Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 12 220
Apply for PA 12 220
- The National Institutes of Health in the education health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Biomarkers for Early Detection of Hematopoietic Malignancies (R21)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.393 Cancer Cause and Prevention Research 93.394 Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 28, 2012 and posted on Jun 28, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 7, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education County governments For profit organizations other than small businesses Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) State governments Small businesses Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Special district governments City or township governments Independent school districts Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government Faith based or Community based Organizations Hispanic serving Institutions Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized) Regional Organizations Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) U.S. Territory or Possession Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are eligible to apply. Non domestic (non U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are eligible to apply. Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Biomarkers for Early Detection of Hematopoietic Malignancies (R21) opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number PA 12-220) is a National Cancer Institute (NCI) Funding Opportunity Announcement under the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that supports early-stage, exploratory research aimed at improving how blood cancers are detected and risk-stratified. The central goal is to spur projects that develop and validate biomarkers that can be used for earlier detection of hematopoietic malignancies, for predicting disease progression or relapse, and for evaluating an individual s risk of developing either primary hematopoietic malignancies or treatment-related (secondary) hematopoietic malignancies. A strong emphasis is placed on work that benefits high-risk groups, where earlier warning signals or more accurate risk assessment could realistically change clinical monitoring, intervention timing, or prevention strategies.
The scientific scope focuses on two tightly connected areas. First, the FOA invites biomarker work that can identify hematopoietic malignancies earlier than current approaches, or that can forecast which premalignant or early lesions are likely to progress, recur, or transform into more aggressive disease. This includes biomarkers that can help distinguish benign or indolent conditions from those that warrant closer surveillance or earlier treatment. Second, it encourages biomarkers intended for risk assessment, including markers that indicate susceptibility to developing a first hematopoietic malignancy as well as markers that predict the chance of developing a secondary blood cancer after prior exposures such as chemotherapy, radiation, environmental carcinogens, or other risk-altering events.
In addition to biomarker discovery and validation, the FOA explicitly encourages technology and methods development that makes biomarker measurement more practical, accurate, and quantitative. That means applicants are not limited to proposing a candidate marker; they can also propose improved platforms, assays, analytical pipelines, or detection strategies that enable sensitive and reproducible measurement of novel biomarkers linked to hematopoietic malignancies. In practice, this could include advances that improve detection limits, reduce sample requirements, increase throughput, strengthen assay standardization, or improve the ability to measure biomarkers in complex biological materials.
This is an R21 mechanism, which typically aligns with early, high-impact exploratory projects rather than large, definitive clinical validation programs. Consistent with that exploratory purpose, the listed award ceiling is 200,000 dollars. The announcement indicates no cost sharing or matching requirement, which reduces barriers for institutions that may not have discretionary funds to contribute.
Eligibility is broad and intentionally inclusive across academic, nonprofit, for-profit, governmental, and community-based entities. Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education, state and local governments (including county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, independent school districts, and public housing authorities or Indian housing authorities), small businesses, and for-profit organizations other than small businesses. Nonprofit organizations are eligible whether or not they have 501(c)(3) status (with separate listing for each category), and tribal participation is supported through eligibility for Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) and tribal organizations (including those not federally recognized), as well as tribally controlled colleges and universities. The FOA also highlights eligibility for institutions that serve specific populations, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic Serving Institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and other community-based or faith-based organizations, reflecting NIH s broader interest in engaging diverse research environments and communities.
International participation is allowed. Non-U.S. entities (foreign institutions) may apply, non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are eligible, and foreign components as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement are permitted. This matters for biomarker research because relevant cohorts, biospecimens, and expertise can be distributed globally, and the FOA is structured to allow that kind of collaboration when scientifically justified.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding, uses the grant funding instrument, and falls under education and health activity categories. It is associated with CFDA numbers 93.393 (Cancer Cause and Prevention Research) and 93.394 (Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research), which reinforces that NCI is looking for projects that either clarify risk and causation pathways through biomarkers or directly improve detection and diagnostic workflows.
Key dates show that the FOA was posted and created on June 28, 2012, with an original and current closing date of September 7, 2015, and an archive date of October 8, 2015. In other words, this specific announcement is historical rather than currently open, but it provides a clear template for the kinds of biomarker-driven, early-detection hematologic cancer projects NCI has sought to stimulate through the R21 mechanism. The full announcement was hosted on the NIH grants site (link provided in the source data), and technical access issues were routed to the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster contact.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the "Biomarkers for Early Detection of Hematopoietic Malignancies (R21)" opportunity?
It is a National Cancer Institute (NCI) Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) under the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that supports early-stage, exploratory research projects focused on improving how hematopoietic malignancies (blood cancers) are detected earlier and how risk is assessed and stratified.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this FOA?
The Funding Opportunity Number is PA 12-220.
Which NIH Institute is sponsoring this opportunity?
The opportunity is sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
What grant mechanism does this FOA use?
This FOA uses the NIH R21 mechanism, which is typically intended for early-stage, exploratory, potentially high-impact research rather than large, definitive clinical validation programs.
What is the central goal of the FOA?
The central goal is to stimulate projects that develop and validate biomarkers that enable earlier detection of hematopoietic malignancies, predict disease progression or relapse, and evaluate an individual’s risk of developing primary or treatment-related (secondary) hematopoietic malignancies.
What types of cancers or diseases are in scope?
The scientific scope is focused on hematopoietic malignancies (blood cancers) and related premalignant or early lesions where biomarkers could improve early detection, progression forecasting, relapse prediction, or risk assessment.
What are the two main scientific areas emphasized in the FOA?
The FOA highlights two connected areas: (1) biomarker work for earlier identification of hematopoietic malignancies and for forecasting which premalignant or early lesions are likely to progress, recur, relapse, or transform into more aggressive disease; and (2) biomarker work for risk assessment, including susceptibility to a first hematopoietic malignancy and risk of secondary hematopoietic malignancies after exposures such as chemotherapy, radiation, environmental carcinogens, or other risk-altering events.
Does the FOA support biomarkers that distinguish indolent conditions from those needing closer surveillance?
Yes. The FOA explicitly includes biomarkers that can help distinguish benign or indolent conditions from those that warrant closer monitoring or earlier treatment.
Does the FOA emphasize any particular populations or groups?
Yes. A strong emphasis is placed on work that benefits high-risk groups, where earlier warning signals or more accurate risk assessment could realistically change clinical monitoring, intervention timing, or prevention strategies.
Is this FOA limited to biomarker discovery, or can it include validation?
The FOA aims to spur projects that develop and validate biomarkers, consistent with the R21’s exploratory, early-stage purpose.
Can applicants propose technology or methods development rather than only a biomarker candidate?
Yes. The FOA explicitly encourages technology and methods development that makes biomarker measurement more practical, accurate, and quantitative, including improved platforms, assays, analytical pipelines, or detection strategies.
What kinds of measurement or assay improvements does the FOA encourage?
Examples described in the FOA include advances that improve detection limits, reduce sample requirements, increase throughput, strengthen assay standardization, and improve the ability to measure biomarkers in complex biological materials.
What is the award ceiling mentioned for this R21 opportunity?
The listed award ceiling is $200,000.
Is there a cost sharing or matching requirement?
No. The announcement indicates there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes academic, nonprofit, for-profit, governmental, and community-based entities. Examples listed include public and private institutions of higher education, state and local governments (including county, city/township, special district governments, independent school districts, and public housing authorities or Indian housing authorities), small businesses, and for-profit organizations other than small businesses.
Are nonprofit organizations eligible if they do not have 501(c)(3) status?
Yes. The FOA states that nonprofit organizations are eligible whether or not they have 501(c)(3) status (with separate listings for each category).
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA supports tribal participation through eligibility for Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) and tribal organizations (including those not federally recognized), as well as tribally controlled colleges and universities.
Does the FOA highlight eligibility for institutions serving specific populations?
Yes. The FOA highlights eligibility for institutions such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic Serving Institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and other community-based or faith-based organizations.
Is international participation allowed?
Yes. Non-U.S. entities (foreign institutions) may apply, non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are eligible, and foreign components (as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are permitted.
What type of funding is this categorized as?
The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding and uses the grant funding instrument.
What activity categories are associated with this FOA?
The FOA falls under education and health activity categories.
Which CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?
The associated CFDA numbers are 93.393 (Cancer Cause and Prevention Research) and 93.394 (Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research).
What do the CFDA numbers suggest about the FOA’s focus?
They reinforce that NCI is interested in projects that clarify risk and causation pathways through biomarkers and/or directly improve detection and diagnostic workflows.
When was this FOA posted and created?
The FOA was posted and created on June 28, 2012.
What were the closing date and archive date listed for this FOA?
The original and current closing date listed is September 7, 2015, and the archive date is October 8, 2015.
Is this specific FOA currently open for applications?
No. Based on the closing and archive dates provided, this specific announcement is historical rather than currently open.
Where was the full announcement hosted?
The full announcement was hosted on the NIH grants website (a link was provided in the source data).
Who is referenced for technical access issues related to the announcement?
Technical access issues were routed to the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster contact.
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| Translational Research on Interventions for Adolescents in the Legal System TRIALS (U01) Apply for RFA DA 13 009 Funding Number: RFA DA 13 009 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Development of Minimally Invasive Bioassays to Support Outpatient Clinical Trials of Therapeutics for Substance Use Disorders (R21) Apply for PAR 12 238 Funding Number: PAR 12 238 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
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| NCI National Clinical Trials Network Network Radiotherapy and Imaging Core Services Centers (U24) Apply for RFA CA 12 014 Funding Number: RFA CA 12 014 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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| NCI National Clinical Trials Network Network Group Integrated Translational Science Centers (U10) Apply for RFA CA 12 012 Funding Number: RFA CA 12 012 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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| Behavioral Science Track Award for Rapid Transition (B/START) (R03) Apply for PAR 12 251 Funding Number: PAR 12 251 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| SBIR Phase IIB Bridge Awards to Accelerate the Development of Cancer Therapeutics, Imaging Technologies, Interventional Devices, Diagnostics, and Prognostics Toward Commercialization (R44) Apply for RFA CA 12 023 Funding Number: RFA CA 12 023 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| The Interplay of Substance Abuse and HIV 1 Infection on Glial Cell Function (R01) Apply for RFA DA 13 010 Funding Number: RFA DA 13 010 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
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