Through this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) invites R01 applications for research projects designed to solve specific problems and paradoxes in multiple myeloma (MM) and disparities research identified as the NCI Multiple Myeloma Disparities Provocative Questions (MMD PQs). These problems and paradoxes phrased as questions are not intended to represent the full range of NCI's priorities in multiple myeloma research. Rather, they are meant to challenge cancer researchers to think about and elucidate specific problems in key areas of multiple myeloma and disparities research that are deemed important but have not received sufficient attention.
The FOA includes six Multiple Myeloma PQs that represent diverse fields relevant to multiple myeloma disparities research, but all are framed to inspire interested scientists to conceive new approaches and/or feasible solutions. Each research project (application) proposed in response to this FOA must be focused on addressing one particular research problem defined by one specific MMD PQ selected from the list. Projects proposed to address specific MMD PQs may use strategies that incorporate ideas and approaches from multiple disciplines, as appropriate. Transdisciplinary projects are encouraged as long as they serve the scientific focus of the specific PQ chosen.