Research Funding Opportunity: 2nd Call for Concept Proposals Pacific Island Partnership for Cancer Health Equity (PIPCHE/U54) 

The Pacific Island Partnership for Cancer Health Equity (PIPCHE/U54) invites concept proposals for Pilot and Full research projects to address significant cancer health disparities among Pacific Islanders in Guam, Hawai‘i, and the U.S. Associated Pacific Island (USAPI) jurisdictions.  Complementary cancer research expertise and experience of faculty at University of Guam (UOG) and the University of Hawai‘i Cancer Center (UHCC) is to be combined with the resources at the partnering institutions to support joint research projects that address cancer related issues, priorities, and opportunities unique to the region.  Concepts responsive to the criteria listed below will be invited to submit fully developed proposals for inclusion in the partnership’s 2024 competitive renewal application.  This competition is open to all disciplines at the UOG and UH, from biology to health sciences and social sciences.

Requirements:  Pilot and Full Project concept proposals must meet the following requirements for consideration:

1. Innovative, high quality science with the potential to garner independent external support;
2. Science addressing cancer health disparities in Pacific Islanders or cancers of relevance to the Pacific region will be given preference;
3. Projects must be led by at least one investigator from UOG and one investigator from UH;
4. Compliance with all requirements as specified in PAR 23-308
5. Projects may be proposed in any area of cancer-related basic, clinical, translational, prevention, control, behavioral, population, and/or outreach research.
6. Priority areas of research include but are not limited to: colorectal cancer, HPV & cervical cancer, Areca (betel) nut use, molecular or biochemical-focused projects, interventional projects, and projects that build on the Guam Cancer Registry data

Applications:  Written concept proposals are due by February 26, 2024 (Hawai‘i Time) / Friday, February 27, 2024 (Guam Time).  Collaborating investigators should use the attached application form.  Jointly submit concept proposals to: U54@cc.hawaii.edu and guamcrc@triton.uog.edu. 

Review Criteria and Process:  Concepts must align with the aims of the U54 parent grant and PAR 23-308, and preliminary data will enhance the evaluation of the proposal. All research concepts will be reviewed by members of the partnership’s scientific review committees. Collaborating co-leaders of the most promising concepts will be invited to submit fully developed proposals for further review and consideration.

Questions:  Principal investigators of the PIPCHE/U54 are available to respond to questions from interested applicants; please contact U54@pipche.org at UOG and U54@cc.hawaii.edu at UHCC.  For more information about the Pacific Island Partnership for Cancer Health Equity, please see the program’s website at https://pipche.org and https://www.uhcancercenter.org/u54.

Funded by the National Cancer Institute’s Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities (U54CA143727 and U54CA143728), the Pacific Island Partnership for Cancer Health Equity (PIPCHE) is dedicated to advancing cancer health equity among Pacific Islanders in Guam, Hawai‘i, and the U.S. Associated Pacific Islands through research, education, and outreach.