Predicting Behavioral Responses to Population-Level Cancer Control Strategies (R21) | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the focus of "Predicting Behavioral Responses to Population-Level Cancer Control Strategies (R21) (PAR 16-257)"?

This NIH discretionary funding opportunity supports early-stage, exploratory research aimed at understanding why population-level cancer control policies and programs work better for some people than others. The emphasis is on identifying individual-level factors that shape how people respond to broad efforts intended to change cancer-related behaviors.

Is this opportunity about testing whether a policy works overall?

No. Instead of evaluating whether a policy or program works "in general," the intent is to understand the human and behavioral mechanisms that drive different responses across individuals. The goal is to help predict who benefits, who does not, and under what conditions.

What kinds of cancer-related behaviors are relevant to this FOA?

The FOA highlights behaviors tied to cancer prevention and early detection, including tobacco use, diet, physical activity, screening uptake, vaccination, and other prevention or early detection behaviors.

What does "population-level cancer control strategies" mean in this context?

In this context, population-level strategies are broad policies and programs designed to influence cancer-related behaviors at scale (for example, initiatives intended to reduce tobacco use or increase screening uptake). The research focus is on how individuals respond differently to these broad strategies.

What is the central research question this FOA is trying to answer?

The central question is: what individual-level factors explain and predict variation in how people respond to population-level cancer control strategies, and how can those insights improve the design and implementation of these strategies?

What types of individual-level factors does the FOA emphasize?

The opportunity points to measurable individual differences that can shape behavior, such as cognitive biases, emotional responses, cultural and language factors, social identity and peer influence, political orientation, trust in institutions, susceptibility to marketing, and decision-making styles.

Why does the FOA emphasize interdisciplinary collaboration?

The FOA argues that population-level strategies often succeed or fail based on how real people perceive risk, interpret messages, respond to incentives, navigate social norms, interact with institutions, and make decisions under uncertainty. It encourages collaborations that bring in theories and tools from disciplines that can explain and predict behavior in these real-world contexts.

Which disciplines are specifically encouraged to participate?

Examples named include psychological science (social and developmental), affective and cognitive neuroscience, judgment and decision-making, consumer behavior and marketing, organizational behavior, sociology, cultural anthropology, behavioral economics, linguistics, and political science. The FOA also encourages partnerships between health policy/implementation researchers and these complementary fields.

What is the grant mechanism used for this opportunity?

The mechanism is an NIH R21, which is commonly used for exploratory or potentially high-impact preliminary work that may be novel or higher-risk than a standard research project.

What is the award ceiling for this R21 opportunity?

The listed award ceiling is $200,000, reflecting an intent to support focused studies that generate insights, pilot data, or proof-of-concept models rather than large, long-term trials.

What kinds of outputs are projects expected to produce?

Projects are expected to generate practical knowledge that can improve population-level cancer control strategies by accounting for measurable individual differences. This can include insights, pilot data, or proof-of-concept models that help sharpen strategy design, targeting, timing, or communication.

How does this FOA relate to improving equity in cancer control?

The FOA is explicitly concerned with moving beyond one-size-fits-all assumptions. By explaining and predicting different behavioral responses across individuals, the research can help identify who benefits, who does not, and why, supporting efforts to improve real-world effectiveness and equity.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions where specified); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses.

Which federal agency is sponsoring this opportunity?

The sponsoring agency is within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH).

When was this opportunity posted and what are the key dates provided?

The opportunity was posted May 11, 2016, created May 11, 2016, and lists a closing date of April 11, 2019.

What types of collaborations does the FOA encourage?

It specifically encourages partnerships between researchers experienced in health policy research and implementation and investigators from disciplines that do not typically lead cancer or policy research but provide strong behavioral theories and methods that can help explain and predict responses.

What is the practical purpose of predicting behavioral responses?

The practical purpose is to improve how population-level cancer control strategies are designed and implemented, including making them more effective by tailoring design, targeting, timing, and communication to account for predictable differences in how individuals respond.

What is meant by "mechanisms" in this FOA?

Here, "mechanisms" refers to the underlying human and behavioral processes that lead different individuals to respond differently to the same policy or program, such as differences in risk perception, decision-making under uncertainty, or responses to incentives and messaging.

Is the FOA geared toward large, long-term trials?

No. The R21 structure and the $200,000 award ceiling indicate a focus on exploratory, proof-of-concept, or pilot-scale work rather than large, long-term trials.

How does this FOA define success for population-level strategies?

Based on the description provided, success is not only whether a strategy changes outcomes at a population level, but whether it works in the real world across diverse individuals, including understanding and predicting who responds, who does not, and what conditions influence those outcomes.