RFA: Real-World Data Impact Award (RWIA)
A Collaboration Between the American Cancer Society and Flatiron Health, Inc.
Purpose
The Real-World Data Impact Award (RWIA) supports the goals of the American Cancer Society (ACS) and Flatiron Health, Inc. (FHI) to accelerate cancer research that informs public health and public policy, and ultimately improve clinical practice.
Scientific Scope
This request for applications (RFA) is a call for investigators to propose cancer research questions that utilize Flatiron Health’s database derived from the electronic health records (EHRs) from approximately 280 cancer clinics in the United States (~ 800 sites of care).
FHI extracts and processes both structured and unstructured data from hundreds of thousands of patients’ EHRs. With this real-world data, FHI has developed 22 disease-specific longitudinal datasets with 30-day recency.
The goal of this RFA is to capitalize on the FHI datasets, where the health records of patients with cancer can inform how we treat and care for all patients with cancer. Interested applicants are encouraged to review published research that utilized FHI data. Here are some examples of possible research areas for this funding mechanism.
- Characterizing healthcare disparities in treatment and outcomes among underserved populations to inform efforts toward achieving health equity
- Evaluating the impact of national healthcare policy on providers’ practice patterns and on patient outcomes across the cancer continuum
- Comparing the effectiveness of treatments unlikely to be addressed within cancer clinical trials
- Assessing the impact of clinical guidelines on cancer care, treatment, and outcomes
- Developing or validating models to predict the risk of outcomes among patients with cancer
See these press releases about projects previously funded under this RFA
- Grants funded in 2020
- Grants funded in 2021
- Grants funded in 2022
- Grants funded in 2023 – coming soon
Mark Your Calendar
Webinar:
Oct. 30, 2023 from 2:00 - 3:00 ET
Signed Non-disclosure Agreement Due
Nov. 9, 2023, at 11:59 PM EST
LOI Due Date
Dec. 18, 2023, at 11:59 PM EST
Invitation-to-Apply Date
Feb. 2024
Application Deadline
(if invited)
April 1, 2024, at 11:59 PM EST
Application Peer Review
June 2024
Award Notification
Sept. 2024
Grant Activation
Jan. 2025
Applicants should review the American Cancer Society RWIA Grant Policies and Instructions.
Questions?
Please contact Kimberly.Clarke@cancer.org
Eligibility
Applicants must:
- Be an independent researcher at an eligible US academic institution or non-profit institution.
- Have the necessary training and expertise to conduct research projects using de-identified real-world data.
All applicants shall be subject to the terms and conditions of a separate confidentiality agreement between FHI and the grantee.
Note: Current and former RWIA grantees are not eligible to apply but may be a co-investigator or collaborator on an application.
Grant Term and Budget: $75,000 direct cost for a 1-year award period; no indirect costs are allowed.
Informational Resources for Applicants
Informational Webinar
Held on October 30, 2023, from 2:00 - 3:00 ET.
Interested applicants can hear an overview of this funding opportunity and about FHI’s datasets. There will be ample time to ask questions.
The webinar will be recorded and made available upon request.
Office Hours with FHI
Interested applicants may meet with FHI to discuss their research project.
Application Process
Step 1: FHI Nondisclosure Confidentiality Agreement (Denoted “Pre-LOI”)
Due: November 9, 2023, at 11:59 PM EST
Download the FHI confidentiality agreement, sign it, and upload it in ProposalCentral.
Once FHI executes the NDA, they will give applicants access to general information about available FHI datasets, data elements, and their data dictionary.
Step 2: Letter of Intent (LOI)
Due: December 18, 2023, at 11:59 PM EST
LOI Review Process: LOIs will be reviewed for feasibility and fit with the scientific scope of the RFA. FHI will provide applicants with a feasibility assessment of their proposed project. Invitation-to-apply decisions will be communicated to applicants via ProposalCentral by February 2024.
Step 3: Full Applications
- Due: April 1, 2024, at 11:59 PM EST
- If the LOI is approved, all required materials and application instructions will be available in ProposalCentral.
Funds Available for Awards:
Funds will support up to 3 RWIAs.
Awarded institutions will contract with ACS using their individual Terms and Conditions.
All awardees will be required to comply with the terms and conditions in the FHI nondisclosure confidentiality agreement and the FHI data use agreement, which outlines the terms and conditions required for the grantee’s use, receipt, and storage of FHI licensed data.
Program Contact: Kim Clarke, PhD at kimberly.clarke@cancer.org
