DoD Peer Reviewed Cancer, Behavioral Health Science Award from the Department of Defense

The Behavioral Health Science Award supports innovative research and high-reward studies that span the spectrum of behavioral health science, including quality of life, symptom management, resilience, neurocognitive deficits, and 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 FY21 PRCRP Topic Areas. Proposed research should focus on at least one of the stages of survivorship as characterized by the American Society for Clinical Oncology: acute, extended, and/or permanent (https://www.cancer.net/survivorship/what-survivorship, https://www.asco.org/sites/new-www.asco.org/files/content-files/practice-and-guidelines/documents/ASCO-guidelines-summary-of-recommendations-tables.pdf).

The overall goal of the Behavioral Health Science Award is to advance behavioral health cancer science and 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 behavioral science that examines quality of life studies, decision-making and/or cognitive function research, development and testing of educational interventions, and symptom management (e.g., toxicity of treatment, palliative care, psychological distress and anxiety). Applications may target development of evidence-based practices, behavioral health science interventions and surveillance, and identification of psychosocial patient outcomes.

The critical components of this award mechanism are:

·        Impact: The Behavioral Health Science Award is intended to support research that demonstrates the potential to have a major impact on patient outcomes, especially during the three stages of survivorship (acute, extended, and/or permanent). The proposed study must demonstrate how the research will transform behavioral health outcomes related to at least one of the FY21 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, if successful, accelerate the movement of promising ideas into clinical applications and advance the behavioral health science in the area of survivorship.

·        Study Design: Applications should clearly articulate the chosen design of the study. Basic studies should demonstrate research strategy, feasibility, and how the study relates to the human experience with cancer. Studies entailing retrospective or prospective recruitment should define the type of architecture of the study (e.g., descriptive, correlational, field experimental, meta-analyses). Study populations should be defined. The rationale should support the chosen study design with statistical evaluation to back the design. Survey instruments should be described in detail.

·        Preliminary Data: The Behavioral Health Science Award will require preliminary data for all studies that propose the active (prospective) recruitment of human subjects. 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 Behavioral Health Science Award funding opportunity are required to include at least one patient advocate. 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 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. As a lay representative, the patient advocate should be active in a cancer advocacy organization. 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. At least one patient advocate should have a high level of knowledge of current cancer issues in the selected FY21 PRCRP Topic Area(s).

·        Military Health: The proposed research must address at least one of the FY21 PRCRP Military Health Focus Areas. The proposed research must be relevant to active-duty Service Members, Veterans, and their beneficiaries. Behavioral health is of particular importance to the military, and applications should demonstrate how the proposed studies will enhance military health and well-being with respect to cancer.

The Behavioral Health Science Award supports innovative research and high-reward studies that span the spectrum of behavioral health science, including quality of life, symptom management, resilience, neurocognitive deficits, and 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 FY21 PRCRP Topic Areas.  Proposed research should focus on at least one of the stages of survivorship as characterized by the American Society for Clinical Oncology:  acute, extended, and/or permanent (https://www.cancer.net/survivorship/what-survivorship, https://www.asco.org/sites/new-www.asco.org/files/content-files/practice-and-guidelines/documents/ASCO-guidelines-summary-of-recommendations-tables.pdf).

The overall goal of the Behavioral Health Science Award is to advance behavioral health cancer science and 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 behavioral science that examines quality of life studies, decision-making and/or cognitive function research, development and testing of educational interventions, and symptom management (e.g., toxicity of treatment, palliative care, psychological distress and anxiety).  Applications may target development of evidence-based practices, behavioral health science interventions and surveillance, and identification of psychosocial patient outcomes.

The critical components of this award mechanism are:

·        Impact:  The Behavioral Health Science Award is intended to support research that demonstrates the potential to have a major impact on patient outcomes, especially during the three stages of survivorship (acute, extended, and/or permanent). The proposed study must demonstrate how the research will transform behavioral health outcomes related to at least one of the FY21 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, if successful, accelerate the movement of promising ideas into clinical applications and advance the behavioral health science in the area of survivorship.

·        Study Design:  Applications should clearly articulate the chosen design of the study.  Basic studies should demonstrate research strategy, feasibility, and how the study relates to the human experience with cancer.  Studies entailing retrospective or prospective recruitment should define the type of architecture of the study (e.g., descriptive, correlational, field experimental, meta-analyses).  Study populations should be defined.  The rationale should support the chosen study design with statistical evaluation to back the design.  Survey instruments should be described in detail.

·        Preliminary Data:  The Behavioral Health Science Award will require preliminary data for all studies that propose the active (prospective) recruitment of human subjects.  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 Behavioral Health Science Award funding opportunity are required to include at least one patient advocate.  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 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.  As a lay representative, the patient advocate should be active in a cancer advocacy organization.  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.  At least one patient advocate should have a high level of knowledge of current cancer issues in the selected FY21 PRCRP Topic Area(s).

·        Military Health:  The proposed research must address at least one of the FY21 PRCRP Military Health Focus Areas.  The proposed research must be relevant to active-duty Service Members, Veterans, and their beneficiaries.  Behavioral health is of particular importance to the military, and applications should demonstrate how the proposed studies will enhance military health and well-being with respect to cancer.