Cancer cachexia is a wasting disorder defined by an unintentional weight loss of > 5% or >2% if the patient has a BMI < 20 kg/m2 or sarcopenia. It is an under-diagnosed disorder. Prevalence of cachexia can vary between cancer types, but rates of cachexia are known to be high in pancreatic, gastric, esophageal and lung cancers. It effects not just body weight but also overall quality of life including how patients feel and function. Additionally, clinical evidence has demonstrated cachexia can diminish a patient’s ability to tolerate therapy which may have a negative impact on overall survival.
This RFP is seeking proposals for independent education initiatives that will improve the ability of healthcare professionals to:
• Recognize the signs and symptoms of cachexia.
• Use diagnostic tools to assess, measure and correctly document cachexia in patient records.
• Utilize current strategies to improve appetite, lean body mass, or physical function in patients with cachexia.
• Become familiar with the mechanism of GDF-15 and its role as a target in cachexia treatment.
• Consider patients for a cachexia clinical trial, understanding the status of new therapeutic options currently in development.
Grant Application due date: May 13, 2025
Geographic Scope/Location of Project: United States, United Kingdom, France, Spain, Germany, Italy, and Japan are the priority countries although proposals with global reach are also encouraged.
• Applicant organizations to this RFP must be based in the United States, one of the 5-European countries above, or Japan. • The following may apply: medical, nursing, allied health, and/or pharmacy professional schools; hospitals and healthcare institutions (both large and small); professional organizations/medical societies; medical education companies; and other entities with a mission related to healthcare professional education and/or healthcare improvement. • Only organizations are eligible to receive grants, not individuals or physician-owned medical practices or individual-physician-owned organizations. • If the project involves multiple departments within an institution and/or between different institutions / organizations / associations, all institutions must have a relevant role and the requesting organization must have a key role in the project. • For projects offering continuing education credit in the United States, the requesting organization must be accredited.
Individual projects requesting up to $250,000 will be considered. The estimated total available budget related to this RFP is $500,000.