants for NCI-Supported Cancer Research 
Centers."  These guidelines can be obtained from the Cancer Centers Program 
website at: http://www.nci.nih.gov/cancercenters/ccb_guidelines.html.
These guidelines can also be obtained from the Cancer Centers Branch of the
NCI (see INQUIRIES section).

Submit a signed, typewritten original of the application, and three signed 
exact photocopies in one package to:

CENTER FOR SCIENTIFIC REVIEW
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
6701 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE, ROOM 1040 MSC 7710
BETHESDA, MD 20892-7710
BETHESDA, MD 20817 (for express/courier service)

At the same time of submission, please submit two additional copies of the 
application to:

Ms. Toby Friedberg
Division of Extramural Activities
National Cancer Institute
6116 Executive Boulevard, Room 8062, MSC 8329
Bethesda, MD 20892-8329
Rockville, MD 20852 (for express mail/courier service)

REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS

Applications will be reviewed for scientific and technical merit by an 
appropriate peer review group convened by Division of Extramural Activities 
of NCI, in accordance with the standard NIH peer review procedures. As part 
of the initial merit review, a process will be used by the initial review 
group in which applications receive a written critique and undergo a process 
in which only those applications deemed to have the highest scientific merit, 
generally the top half of the applications under review, will be discussed 
assigned a priority score, and receive a second level review by the National 
Cancer Advisory Board.

The review criteria for CCPGs are outlined in the NCI guidelines entitled, 
"Planning Grants for NCI-Supported Cancer Research Centers".  These 
guidelines can be obtained from the Cancer Centers Program website at:  
http://www.nci.nih.gov/cancercenters/ccb_guidelines.html.  These guidelines 
can also be obtained from the Cancer Centers Branch of the NCI (see INQUIRIES 
section).

AWARD CRITERIA

Applications will compete for available funds with all other recommended 
applications.  The following will be considered in making funding decisions: 
quality of the proposed project as determined by peer review; availability of 
funds; and program priority.

INQUIRIES

Inquiries are encouraged.  The opportunity to clarify any issues or questions 
from potential applicants is welcome.  

Direct inquires for programmatic issues to:

Margaret E. Holmes, Ph.D.
Chief, Cancer Centers Branch
National Cancer Institute
6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 700
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-8345
Telephone: (301) 496-8531
FAX: (301) 402-0181
email: mh67g@nih.gov

Written and telephone inquiries about Cancer Center Planning Grants and the 
Cancer Centers Program in general are encouraged.

Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to:

Ms. Carolyn Mason
Grants Administration Branch
National Cancer Institute
6120 Executive Boulevard, Room 242
Bethesda, MD 20892
Telephone: (301) 496-7239

FAX: (301) 496-8601
email: cm113g@nih.gov

Direct inquiries regarding review issues to:

Ms. Toby Friedberg
Referral Officer
Division of Extramural Activities
National Cancer Institute
6116 Executive Boulevard, Room 8062, MSC 8239
Bethesda, MD 20892-8239
Rockville, MD 20852 (for express mail/courier service)

AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS

This program is described in the Catalog of Federal and Domestic Assistance 
No. 93.397, Cancer Research.  Awards are made under authorization of the 
Sections 301 and 405 of the Public Health Service Act as amended (42 USC 241 
and 284) and administered under NIH grants policies and Federal Regulations 
42 CFR 52 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.

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