Dear Colleagues,

Our staff continues to play an important role in national efforts to help mitigate poor health information quality. US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued his first Advisory of this Administration on the topic of health information quality as it relates to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our Health Communication and Informatics Research Branch played an essential role in bringing this advisory to fruition. Along the same lines, BRP Program Director Dr. Sylvia Chou co-authored a discussion paper as part of a National Academy of Medicine expert working group that offers guidance to social media platforms for identifying credible sources of online health information.
As you continue working within the constraints brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, I hope you find the resources highlighted in this issue valuable in your research. There are several new funding opportunities and notices of special interest (NOSIs) in areas such as metabolic dysregulation and cancer risk, and dyadic processes and biopsychosocial outcomes, among others. Amid the many staff and grantee papers we highlight, take a look at the paper written by BRP leadership outlining key areas of behavioral research to address emerging cancer prevention and control challenges. We have many interesting workshops and webinars on the horizon. Some updated and new DCCPS data sets and resources include the SEER-CAHPS data set, US Cancer Statistics, and guidance materials for the Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey (TUS-CPS) harmonized data set. You’ll also find a wealth of information in this year’s Cancer Trends Progress Report and the Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer.
As a reminder, feel free to manage your BRP newsletter subscription at any time. We hope you find the information beneficial. If you’re on social media, follow us on Twitter at @NCIBehaviors.
Bill Klein
Associate Director
New Funding Opportunities and Notices
Metabolic Dysregulation and Cancer Risk Program, Research Grants: a Transdisciplinary Approach to Obesity-Associated Research (U01 Clinical Trial Optional)
RFA-CA-21-021
NCI Contacts: Dr. Tram Lam, Dr. Phillip Daschner, Dr. Edward Sauter, Dr. Mary Ann Van Duyn
Posted: July 6, 2021
Letter of Intent Due: September 1, 2021
Expires: October 7, 2021
Coordinating Center for the Metabolic Dysregulation and Cancer Risk Program: A Transdisciplinary Approach to Obesity-Associated Cancer Research (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
RFA-CA-21-022
NCI Contact: Dr. Tram Lam
Posted: July 6, 2021
Letter of Intent Due: September 6, 2021
Expires: October 7, 2021
Implementation Science for Cancer Control in People Living with HIV in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (U01 Clinical Trial Optional)
RFA-CA-21-056
NCI Contact: Dr. Vidya Vedham
Posted: August 25, 2021
Application Due Date: December 15, 2021
Expires: December 16, 2021
Dyadic Interpersonal Processes and Biopsychosocial Outcomes (R01 - Basic Experimental Studies with Humans & R01 Clinical Trials Not Allowed)
PAR-21-280; PAR-21-281
NCI Contact: Dr. Rebecca Ferrer
Posted: July 9, 2021
First Available Due Date: February 5, 2022
Expires: May 8, 2023
Mobile Health: Technology and Outcomes in Low and Middle Income Countries (R21/R33 - Clinical Trial Optional)
PAR-21-303
NCI Contact: Dr. Vidya Vedham
Posted: August 4, 2021
First Available Due Date: November 15, 2021
Expires: December 10, 2022
Small Business Innovation Research: Developing Unbiased Medical Technologies to Reduce Disparities in Cancer Outcomes
NIH/NCI 433
NCI Contact: Ms. Cherie Wells
Posted: July 30, 2021
Receipt date: October 28, 2021
Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) and Alternative Nicotine and Tobacco Delivery Systems: Population, Clinical and Applied Prevention Mechanisms of Health Effects
NOT-OD-21-137
NCI Contact: Dr. Rachel Grana Mayne
Posted: June 28, 2021
First Available Due Date: October 5, 2021
Expires: May 8, 2024
Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) and Alternative Nicotine and Tobacco Delivery Systems: Basic Mechanisms of Health Effects
NOT-OD-21-127
NCI Contact: Dr. Ron Johnson
Posted: June 28, 2021
First Available Due Date: October 5, 2021
Expires: May 8, 2023
Alzheimer’s-Focused Administrative Supplements for NIH Grants that are Not Focused on Alzheimer’s Disease
NOT-AG-21-018
NCI Contact: Dr. Paige Green
Posted: June 25, 2021
First Available Due Date: October 1, 2021
Expires: October 2, 2021
New Information Technology-Enabled Care Delivery Models to Improve Depression Care in Cancer
NOT-CA-21-085
NCI Contact: Dr. Gurvaneet Randhawa
Posted: June 22, 2021
First Available Due Date: October 5, 2021
Expires: March 8, 2024
NCI SBIR/STTR Program Announcement Regarding Cancer Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment Technologies for Low-Resource Settings
NOT-CA-21-062
NCI Contact: Dr. Ming Zhao
Posted: July 23, 2021
First Available Due Date: September 7, 2021
Expires: September 7, 2024
Notice of Intent to Publish a Funding Opportunity Announcement for the Center for Rapid Surveillance of Tobacco (CRST) to Assess Changes in Use Behaviors, Product Marketing, and the Marketplace (U01 Clinical Trial Optional)
NOT-OD-21-175
NCI Contact: Dr. Maria Roditis
Estimated Publication Date of Funding Opportunity Announcement: November/December, 2021
First Estimated Application Due Date: May, 2022
COVID-19 Resources and Information
NIH RECOVER Initiative established to understand, prevent, and treat long-term effects of COVID-19
NIH established the Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery (RECOVER) Initiative to support research to understand, prevent, and treat long-term effects of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019). A primary element of the initiative is a SARS-CoV-2 Recovery Cohort that will include populations of adults and children diagnosed with post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 Infection. Learn more about the RECOVER Initiative >>
In the News
Principles and attributes to identify credible sources of online health information
BRP Program Director Dr. Sylvia Chou served on an expert working group hosted by the National Academy of Medicine that co-authored a discussion paper offering guidance to social media platforms for identifying potentially credible sources of online health information. The authors focus on source evaluation, content assessment, ethical considerations, and transparency among social media platforms.
Surgeon General Murthy issues first advisory on the threat of health information quality
US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued his first Surgeon General’s Advisory of this Administration warning Americans about the urgent threat of poor health information quality and its negative impact on the US response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The advisory calls for a “whole-of-society” approach that lays out strategies – from individual to institutional levels – to identify and mitigate the spread of poor health information quality. BRP Program Director Dr. Sylvia Chou, Branch Chief Dr. Robin Vanderpool, and BRP collaborator Dr. Joseph Cappella were instrumental in the development of the advisory.
Smoking cessation improves treatment and survival outcomes for people with lung cancer
An article by the Associated Press reported on a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine that showed cancer patients who quit smoking after a lung cancer diagnosis had improved treatment and survival outcomes compared to those who continued to smoke. The article mentioned the NCI-funded Cancer Center Cessation Initiative, a $27 million investment to help cancer centers build and implement tobacco cessation programs. NCI Director Dr. Ned Sharpless commented, “We’ve already learned a tremendous amount from this…With relatively modest support – these are not huge, expensive programs – you can markedly increase the number of patients you reach.”
Staffing News

Dr. Leeann Siegel, PhD, MPH, joined the Tobacco Control Research Branch as a CRTA fellow. Dr. Siegel graduated with a PhD in health communication from the University of Pennsylvania. Her dissertation was titled, “Examining Moderators in the Effects of Exposure to Media Norm Information Related to Tobacco Use.” She completed her MPH at Harvard University and her BA at Cornell University.
Scientific Advances
Chen-Sankey JC, van de Venne J, Westneat S, Rahman B, Folger S, Anesetti- Rothermel A, Debnam C, Ribisl KM, Cohn A, Rose SW. Real-time context of tobacco marketing exposure and community vulnerability - an ecological momentary assessment among young adults. Ann Behav Med. 2021 Jul 29:kaab066.
Langer SL, Castro FG, Chen AC, Davis KC, Joseph RP, Kim WS, Larkey L, Lee RE, Petrov ME, Reifsnider E, Youngstedt SD, Shaibi GQ. Recruitment and retention of underrepresented and vulnerable populations to research. Public Health Nurs. 2021 Jul 8.
Wang Y, Duan Z, Emery SL, Kim Y, Chaloupka FJ, Huang J. The Association between E-Cigarette price and TV advertising and the sales of smokeless tobacco products in the USA. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Jun 24;18(13):6795.
Rentscher KE, Zhao X, Small BJ, Cohen HJ, Dilawari AA, Patel SK, Bethea TN, Van Dyk KM, Nakamura ZM, Ahn J, Zhai W, Ahles TA, Jim HSL, McDonald BC, Saykin AJ, Root JC, Graham DMA, Carroll JE, Mandelblatt JS. Loneliness and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic in older breast cancer survivors and noncancer controls. Cancer. 2021 Jun 23.
Gravely S, Craig LV, Cummings KM, Ouimet J, Loewen R, Martin N, Chung-Hall J, Driezen P, Hitchman SC, McNeill A, Hyland A, Quah ACK, O'Connor RJ, Borland R, Thompson ME, Boudreau C, Fong GT. Smokers' cognitive and behavioural reactions during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic: findings from the 2020 ITC Four Country Smoking and Vaping Survey. PLoS One. 2021 Jun 4;16(6):e0252427.
Bindra S, McGill MA, Triplett MK, Tyagi A, Thaker PH, Dahmoush L, Goodheart MJ, Ogden RT, Owusu-Ansah E, R Karan K, Cole S, Sood AK, Lutgendorf SK, Picard M. Mitochondria in epithelial ovarian carcinoma exhibit abnormal phenotypes and blunted associations with biobehavioral factors. Sci Rep. 2021 Jun 2;11(1):11595.
Cuneo MG, Szeto A, Schrepf A, Thaker PH, Goodheart M, Cole SW, Sood AK, McCabe PM, Mendez AJ, Lutgendorf SK. Positive psychosocial factors and oxytocin in the ovarian tumor microenvironment. Psychosom Med. 2021 Jun 1;83(5):417-422.
Heckman CJ, Manne SL, Kashy DA, Bhurosy T, Ritterband L, Coups EJ. Correlates of sun protection behaviors among melanoma survivors. BMC Public Health. 2021 May 8;21(1):882.
Gaysynsky A, Rising CJ, Trivedi N, Blake KD, Chou WS, Oh A, Vanderpool RC. Communication research at the National Cancer Institute, 2013-2019: a grant portfolio analysis. Cancer Causes Control. 2021 Jul 27.
Treviño M, Zhu X, Lu YY, Scheuer LS, Passell E, Huang GC, Germine LT, Horowitz TS. How do we measure attention? Using factor analysis to establish construct validity of neuropsychological tests. Cogn Res Princ Implic. 2021 Jul 22;6(1):51.
Klein WMP, O'Connell ME, Bloch MH, Czajkowski SM, Green PA, Han PKJ, Moser RP, Nebeling LC, Vanderpool RC. Behavioral research in cancer prevention and control: emerging challenges and opportunities. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2021 Jul 7:djab139.
Davidson KW, Bacon SL, Bennett GG, Brondolo E, Czajkowski SM, Diefenbach MA, Epel ES, Matthews K, Revenson TA, Ruiz JM, Segerstrom SC; Behavioral Medicine Research Council. Accomplishing breakthroughs in behavioural medicine research. Nat Hum Behav. 2021 Jul;5(7):813-815.
D'Angelo H, Land SR, Grana Mayne R. Assessing electronic nicotine delivery systems use at NCI-designated cancer centers in the cancer moonshot-funded Cancer Center Cessation Initiative. Cancer Prev Res (Phila). 2021 Aug;14(8):763-766
Belcher BR, Wolff-Hughes DL, Dooley EE, Staudenmayer J, Berrigan D, Eberhardt MS, Troiano RP. U.S. population-referenced percentiles for wrist-worn accelerometer-derived activity. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2021 Jun 11.
Chavez-Yenter D, Zhao J, Ratcliff CL, Kehoe K, Blumling A, Peterson E, Klein WMP, Chou WS, Kaphingst K. Theory utilization in current communication of cancer genetic testing research: identified gaps and opportunities. So Sci Med. 2021 Aug;282:114144.
Herren OM, Agurs-Collins T, Dwyer LA, Perna FM, Ferrer R. Emotion suppression, coping strategies, dietary patterns, and BMI. Eat Behav. 2021 Apr;41:101500.
Chou WS, Gaysynsky A, Trivedi N, Vanderpool RC. Using social media for health: national data from HINTS 2019. J Health Commun. 2021 Mar 4;26(3):184-193.
Prutzman YM, Wiseman KP, Grady MA, Budenz A, Grenen EG, Vercammen LK, Keefe BP, Bloch MH. Using digital technologies to reach tobacco users who want to quit: evidence from the National Cancer Institute's Smokefree.gov initiative. Am J Prev Med. 2021 Mar;60(3 Suppl 2):S172-S184.
Career and Training Opportunities
Health Communication Fellowship in Behavioral Research
BRP welcomes applications from qualified candidates for a Cancer Research Training Award (CRTA) fellowship in applied health communication. The fellow will work on a variety of communication projects to support behavioral cancer prevention and control research across the four branches of the program. Specific duties include writing and editing content for multiple communication channels including scientific newsletters, social media, and website; designing visual elements; coordinating webinars, scientific meetings, and special events; and serving as project manager to support various initiatives. Learn more and apply >>
Visit the BRP Career and Training webpage for more training announcements and opportunities.
Resources
Updated and new guidance materials for the TUS-CPS harmonized dataset

TCRB released several updated and new guidance materials for the Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey (TUS-CPS). These materials support investigators in data trends analyses using the TUS-CPS harmonized data set.
UPDATED: 1992-2019 TUS-CPS Harmonized Dataset features new core CPS variables and TUS tobacco use variables from 2014-15 and 2018-19 TUS.
NEW: 1992-2019 TUS-CPS Replicate Weights is intended for use in analyses of multiple years of data or the entire 1992-2019 harmonized data set.
COMING SOON: 1992-2019 TUS-CPS Harmonization User Guide with instructions and sample program code (SAS/SUDAAN) for weighted analyses of multiple years of TUS.
Subscribe to receive TUS-CPS email updates and register for TUS-CPS webinars.
US Cancer Statistics Data Visualization Tool and Public Use Databases

The US Cancer Statistics public use databases are the official federal cancer statistics, combining cancer registry data from CDC’s National Program of Cancer Registries and NCI’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program. Cancer incidence and population data for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico are available free in public use databases that can be analyzed using software developed by the SEER Program. Access the Public Use Databases >>
The US Cancer Statistics Data Visualizations tool makes it easier to find cancer data. The tool includes interactive graphics and data interpretations and allows users to create and export presentation-ready trend graphs, maps, and tables by state, county, and demographic characteristics It has been updated with a fresh new look, enhanced navigation, and new 2018 data. Access the Data Visualizations tool >>
New SEER-CAHPS data now available
SEER-CAHPS is a data resource for quality of cancer care research based on a linkage between NCI’s Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) cancer registry data and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Medicare Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS®) patient surveys. NCI has recently updated its data resource to include the following years of data:
- SEER cancer registry data 1999-2017
- Medicare CAHPS surveys 1997-2019
- Medicare Claims data 1999-2019
The Sample Size Estimator tool has been updated to accommodate the new data available in the updated link! This tool allows researchers to quickly estimate research sample sizes by desired search criteria.
Learn more about the SEER-CAHPS data >>
Use the Sample Size Estimator >>
Updated Cancer Trends Progress Report now available
NCI released the newest update of the Cancer Trends Progress Report, a key source of national trend data across a spectrum of cancer control measures, including tobacco use, diet and physical activity, UV exposure, and survivorship. From prevention to end of life, the site offers trends and displays them in relation to Healthy People 2030 targets, where they are available. Visit the site to view measures and generate custom reports >>
Annual Report to the Nation
The 2021 Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, which appeared in JNCI: The Journal of the National Cancer Institute, found that overall cancer death rates continue to decline in men and women for all groups in the United States. During 2001 to 2018, declines in lung cancer death rates accelerated, and death rates for melanoma declined considerably in more recent years. However, the report finds that for several other major cancers, including prostate, colorectal, and female breast cancers, previous declining trends in death rates slowed or disappeared. The annual report is a collaborative effort among the American Cancer Society, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, NCI, and the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries. View the NCI press release >>
NIH 2021-2025 Strategic Plan now available
The NIH’s 2021-2025 Strategic Plan will continue to advance the vision for biomedical research direction, capacity, and stewardship with focus on five key themes: Reduce health differences; enhance women’s health; address public health challenges across the lifespan; promote collaborative science; and leverage data science for biomedical discovery. This plan was developed through collaboration between leadership and staff across NIH and key stakeholders, including the research community, professional societies, advocacy groups, and the public. Learn more about the NIH Strategic Plan >>
Awards and Recognitions
Establishment of the Georgetown Lombardi Institute for Cancer and Aging
The Georgetown Lombardi Institute for Cancer and Aging (GLICA) was established in July 2021, with BRP grantee, Dr. Jeanne Mandelblatt, as its inaugural director. The institute aims to “apply knowledge about aging across the life span to improving the lives of our cancer patients and their families.” Learn more about GLICA >>
O’Connor receives NCI Cancer Prevention Fellowship Merit Award

Dr. Sydney O’Connor was the recipient of the NCI Cancer Prevention Fellowship Merit Award “to recognize scientific productivity, leadership, and exemplary service in cancer prevention.”
Events
September 20 – Cellular Senescence and Cancer Therapy: Mechanisms and Strategies to Improve Health During Survivorship webinar
In this webinar of the Perspectives on Cancer and Aging: The Arti Hurria Memorial Webinar Series, two experts will discuss the role of cellular senescence as it relates to cancer, cancer treatment, and aging.
Register for the webinar >>
October 6-7 - Consortium for Cancer Implementation Science
The third Consortium for Cancer Implementation Science meeting will focus on lessons learned in implementation science from COVID-19; and moving forward from the pandemic. Meeting objectives include fostering communication in implementation science projects across the cancer continuum; developing solutions to common theoretical, methodological or empirical challenges in implementation science in cancer; and promoting collaborative projects to fill implementation science gaps that would extend beyond a single study.
Learn more and register >>
October 7 - The Activities Completed over Time in 24 Hours (ACT-24) recall instrument: Availability and Results Webinar
This webinar will describe the updated NCI ACT24 physical activity assessment tool, a web-based previous-day recall instrument that was designed to estimate daily summary values for physical activity, sedentary behavior, and energy expenditure. Experts will share results concerning validation studies, as well as national estimates for sedentary time, moderate to vigorous physical activity, and COVID-related changes in activity among US adults between Fall 2019 and 2020. ACT24 is freely available for use by researchers, teachers, clinicians, and others interested in assessing daily physical activity levels.
Register for the webinar >>
October 14, November 4 - 2021 Data User Webinar Series: Tobacco Use Supplement to the US Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey (TUS-CPS)
TCRB and colleagues continue its webinar series on the Tobacco Use Supplement to the US Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey (TUS-CPS), including how to conduct linkages with other data sets, analyze data, obtain trends, and more! These webinars target junior tobacco control investigators and/or those with limited TUS-CPS experience.
All webinars are from 2:00-3:30pm ET.
October 14 – County Level Analyses on TUS-CPS Using Small Area Estimation Techniques
November 4 – The Tobacco Longitudinal Mortality Study (TLMS)