Research We Fund: Extramural Discovery Science

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.

See these press releases about projects previously funded under this RFA

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. 

Register for the Webinar

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.

Pre-LOI Instructions

Step 2:Letter of Intent (LOI)

Due: December 18, 2023, at 11:59 PM EST

LOI Instructions

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.
RWIA Instructions
RWIA Grant Policies

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