National Cancer Institute's Small Grants Program for Behavioral Research in Cancer Control Boosts Careers for New Investigators and Fulfills NIH Research Priorities

Abstract

In 1998, the NIH's National Cancer Institute created the Behavioral Research Program (BRP) within the Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences. A primary goal of the BRP is to stimulate and expand the field of behavioral research in cancer prevention and control. To help achieve this end, BRP created the Small Grants Program. This study examines the effect of the program on the careers of new investigators in cancer prevention and control. A mixed-method analysis was conducted on data from a grantee survey and publication and post-award activity records. A majority of grantees (n=197) submitted additional research grant applications, and of these grantees, 37% (n=73) were awarded funding from the NIH and 20% (n=40) received funding at the R01 level. Grantees published research results in journals or presented at professional conferences. Of the 47 grantees who provided their curriculum vitae, 72% (n=34) published or had in press at least one article resulting from their small grant (R03) and 40% (n=19/47) published at least one article as lead author. These articles were cited a total of 134 times in 85 journals. By supporting investigators' initial behavioral research applications, the Small Grants Program seems to open the door to additional "independent" research opportunities and fulfills the NIH's goals of supporting early career investigators and stimulating promising new areas of cancer research.