Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 18 654

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity titled "Basic Research in Cancer Health Disparities (R01 Clinical Trials Not Allowed)" (Funding Opportunity Number PAR-18-654; CFDA 93.393) supports investigator-initiated research projects aimed at explaining why certain cancer burdens differ across populations at a biological and genetic level. The focus is on basic, mechanistic science rather than clinical trials, meaning applicants are expected to propose laboratory, preclinical, or other non-trial approaches that dig into underlying mechanisms that may contribute to unequal cancer incidence, progression, treatment response, or outcomes among different groups.

At its core, the FOA is looking for innovative R01 projects that can clarify the biological or genetic bases of cancer health disparities. This includes mechanistic studies that examine biological factors linked to disparities, which can span fundamental cancer biology and biologically grounded cancer prevention research. It also explicitly welcomes projects that create, improve, or validate new research methodologies and experimental models that make disparities-focused mechanistic work more feasible or more accurate. In addition, the FOA allows secondary analyses, such as using existing datasets or previously collected biospecimens to test new hypotheses about biological or genetic contributors to observed disparities.

A major purpose of the announcement is capacity-building for the field, not just funding isolated projects. NIH describes an intent to help grow a nationwide community of scientists with strong basic-research expertise in cancer health disparities, and to expand the tools and resources needed for this work. That emphasis includes strengthening access to and development of enabling resources such as biospecimens, patient-derived models, and specialized methods that allow investigators to study mechanisms relevant to populations experiencing disparate cancer outcomes. In practical terms, competitive applications are likely to align their scientific aims with clear gaps in mechanistic understanding and may also contribute, directly or indirectly, to better shared resources, improved model systems, or more rigorous approaches for disparities biology.

The award mechanism is the NIH Research Project Grant (R01), and the opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant in the education and health activity area. A wide range of organizations can apply. Eligible applicants include many types of U.S. governmental entities (state, county, city/township, and special district governments), independent school districts, and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. Higher education institutions are eligible across public/state-controlled and private categories. The FOA also permits applications from federally recognized Native American tribal governments, and from Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments. Nonprofit organizations can apply whether or not they have 501(c)(3) status, as long as they are not institutions of higher education under that classification. For-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses are also eligible, along with other applicant types as allowed under NIH policy.

The announcement specifically highlights additional eligible applicant categories that NIH is encouraging to participate, reflecting the disparities focus and the desire to broaden the research base. These include Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American, Native American, and Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs); Hispanic-serving Institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs); faith-based or community-based organizations; eligible federal agencies; regional organizations; Indian/Native American tribal governments other than federally recognized; U.S. territories or possessions; and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations). This broad eligibility is consistent with building a diverse national (and, where relevant, international) research ecosystem capable of generating and sharing disparities-relevant biological insights.

The source record lists an original closing date of 2021-02-08 and a creation date of 2018-02-13. No award ceiling or expected number of awards is specified in the provided listing, which often means budgets and award counts depend on NIH institute priorities, application quality, and available appropriations. Overall, the FOA is best read as an invitation to bring rigorous mechanistic biology, genetics, model development, and data-driven approaches to the question of why cancer outcomes differ across populations, with the explicit boundary that proposed work must not be a clinical trial.

  • The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Basic Research in Cancer Health Disparities (R01 Clinical Trials Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.393.
  • This funding opportunity was created on 2018-02-13.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-02-08. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.
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FAQs: Basic Research in Cancer Health Disparities (R01 Clinical Trials Not Allowed) - NIH (PAR-18-654)

What is this NIH funding opportunity?

This is an NIH Research Project Grant (R01) funding opportunity titled "Basic Research in Cancer Health Disparities (R01 Clinical Trials Not Allowed)." The Funding Opportunity Number is PAR-18-654 and the CFDA listing is 93.393. It supports investigator-initiated projects that aim to explain cancer health disparities at a biological and genetic (mechanistic) level.

What is the main scientific goal of the FOA?

The primary goal is to fund basic, mechanistic research that clarifies why cancer burdens differ across populations. Projects should dig into underlying biological or genetic mechanisms that may contribute to unequal cancer incidence, progression, treatment response, or outcomes among different groups.

What kind of research approaches does NIH expect under this FOA?

The FOA emphasizes basic, mechanistic science rather than clinical trials. Proposed approaches are expected to be laboratory, preclinical, or other non-trial strategies that investigate underlying mechanisms relevant to cancer health disparities.

Are clinical trials allowed?

No. The opportunity is explicitly labeled "Clinical Trials Not Allowed," so applications should not propose clinical trials as part of the project.

What types of topics are considered responsive to the FOA?

Responsive topics include mechanistic studies examining biological factors linked to cancer health disparities. The scope can span fundamental cancer biology and biologically grounded cancer prevention research, as long as the emphasis remains on underlying mechanisms relevant to disparate outcomes across populations.

Does the FOA support cancer prevention research?

Yes, it can include biologically grounded cancer prevention research, provided it is mechanistic in nature and focused on biological or genetic bases that relate to disparities.

Can applicants propose projects focused on genetics and biological mechanisms of disparities?

Yes. A central focus of the FOA is to clarify biological and genetic bases of cancer health disparities through mechanistic research.

Does NIH encourage development of new methods or models?

Yes. The FOA explicitly welcomes projects that create, improve, or validate new research methodologies and experimental models that make disparities-focused mechanistic research more feasible or more accurate.

Are secondary analyses allowed (existing datasets or biospecimens)?

Yes. The FOA allows secondary analyses, including using existing datasets or previously collected biospecimens to test new hypotheses about biological or genetic contributors to observed disparities.

Is this opportunity meant only to fund individual projects, or also to build the field?

NIH describes a broader intent beyond isolated projects: capacity-building for the field. The announcement emphasizes growing a nationwide community of scientists with strong basic-research expertise in cancer health disparities and expanding tools and resources needed for mechanistic disparities research.

What does "capacity-building" mean in the context of this FOA?

Based on the FOA description, capacity-building includes strengthening access to and development of enabling resources such as biospecimens, patient-derived models, and specialized methods that support mechanistic studies relevant to populations experiencing disparate cancer outcomes.

What kinds of resources does the FOA highlight as important for this research area?

The FOA highlights enabling resources such as biospecimens, patient-derived models, and specialized methods that allow investigators to study biological mechanisms tied to disparities.

What award mechanism is used for this funding opportunity?

The award mechanism is the NIH Research Project Grant (R01).

How is the grant categorized in the listing?

It is categorized as a discretionary grant in the education and health activity area.

Who is eligible to apply?

The FOA lists a broad range of eligible applicants, including U.S. governmental entities (state, county, city/township, special district governments), independent school districts, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, institutions of higher education (public/state-controlled and private), federally recognized Native American tribal governments, and Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments.

Are nonprofits eligible to apply?

Yes. Nonprofit organizations can apply whether or not they have 501(c)(3) status, as long as they are not classified as institutions of higher education under that nonprofit category.

Are for-profit organizations eligible to apply?

Yes. For-profit organizations (other than small businesses) are eligible, and small businesses are also eligible, along with other applicant types as allowed under NIH policy.

Does NIH encourage applications from specific institution types?

Yes. The announcement highlights additional eligible categories NIH encourages to participate, reflecting the disparities focus and the desire to broaden the research base.

Which institution types are specifically encouraged in the FOA?

The FOA specifically highlights (as encouraged categories): Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American, Native American, and Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs); Hispanic-serving Institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs); faith-based or community-based organizations; eligible federal agencies; regional organizations; Indian/Native American tribal governments other than federally recognized; U.S. territories or possessions; and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations).

Are foreign (non-U.S.) organizations eligible?

Yes. The FOA indicates that non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) are included among the specifically highlighted eligible applicant categories.

Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible to apply?

Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are listed among the additional eligible applicant categories that NIH encourages to participate.

Does the FOA include tribal governments and tribal organizations as eligible applicants?

Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments are eligible, and Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments are also permitted. The FOA also highlights Indian/Native American tribal governments other than federally recognized among encouraged categories.

Does the listing include an award ceiling or expected number of awards?

No. In the provided listing, no award ceiling or expected number of awards is specified. This typically implies budgets and award counts may depend on NIH institute priorities, application quality, and available appropriations.

What is the closing date shown in the source record?

The source record lists an original closing date of 2021-02-08.

What is the creation date shown in the source record?

The source record lists a creation date of 2018-02-13.

What should a competitive application align with, based on the FOA description?

Based on the description provided, competitive applications are likely to align scientific aims with clear gaps in mechanistic understanding of cancer health disparities and may also contribute (directly or indirectly) to better shared resources, improved model systems, or more rigorous approaches for disparities biology.

What is the overall intent of the FOA in plain terms?

Overall, it invites rigorous mechanistic biology, genetics, model development, and data-driven approaches to understand why cancer outcomes differ across populations, with the clear boundary that the proposed work must not be a clinical trial.

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