Understanding the Contributions of Chemical Mixtures to Breast Cancer Risk
This initiative aims to identify chemical mixture exposures associated with risk of breast cancer and/or biomarkers of effect using either: (1) analytical chemistry applications on stored materials from (a) a breast cancer cohort or (b) women at potential risk of breast cancer (e.g., high mammographic density, atypia, occupational risk); or (2) artificial intelligence, big data methods and/or mining of existing data. Preference will be given for projects involving study populations that are diverse in terms of social and environmental exposures.
CBCRP intends to fund up to two smaller proposals for a maximum duration of 2 years at up to $350,000 maximum direct costs each and one additional laboratory-based proposal for a maximum duration of 3 years at up to $1,000,000 maximum direct costs.
Download the RFP below:
Full Request for Proposals (RFP)
Application materials will be available through CBCRP's SmartSimple application and grant management system on September 1, 2023.
Applications must be submitted by 12:00 pm PT on Thursday, November 9, 2023.
Application Orientation Webinar
We held an applicant webinar in September at which we described the requirements for this funding opportunity and provided an orientation for the navigating the application process in SmartSimple.
View the video and slides below:
For questions or more information, contact CBCRP Program Officer Sharima Rasanayagam, Ph.D. at sharima.rasanayagam@ucop.edu.
Research Questions, Approaches and Methods
Human biomonitoring for chemicals that are widely present in our environment has made major contributions to understanding population exposures over time and within sensitive subpopulations. This has enabled researchers to examine the biological impact of exposure, assess potential synergies among different chemicals, and elucidate relationships between exposures and diseases, including breast cancer.
Despite important scientific progress in this realm of exposure assessment, significant challenges remain including the need to better characterize complex chemical mixture exposures and their relationship to potential effect biomarkers (determined prior to disease diagnosis) and/or breast cancer risk. To date, most studies have reported single chemical or chemical families (metabolites or alternate forms of the same chemical) and their associations with breast cancer.
Accordingly, we seek proposals to aid in understanding the contributions of chemical mixtures to breast cancer risk and will cover two main topic areas that are further described below. The aims of the proposed projects will be to:
- Identify complex chemical mixture exposures associated with eventual risk of breast cancer using analytical chemistry applications on stored materials from either (a) breast cancer cohorts or (b) women at potential risk of breast cancer due to their occupation, biomarkers of effect (e.g., high mammographic density, atypia), or residential proximity to carcinogenic exposures.
- Develop an understanding of the relationship between breast cancer risk and the complex mixture of exposures associated with it using artificial intelligence, big data methods and/or creative mining of existing data.
Priority projects will use novel approaches to identify chemical mixtures related to breast cancer risk in high (unique) exposure cohorts or particular individuals/groups that are at increased risk for environmental exposures for social reasons, such as poverty, that limit life choices. Applicants might use contemporary approaches to identify chemical mixtures most contributing to breast cancer risk or effect biomarkers of relevance to breast cancer in uniquely exposed communities. This might require characterizing socioeconomic factors and other social determinants of health along with environmental factors.
Project requirements
Advocacy involvement is a requirement for the research funded under this initiative. Applications should include a California community advocate affiliated with an advocacy and/or community organization with an interest in the area of biomonitoring, environmental exposures and breast cancer to be actively involved in the project
Proposals must include plans for dissemination and translation of newly discovered/developed methods and results. The applicants should address the likely relevance to both future research and current policy discussions. The applications should include plans to disseminate results to breast cancer advocates, policymakers, and the larger public, beyond publication in the scientific literature. The project team’s community advocate(s) should play a substantive role in formulating and helping carry out the proposed dissemination plan.
Project duration and budget cap
CBCRP intends to fund up to two smaller proposals for a maximum duration of 2 years at up to $350,000 maximum direct costs each and one additional laboratory-based proposal for a maximum duration of 3 years at up to $1,000,000 maximum direct costs.