Advancing rural cancer control: A portfolio analysis of research funded by the National Cancer Institute, 2016-2024.

[PURPOSE] Given well-documented rural-urban disparities in cancer outcomes, we conducted a portfolio analysis to characterize rural cancer control-focused grants funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) between fiscal years 2016 and 2024 and to identify opportunities for future research.

[METHODS] ISearch, an NIH portfolio analysis tool, was used to identify rural-focused cancer control research grants funded by NCI. 128 grants were analyzed for key attributes, including grant characteristics (e.g., funding mechanism), cancer site, cancer control continuum phase, research topic, methods, setting, and intervention delivery channel. SAS version 9.4 was used to calculate code frequencies.

[FINDINGS] On average, 14 new grants focused on rural cancer control were awarded per year. Colorectal (n = 36) and breast cancer (n = 27) were the most frequently studied cancer sites. Prevention (n = 43) and treatment (n = 41) were the most frequently addressed phases of the cancer control continuum. Common research topics included quality of care (n = 30), quality of life/mental health (n = 26), and screening (n = 25). Most grants utilized randomized control trials (n = 78) and qualitative research methods (n = 77). Projects were most frequently set in the home (n = 68) or in health care settings (n = 47). Interventions were most frequently delivered through interpersonal interaction, either in-person (n = 40), over the phone (n = 36), or through videoconferencing (n = 27).

[CONCLUSIONS] NCI has supported an array of rural cancer control studies since 2016. However, opportunities were identified to further address rural cancer disparities, including efforts focused on understudied topics (e.g., financial toxicity), cancer sites (e.g., cervical cancer), phases of the cancer control continuum (e.g., end-of-life), and settings (e.g., community-based organizations).