Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 16 025
Apply for PAR 16 025
- The HHS-NIH11 in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NCI Research Specialist Award (R50)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.393, 93.394, 93.395, 93.396, 93.397, 93.398, 93.399,.
- This funding opportunity was created on Nov 02, 2015 and posted on Nov 02, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 09, 2016. (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 (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Opportunity Summary:
The NCI Research Specialist Award (R50) is a National Cancer Institute funding opportunity meant to support highly skilled scientists who want long-term, stable research careers inside established cancer research programs without taking on the role of an independent, grant-leading principal investigator. The program recognizes that many essential contributors to cancer research do their best work as embedded specialists rather than as faculty running independent labs, and it is designed to keep those experts in the research workforce by giving them more security, competitive compensation, and enough independence to sustain their careers even when a principal investigator's grant funding changes.
This award is open to applications in any area of cancer research and is particularly relevant for roles that are critical to day-to-day scientific progress but are often vulnerable to soft-money instability. Examples called out in the opportunity include research specialists working within a larger program, managers of shared or core facilities, and data scientists. The central idea is to strengthen the biomedical research enterprise by investing directly in these individuals, whose technical depth, continuity, and institutional knowledge can be as important as new project starts. By providing a dedicated funding mechanism for the specialist rather than tying their position entirely to someone else's grants, the R50 aims to create a more reliable career pathway and reduce turnover in key research positions.
Administratively, this is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, specifically listed under HHS-NIH11 and the National Cancer Institute. The funding opportunity title is "NCI Research Specialist Award (R50)" and the opportunity number is PAR 16 025. The activity area is categorized under Education and Health, and it is associated with multiple CFDA numbers (93.393 through 93.399), reflecting the broad NCI program areas that can align with cancer research support.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S. organizations that typically apply for NIH grants. Eligible applicants include public institutions (such as state, county, city or township governments and special district governments), independent school districts, and public or state-controlled institutions of higher education. It also includes private institutions of higher education, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, other Native American tribal organizations, public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities, nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status, for-profit organizations other than small businesses, small businesses, and other entities as described in the NIH eligibility details. In other words, the applicant organization is generally the host institution where the specialist will work within an existing cancer research environment.
The original and current closing date listed for this specific posting was February 9, 2016, with the opportunity created and posted on November 2, 2015. While the listing does not provide an award ceiling or expected number of awards in the supplied data, the purpose statement is clear: fund exceptional non-independent researchers who provide high-value expertise and continuity within cancer research programs, and help institutions retain them by supporting strong salaries and meaningful autonomy.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - NCI Research Specialist Award (R50)
What is the NCI Research Specialist Award (R50)?
The NCI Research Specialist Award (R50) is a National Cancer Institute funding opportunity designed to support highly skilled scientists who want long-term, stable research careers within established cancer research programs, without needing to serve as an independent, grant-leading principal investigator.
What is the main purpose of this award?
The award is intended to strengthen the cancer research workforce by funding embedded research specialists directly, helping provide career stability, competitive compensation, and enough independence to sustain their careers even when a principal investigator's grant funding changes.
Who is this funding opportunity meant for?
This opportunity is meant for exceptional, non-independent researchers who contribute critical expertise and continuity inside established cancer research programs and who do not pursue (or are not required to pursue) the traditional independent faculty pathway of running their own lab supported primarily by their own grants.
Does the R50 require the recipient to be an independent, grant-leading principal investigator?
No. A central feature of the R50 is that it supports scientists who prefer to build careers as embedded specialists rather than as independent, grant-leading principal investigators.
What types of roles are highlighted as especially relevant for the R50?
The opportunity highlights roles that are essential to day-to-day scientific progress but may be vulnerable to soft-money instability. Examples include research specialists working within a larger program, managers of shared or core facilities, and data scientists.
What research areas are eligible under this award?
Applications may be submitted in any area of cancer research. The opportunity is described as open to applications across the cancer research spectrum.
Why did NCI create a funding mechanism specifically for research specialists?
The program recognizes that many essential contributors to cancer research do their best work as embedded specialists and that their technical depth, continuity, and institutional knowledge can be as important as new project starts. By investing directly in these individuals, the R50 aims to reduce turnover and improve stability in key research positions.
How does the R50 promote stability for research specialists?
The R50 is designed to provide a dedicated funding mechanism for the specialist rather than tying their position entirely to someone else's grants, helping the specialist maintain career continuity even when a principal investigator's grant funding changes.
What kind of grant is this administratively?
This is described as a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), specifically the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
Which agency and office sponsor this opportunity?
The opportunity is sponsored under HHS/NIH (listed as HHS-NIH11) and the National Cancer Institute.
What is the official funding opportunity title?
The official title is "NCI Research Specialist Award (R50)."
What is the opportunity number for this posting?
The opportunity number listed is PAR 16 025.
What activity area is this opportunity categorized under?
The activity area is categorized under Education and Health.
Which CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with multiple CFDA numbers (93.393 through 93.399), reflecting that it can align with a broad range of NCI program areas that support cancer research.
Who can apply for the R50 (what kinds of organizations are eligible)?
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S. organizations that typically apply for NIH grants. Eligible applicants include public institutions (state, county, city or township governments and special district governments), independent school districts, and public or state-controlled institutions of higher education. It also includes private institutions of higher education, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, other Native American tribal organizations, public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities, nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, small businesses, and other entities as described in NIH eligibility details.
Is the applicant the individual specialist or the organization?
Based on the description provided, the applicant organization is generally the host institution where the specialist will work within an existing cancer research environment.
What kinds of institutions are considered a typical "host" for this award?
The host institution is described as an eligible applicant organization and is generally the place where the specialist is embedded within an established cancer research program (for example, higher education institutions, research organizations, or other eligible entities with an existing cancer research environment).
Does the provided listing include an award ceiling or expected number of awards?
No. In the supplied information, the listing does not provide an award ceiling or the expected number of awards.
What is the closing date listed for this specific posting?
The original and current closing date listed for this specific posting is February 9, 2016.
When was this opportunity created and posted?
The opportunity was created and posted on November 2, 2015.
Is this opportunity focused on keeping specialists employed when grant funding changes?
Yes. A stated goal is to give specialists enough security and autonomy to sustain their careers even when a principal investigator's grant funding changes, reducing reliance on soft-money arrangements tied to other grants.
How does the R50 benefit cancer research programs and institutions?
By investing directly in high-value specialists, the R50 aims to improve continuity, retain technical expertise and institutional knowledge, reduce turnover in critical roles, and strengthen the overall biomedical research enterprise that supports cancer research.
What types of expertise does the R50 aim to retain in the research workforce?
The R50 aims to retain individuals whose specialized technical depth, continuity, and institutional knowledge are essential to sustained scientific progress in cancer research programs, including roles like core facility management and data science support.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (PAR 16 025) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Drug Discovery For Nervous System Disorders (R01) Apply for PAR 16 041 Funding Number: PAR 16 041 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| HIV/AIDS High Priority Drug Abuse Research (R01) Apply for PAS 16 018 Funding Number: PAS 16 018 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Exploring Epigenomic or Non-Coding RNA Regulation in HIV/AIDS and Substance Abuse (R01) Apply for RFA DA 16 012 Funding Number: RFA DA 16 012 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Genomic Data Analysis Network: Visualization Genomic Data Center (U24) Apply for RFA CA 15 019 Funding Number: RFA CA 15 019 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $660,000 |
| The NCI Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Fellow Transition Award (F99/K00) Apply for RFA CA 16 005 Funding Number: RFA CA 16 005 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Behavioral and Integrative Treatment Development Program (R03) Apply for PA 16 074 Funding Number: PA 16 074 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Clinical Development of Minimally-Invasive Bioassays to Support Outpatient Clinical Trials of Therapeutics for Substance Use Disorders (R21) Apply for PA 16 075 Funding Number: PA 16 075 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Behavioral and Integrative Treatment Development Program (R34) Apply for PA 16 073 Funding Number: PA 16 073 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $225,000 |
| Clinical Development of Minimally-Invasive Bioassays to Support Outpatient Clinical Trials of Therapeutics for Substance Use Disorders (R01) Apply for PA 16 076 Funding Number: PA 16 076 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Behavioral Science Track Award for Rapid Transition (B/Start)(R03) Apply for PAR 16 071 Funding Number: PAR 16 071 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Behavioral and Integrative Treatment Development Program (R01) Apply for PA 16 072 Funding Number: PA 16 072 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Feasibility Studies to Build Collaborative Partnerships in Cancer Research (P20) Apply for PAR 16 084 Funding Number: PAR 16 084 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $275,000 |
| Supplements to Promote Clinical Research Studies on Pediatric Burkitt Lymphoma in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (Admin Supp) Apply for PA 16 086 Funding Number: PA 16 086 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Imaging and Biomarkers for Early Cancer Detection (U01) Apply for PAR 16 089 Funding Number: PAR 16 089 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| SBIR Phase II Bridge Awards to Accelerate the Development of Cancer Therapeutics, Imaging Technologies, Interventional Devices, Diagnostics, and Prognostics toward Commercialization (R44) Apply for RFA CA 16 008 Funding Number: RFA CA 16 008 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Cancer Tissue Engineering Collaborative: Enabling Biomimetic Tissue-Engineered Technologies for Cancer Research (U01) Apply for PAR 16 105 Funding Number: PAR 16 105 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $400,000 |
| Services Planning Research in the Appalachian Region to Address Adverse Health Consequences Associated with Increased Opioid Injection Drug Use (R03) Apply for RFA DA 16 015 Funding Number: RFA DA 16 015 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Cooperative Agreement to Develop Targeted Agents for Use with Systemic Agents Plus Radiotherapy (U01) Apply for PAR 16 111 Funding Number: PAR 16 111 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $450,000 |
| Increased Knowledge and Innovative Strategies to Reduce HIV Incidence-iKnow Projects (R01) Apply for PAR 16 117 Funding Number: PAR 16 117 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Physical Activity and Weight Control Interventions Among Cancer Survivors: Effects on Biomarkers of Prognosis and Survival (R21) Apply for PAR 16 123 Funding Number: PAR 16 123 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
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