The FY23 PCRP Health Disparity Research Award supports promising research ideas that have high potential to make a significant impact in eliminating disparities in prostate cancer incidence, morbidity, mortality, and survivorship. Applications for this award are encouraged to be relevant to one or more of the FY23 PCRP Health Disparity Research Award Focus Areas and must explicitly state how the proposed research is related to the selected Focus Areas(s). If the proposed project does not address one of the FY23 PCRP Health Disparity Research Award Focus Areas, the application must provide a description to justify how the project will nevertheless address another critical area believed to contribute to prostate cancer health disparities within the context of the FY23 PCRP Overarching Challenges. Applications are encouraged from a spectrum of disciplines, including but not limited to, basic science, engineering, bioinformatics, population science, psycho-oncology, translational research, implementation science, and health care services.
Community Engagement: Investigators are highly encouraged to engage members of the targeted population or community in the development and implementation of their research project, where appropriate. A comprehensive, but by no means exhaustive, list of health disparity research resources and community or advocacy organizations is provided at the end of the Health Disparity Research Award Information section. Applications that involve and utilize population- or community-based organizations to support their research project should demonstrate the level of involvement in letters of support for the application.
Deadlines:
• Required Pre-Application Deadline: Aug. 3, 2023
• Application Submission Deadline: Aug. 24, 2023
The Mission of the FY23 PCRP is to fund research that will eliminate death and suffering from prostate cancer and enhance the well-being of Service members, Veterans, and all the men and their families who are experiencing the impact of the disease. Within this context, the PCRP is interested in supporting research that addresses specific gaps in prostate cancer research and clinical care; therefore, applications are required to address one or more of the following FY23 PCRP Overarching Challenges:
• Improve quality of life to enhance outcomes and overall health and wellness for those impacted by prostate cancer
• Develop new treatments or improve upon existing therapies to improve outcomes for men with lethal prostate cancer
• Advance health equity and reduce disparities in prostate cancer
• Define the biology of prostate cancer progression to lethal prostate cancer to reduce death
FY23 PCRP Health Disparity Research Award Focus Areas
The PCRP is interested in research that addresses all different aspects that contribute to health disparity in prostate cancer. The Focus Areas outlined below broadly describe the primary areas that may contribute to disparities in prostate cancer incidence, morbidity, mortality, and survivorship:
• Biological contributors such as genetic and genomic differences, that can be associated with disparate outcomes in patient populations.
• Environmental factors that may cause endogenous changes, such as environmental exposures, dietary factors, lifestyle factors, and other external factors that may contribute to prostate cancer disparities in specific populations.
• Social and cultural factors that may influence decision-making of patients, their family, or caregiver as it relates to the screening and treatment of prostate cancer, such as the role of social/support networks, community influence, cultural or religious practices, and psychological health.
• Access to health care, which may stem from geographic location, socioeconomic status, or other factors.
Each investigator may be named on only one FY23 Health Disparity Research Award application as a PI.
Although a PI may be eligible for both the Established Investigator and New Investigator categories, only one category may be chosen; the choice of application category is at the applicant’s discretion.
• Established Investigator: Independent investigators at all levels are eligible.
• New Investigator: By the application submission deadline, the PI must: ○ Have the freedom to pursue independent research goals without formal mentorship. ○ Not previously have received a PCRP Health Disparity Research Award and/or Idea Development Award. ○ Be an independent, early-career investigator within 10 years after completion of their terminal degree (excluding time spent in residency or on family medical leave). Time spent as a postdoctoral fellow is not excluded. Lapses in research time or appointments as denoted in the biographical sketch may be articulated in the application. ○ New Investigators working within a laboratory team are eligible to apply for this award provided they can demonstrate that they have the freedom to pursue independent research goals without formal mentorship. Graduate students and junior postdoctoral fellows with less than 3 years postdoctoral training by the application submission deadline are not eligible for this award.
The anticipated direct costs budgeted for the entire period of performance for an FY23 PCRP Health Disparity Research Award should not exceed $900,000. Refer to Section II.D.5, Funding Restrictions, for detailed funding information.
