Basic Research in Cancer Health Disparities (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR 25 243

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the name of this NIH funding opportunity?

The opportunity is titled Basic Research in Cancer Health Disparities (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed).

2) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?

The Funding Opportunity Number is PAR-25-243.

3) What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA number listed is 93.393.

4) What type of award mechanism does this opportunity use?

This is an R01 research project grant opportunity.

5) Are clinical trials allowed under this NOFO?

No. It is explicitly labeled Clinical Trial Not Allowed, so applications should avoid clinical trials or trial-like intervention studies.

6) What is the main purpose of this NOFO?

The central goal is to support basic, mechanistic research that can explain why cancer incidence, progression, and outcomes differ across populations. The emphasis is on moving beyond documenting disparities and instead uncovering the underlying biological and genetic mechanisms that may contribute to unequal cancer burdens.

7) What kind of science is NIH looking for in this program?

NIH is looking for innovative and rigorous basic science focused on mechanistic explanations of cancer health disparities. Projects can be laboratory-based, computational, or involve model development, as long as they aim at causal biological understanding rather than testing clinical interventions in participants.

8) What are the main project categories NIH says are within scope?

The scope includes three major categories:

• Mechanistic investigations of biological factors linked to cancer disparities (including foundational cancer biology and biologically grounded cancer prevention research, when aimed at disparity-related mechanisms).
• Development and testing of new research methodologies and experimental models that make disparity-focused basic research more feasible or more accurate (for example, improved model systems that better represent diverse populations or biological contexts relevant to disparity questions).
• Secondary analyses of existing datasets to derive new mechanistic insights from already-collected data, as long as the work remains basic/mechanistic and aligns with the disparity-focused intent.

9) Does this NOFO support cancer prevention research?

Yes, it can, but only when the prevention research is biologically grounded and clearly focused on understanding mechanisms related to cancer disparities.

10) Are applicants allowed to propose secondary analysis projects?

Yes. The NOFO allows secondary analyses of existing datasets if the proposed work is still basic/mechanistic and aligns with the goal of understanding biological or genetic contributors to cancer disparities.

11) Does NIH want projects that create or improve research tools and resources?

Yes. A key programmatic aim is capacity-building. NIH indicates the NOFO is meant to help grow a nationwide community of scientists and expand the resources and tools needed for basic cancer health disparities research. This can include generating, improving, validating, or enabling access to resources such as biospecimens, patient-derived models, and specialized methods or platforms.

12) What does NIH mean by “capacity-building” in this context?

Based on the information provided, capacity-building refers to strengthening the broader field by increasing the number of researchers with strong expertise in basic cancer health disparities research and expanding the availability of disparity-relevant resources and tools (for example, biospecimens, models, and specialized methods) that make mechanistic work more feasible and rigorous.

13) Are projects limited to laboratory studies?

No. The description indicates projects may include laboratory-based studies, experimental model development, and computational or secondary data approaches, as long as the focus remains on basic and mechanistic research rather than clinical interventions.

14) What should applicants avoid proposing?

Applicants should avoid proposing clinical trials or trial-like intervention studies, since the opportunity is labeled Clinical Trial Not Allowed.

15) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes (as listed in the provided information):

• State, county, and local governments
• Special district governments
• Independent school districts
• Public housing authorities
• Federally recognized tribal governments
• Tribal organizations
• Public and private institutions of higher education
• Nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status
• For-profit organizations (other than small businesses)
• Small businesses

16) Are minority-serving institutions specifically included as eligible applicants?

Yes. The NOFO explicitly highlights additional eligible groups including:

• Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions
• Asian American, Native American, and Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs)
• Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
• Hispanic-serving Institutions
• Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs)

17) Are non-federally recognized tribal governments included?

Yes. The eligibility list includes Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (other than federally recognized).

18) Are federal agencies eligible to apply?

Yes. The NOFO includes eligible federal agencies among the highlighted eligible applicant groups.

19) Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?

Yes. The NOFO explicitly includes faith-based or community-based organizations as eligible applicant groups.

20) Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?

Yes. The NOFO includes U.S. territories or possessions among eligible applicants.

21) Are foreign organizations eligible to apply?

Yes. The eligibility list includes non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations).

22) When was this opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on November 18, 2024.

23) What is the original closing date listed for this opportunity?

The original closing date listed is January 7, 2028.

24) Does the provided information list an award ceiling?

No. The provided source information does not specify an award ceiling.

25) Does the provided information say how many awards NIH expects to make?

No. The provided source information does not specify the expected number of awards.

26) Where should applicants look for budget expectations, paylines, and submission cycles?

The provided information indicates applicants should consult the full NOFO for details such as budget expectations, paylines, submission cycles, and any institute-specific priorities or review considerations that might apply under this PAR.

27) What makes an application a strong fit based on the description provided?

Based on the stated aims, strong-fit applications are likely to (1) ask strong mechanistic questions about biological or genetic contributors to cancer disparities and (2) contribute to capacity-building by generating, improving, validating, or enabling access to disparity-relevant tools and resources (such as biospecimens, patient-derived models, or specialized methods/platforms) that support the broader research ecosystem.