Animal Studies to Investigate Concurrent Effects of Environmental Chemicals and Stress Factors on Mammary Cancer
As part of our program-directed initiatives, CBCRP intends to fund up to two projects to develop animal models that will fill the knowledge gaps about the interaction of environmental chemicals and psychosocial stressors on breast cancer causation by incorporating the relevant levels and biological windows of exposure to explain how these factors contribute to human risk.
Download the full RFP below.
Application materials are available on proposalCENTRAL.
Additional Material
CBCRP engaged Deborah Cory-Slechta of the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Pediatrics to assess the current knowledge and research gaps in the development of animal models of psychological stress and breast cancer. The paper, entitled Breast Cancer and Psychological Stress: Experimental Models, served as a basis for the development of this RFP.
We held an informational webinar on August 24, 2016. You may access that webinar here: https://youtu.be/kypAaJv2xDg
Up to two research projects for up to $625,000 in direct costs each and a duration of up to four years will be funded in this initiative.
Studies that fulfill this RFP will investigate the influence of concurrent exposure to one or more chemicals (e.g. endocrine disruptor) and unpredictable and uncontrollable stressors on mammary cancer in animal models. The objective is to develop new animal studies testing the effects of concurrent exposure to environmental chemical(s) and social stressors on the development of mammary cancer, with consideration of the timing of exposure/impact risk, and the duration of exposure/impact risk.
Project Guidelines
Successful applicants will construct their research plans to address two or more of the following questions:
- What are the effects of concurrent exposure to environmental chemical(s) and social stressors on the development of mammary cancer? Do concurrent exposures have multiplicative, additive or other impacts on the development of mammary cancer that differ from the impact of exposure to a chemical or psychosocial stress alone?
- Does the timing of exposure impact risk? For example, does concurrent exposure to environmental chemicals and stress during specific windows of vulnerability affect the risk of developing mammary tumors or the type or size of the tumor(s)?
- Does the duration of exposure to environmental chemicals or stress and/or concurrent exposure to both impact risk? Does a prolonged exposure affect the risk of developing mammary tumors or the type and the size of the tumors? Are the effects of exposure cumulative over time or must the exposures be constant to generate an impact?
Project duration and budget caps
- Maximum duration: 4 years
- Budget cap for total project direct costs: $625,000