Innovative Approaches to Studying Cancer Communication in the New Media Environment (R01 - Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 18 638

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 18 638

The NIH funding opportunity PAR 18-638, titled "Innovative Approaches to Studying Cancer Communication in the New Media Environment (R01 - Clinical Trial Optional)," supports research that examines how cancer-related information is created, shared, interpreted, and acted on in modern digital and media settings. The central goal is to strengthen cancer prevention and control by improving the science of communication across the full cancer control continuum, including prevention, early detection and screening, diagnosis, treatment decision-making, survivorship, and end-of-life issues. The program is focused on communication in a rapidly changing "new media" landscape, where people increasingly rely on online sources, social platforms, networks, mobile tools, and digital communities to make health decisions and to support caregiving and coping.

A key feature of the announcement is its emphasis on methodological innovation. Applicants are encouraged to use one or more advanced or emerging approaches suited to the scale, speed, and complexity of contemporary media environments. Examples specifically highlighted include social media data mining, Natural Language Processing (NLP) and other computational text methods, online social network analysis, crowdsourcing platforms and tools (such as Mechanical Turk) for rapid data collection or experimentation, analysis of online search behavior, Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) to capture real-time or near-real-time experiences and exposures, neuroscience and biobehavioral approaches that connect communication processes to underlying cognitive or physiological responses, and geographic information systems (GIS) to explore place-based patterns and disparities in information exposure, access, and outcomes. The underlying expectation is that these tools will enable investigators to study communication phenomena that are difficult to capture using traditional surveys or small-scale lab methods alone, such as misinformation spread, network influence, real-time decision contexts, or geographically uneven information environments.

The kinds of outcomes this FOA aims to support are broad, but they all tie back to cancer prevention and control. Proposed studies should assess impacts such as changes in knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and perceived risk; the quality and dynamics of decision-making for screening and treatment; information inequalities and disparities in access to credible cancer information; social support and caregiving communication; shared decision-making processes between patients, families, and clinicians; persuasion and message effects; behavioral intentions and real-world preventive behaviors; and even policy support and public engagement around cancer-related policies. In other words, the science can focus on individuals, families, communities, or larger populations, as long as it produces insights relevant to cancer outcomes and the communication systems that shape them.

Although the title references an R01, the description provided states that this FOA uses the Exploratory/Developmental Grant (R21) mechanism. Under the R21 model, the intent is to fund early-stage, high-potential ideas, new tools, or new analytic approaches that could significantly advance biomedical or biobehavioral research. A practical implication is that applicants are not expected to provide extensive preliminary data or a large body of prior work to justify feasibility in the way an R01 often requires. The emphasis is more on strong rationale, innovation, and a clear plan to develop and test the approach in a way that could meaningfully move the field forward. The listing also indicates "clinical trial optional," meaning applicants may propose studies that include clinical trial elements if appropriate, but a clinical trial is not required.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations. Eligible applicants listed include state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and other entities as permitted by NIH policy. The FOA also explicitly notes interest in participation from a range of institution types and community-oriented organizations, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, and eligible federal agencies, as well as regional organizations and U.S. territories or possessions.

At the same time, there are clear restrictions on foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply. In addition, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement are not allowed. This means the work must be fully U.S.-based in terms of applicant organization and allowable project components.

Administrative details in the source data identify the sponsor as the National Institutes of Health, categorize it as a discretionary grant opportunity within education and health (CFDA 93.395), and show an original closing date of June 13, 2019, with a creation date of February 7, 2018. While the posted date and deadline reflect that specific cycle, the program concept is best understood as NIH support for forward-looking cancer communication science that uses modern data sources and analytic methods to understand and improve how people encounter cancer information, make decisions, and translate communication into prevention and control behaviors.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Innovative Approaches to Studying Cancer Communication in the New Media Environment (R01 - Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.395.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2018-02-07.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-06-13. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for PAR 18 638

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