DoD Grant: Advancing Cancer Patient Well-Being and Survivorship Research

The PWSA supports innovative research studies to advance research in preservation of function (physical ability), quality of life, symptom management, resilience, relief from neurocognitive deficits, and support for psychosocial issues related to cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship. Studies must address one or more of these critical issues in at least one of the FY24 PRCRP Topic Areas.

The overall intention of the PWSA is to fill gaps in the understanding of survivorship, including investigations into the psychological health and well-being of those affected by cancer (e.g., patients, family members). This may include investigations into studies that improve mental health and/or cancer-related outcomes in defined populations. Studies also may assess the relationship(s) between behavioral and social functioning in relation to cancer initiation, progression, detection, treatment, and rehabilitation. Applications may propose studies that examine preservation of function, quality-of-life, well-being, decision-making, and/or cognitive function, development and testing of educational interventions, and symptom management (e.g., toxicity of treatment, palliative/supportive care, psychological distress and anxiety) throughout treatment and beyond. Applications may target development of evidence-based practices, behavioral health science and patient well-being interventions and surveillance, and identification of psychosocial patient outcomes. Basic laboratory studies are not appropriate for the PWSA and may be withdrawn.

The critical components of this award mechanism are:

·        Impact: The PWSA is intended to support research that demonstrates the potential to have a major impact on patient well-being, outcomes, and health, including diagnosis, treatment, and after treatment. The proposed study must demonstrate how the research will transform outcomes related to at least one of the FY24 PRCRP Topic Areas. Research should challenge paradigms with respect to impact on patient care and outcomes. Proposed projects may include translational or clinical research, including pilot clinical trials. Impactful research will accelerate the movement of promising ideas into clinical applications and advance quality of life and survivorship.

·        Study Design: Applications should clearly articulate the chosen design of the study. Studies entailing retrospective or prospective recruitment should define the type of architecture of the study (e.g., interventional, descriptive, correlational, field experimental, meta-analyses). Study populations should be clearly defined. The rationale should support the chosen study design with statistical evaluation to back the design. Questionnaires should be described in sufficient detail to justify interpretation of potential results. Studies utilizing animal models are not supported by this funding opportunity and may be withdrawn.

·        Preliminary Data: The PWSA will require preliminary data for all studies that propose the active (prospective) recruitment of human subjects for pilot clinical trials. Studies not proposing active recruitment of human subjects are not required to present preliminary data but should be supported by sound reasoning and relevant literature.

·        Patient Advocate Participation: Applications to the PWSA funding opportunity are required to include patient advocates. The research team must include at least one cancer patient advocate who will be integral throughout the planning and implementation of the research project. The patient advocate should be active in a cancer advocacy organization, have a high level of knowledge of current cancer issues, and be a representative from the FY24 PRCRP Topic Area(s) that is being studied. The patient advocate will be a person living with cancer; a person previously diagnosed with/treated for cancer but who now has no evidence of disease; or a family member or caretaker of someone with cancer. The patient advocate should be involved in the development of the research question, project design, oversight, and evaluation, as well as other significant aspects of the proposed project. Interactions with other team members should be well integrated and ongoing, not limited to attending seminars and semi-annual meetings. The role of the patient advocate should be focused on providing objective input on the research and its potential impact for individuals with or at risk for cancer.

The PWSA supports innovative research studies to advance research in preservation of function (physical ability), quality of life, symptom management, resilience, relief from neurocognitive deficits, and support for psychosocial issues related to cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship. Studies must address one or more of these critical issues in at least one of the FY24 PRCRP Topic Areas.

The overall intention of the PWSA is to fill gaps in the understanding of survivorship, including investigations into the psychological health and well-being of those affected by cancer (e.g., patients, family members). This may include investigations into studies that improve mental health and/or cancer-related outcomes in defined populations. Studies also may assess the relationship(s) between behavioral and social functioning in relation to cancer initiation, progression, detection, treatment, and rehabilitation. Applications may propose studies that examine preservation of function, quality-of-life, well-being, decision-making, and/or cognitive function, development and testing of educational interventions, and symptom management (e.g., toxicity of treatment, palliative/supportive care, psychological distress and anxiety) throughout treatment and beyond. Applications may target development of evidence-based practices, behavioral health science and patient well-being interventions and surveillance, and identification of psychosocial patient outcomes. Basic laboratory studies are not appropriate for the PWSA and may be withdrawn.

The critical components of this award mechanism are:

·        Impact: The PWSA is intended to support research that demonstrates the potential to have a major impact on patient well-being, outcomes, and health, including diagnosis, treatment, and after treatment. The proposed study must demonstrate how the research will transform outcomes related to at least one of the FY24 PRCRP Topic Areas. Research should challenge paradigms with respect to impact on patient care and outcomes. Proposed projects may include translational or clinical research, including pilot clinical trials. Impactful research will accelerate the movement of promising ideas into clinical applications and advance quality of life and survivorship.

·        Study Design: Applications should clearly articulate the chosen design of the study. Studies entailing retrospective or prospective recruitment should define the type of architecture of the study (e.g., interventional, descriptive, correlational, field experimental, meta-analyses). Study populations should be clearly defined. The rationale should support the chosen study design with statistical evaluation to back the design. Questionnaires should be described in sufficient detail to justify interpretation of potential results. Studies utilizing animal models are not supported by this funding opportunity and may be withdrawn.

·        Preliminary Data: The PWSA will require preliminary data for all studies that propose the active (prospective) recruitment of human subjects for pilot clinical trials. Studies not proposing active recruitment of human subjects are not required to present preliminary data but should be supported by sound reasoning and relevant literature.

·        Patient Advocate Participation: Applications to the PWSA funding opportunity are required to include patient advocates. The research team must include at least one cancer patient advocate who will be integral throughout the planning and implementation of the research project. The patient advocate should be active in a cancer advocacy organization, have a high level of knowledge of current cancer issues, and be a representative from the FY24 PRCRP Topic Area(s) that is being studied. The patient advocate will be a person living with cancer; a person previously diagnosed with/treated for cancer but who now has no evidence of disease; or a family member or caretaker of someone with cancer. The patient advocate should be involved in the development of the research question, project design, oversight, and evaluation, as well as other significant aspects of the proposed project. Interactions with other team members should be well integrated and ongoing, not limited to attending seminars and semi-annual meetings. The role of the patient advocate should be focused on providing objective input on the research and its potential impact for individuals with or at risk for cancer.