Research Answers to NCI's Provocative Questions (R01)

The purpose of this grants is to support research projects designed to solve specific problems and paradoxes in cancer research identified by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Provocative Questions initiative. The 2018 PQ are: 

PQ1: What molecular mechanisms influence disease penetrance in individuals who inherit a cancer susceptibility gene?

PQ2: How do variations in immune function caused by comorbidities or observed among different populations affect response to cancer therapy?

PQ3: Do genetic interactions between germline variations and somatic mutations contribute to differences in tumor evolution or response to therapy?

PQ4: Can we develop tools to directly change the expression or function of multiple chosen genes simultaneously and use these tools to study the range of changes important for human cancer?

PQ5: How does mitochondrial heterogeneity influence tumorigenesis or progression?

PQ6: How do circadian processes affect tumor development, progression, and response to therapy?

PQ7: How do cancer-specific subcellular pathognomonic structures develop, what is their function, and can they be a source of novel therapeutic targets?

PQ8: What are the predictive biomarkers for the onset of immune-related adverse events associated with checkpoint inhibition, and are they related to markers for efficacy?

PQ9: Can we develop bifunctional small molecules that will couple oncoproteins or other cancer-causing molecules of interest to inactivating processes such as degradation and achieve tissue-specific loss of function?

PQ10: How do microbiota affect the response to cancer therapies?

PQ11: Through what mechanisms do diet and nutritional interventions affect the response to cancer treatment?

PQ12: What are the molecular and/or cellular mechanisms that underlie the development of cancer therapy-induced severe adverse sequelae?

Funding: No fixed limit 

Duration: 5 years

Research Authority due date: 22.5.18

LOI (encouraged) due date: 29.5.18

Full application due date: 29.6.18