Cancer Care Outcomes Research and Surveillance (CanCORS) Consortium (Limited Competition) U01 | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the funding opportunity number and what does it support?

This opportunity is RFA-CA-09-503 from the National Cancer Institute (NCI). It supports the continuation and extension of the Cancer Care Outcomes Research and Surveillance (CanCORS) Consortium using the NIH cooperative agreement mechanism (U01).

What is CanCORS?

CanCORS (Cancer Care Outcomes Research and Surveillance) is a consortium created to build a large, real-world evidence base on cancer care. In its earlier phase, it enrolled and collected data on roughly 10,000 newly diagnosed patients with lung cancer and colorectal cancer and assembled extensive information on the initial (acute) treatment period, including clinical outcomes and patient-reported outcomes.

What cancers and patient groups are the focus of this FOA?

The focus is on the established CanCORS cohorts of patients with lung cancer and colorectal cancer. The next phase emphasizes longer term survivors from these cohorts rather than newly diagnosed patients.

How does this next phase differ from the earlier CanCORS work?

The earlier phase concentrated on care received during the initial, acute treatment period and on early outcomes, including patient-reported symptoms and functioning. This FOA shifts the emphasis to what happens after initial treatment by supporting follow-up studies of longer term survivors and assessing follow-up care and survivorship outcomes over time.

Is this opportunity meant to create a new patient cohort?

No. The FOA emphasizes tracking and evaluating surveillance, ongoing management, and downstream outcomes in the already-established CanCORS lung and colorectal cancer cohorts, rather than launching a new cohort from scratch.

What is the main goal of the follow-up research supported by this announcement?

The goal is a detailed assessment of the quality of follow-up care over time and the health outcomes associated with survivorship, including how patterns of care relate to patient outcomes beyond the acute phase.

What kinds of follow-up activities are included in the scope described?

The scope described includes tracking and evaluating surveillance, ongoing management, and downstream outcomes for longer term survivors within the existing CanCORS cohorts.

Does the FOA include a data dissemination requirement?

Yes. A second explicit aim is dissemination of CanCORS data. The FOA signals that making the resource accessible and usable by the wider research community is a core deliverable.

What is changing structurally in the consortium under this recompetition?

A major change is consolidation. Previously, CanCORS operated through multiple separate awards: one Statistical Coordinating Center (SCC) and seven Primary Data Collection and Research Sites (PDCRs). Under this FOA, NCI requires tighter integration by supporting all components through a single award.

How many awards will be made under this FOA?

The FOA calls for a single award that supports all components (the coordinating and site functions) under one organizational entity for the next round of follow-up research.

Who is expected to submit the application?

The announcement solicits one joint application submitted collectively by the currently funded Statistical Coordinating Center (SCC) and the Primary Data Collection and Research Site (PDCR) institutions, bringing those functions together under one joint applicant group.

Is this a cooperative agreement, and what does that imply?

Yes. The mechanism is a U01 cooperative agreement. The FOA indicates the project is expected to involve substantial NCI programmatic involvement and coordination, rather than operating as a fully investigator-initiated grant with minimal agency interaction.

Is the competition open to new institutions that were not part of CanCORS?

No. Eligibility is intentionally restricted. While the FOA lists many general eligible applicant types, the practical condition is that only organizations previously funded under the earlier CanCORS solicitation (RFA-CA-01-013) may apply.

Do eligible organizations apply individually or together?

They must apply together. The FOA requires a single, joint application submitted collectively by the previously funded CanCORS components, rather than separate applications from separate institutions.

What kinds of organizations are listed as generally eligible applicants?

The FOA includes universities, nonprofits, for-profits, small businesses, state and territorial entities, and certain federal and regional organizations in its general list of eligible applicant types. However, actual eligibility is limited to those previously funded under RFA-CA-01-013.

Is there a cost-sharing or matching requirement?

No. The FOA indicates there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement.

When was this opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted in December 2008.

What is the estimated total funding level?

The FOA provides an estimated total funding level of about $3.7 million.

What are SCC and PDCR in the context of CanCORS?

In the earlier consortium structure, SCC refers to the Statistical Coordinating Center, and PDCR refers to the Primary Data Collection and Research Sites. This FOA consolidates these components under a single award and a single joint application.

What patient outcomes were captured in the earlier phase, and how is that relevant now?

The earlier phase assembled extensive information on care during the initial, acute treatment period, along with clinical outcomes and patient-reported outcomes describing symptoms, experiences, and functioning. This FOA builds on that foundation by extending follow-up into survivorship and relating longer term care patterns to outcomes beyond the acute phase.

Does the FOA specify that the work is limited-competition?

Yes. The announcement is described as a limited-competition NCI opportunity, consistent with the restriction that only previously funded CanCORS organizations may apply and must do so jointly.