Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA CA 10 503
Apply for RFA CA 10 503
- The National Institutes of Health in the education health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Comprehensive Partnerships to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities (Limited Competition U54)" 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 93.395 Cancer Treatment Research 93.396 Cancer Biology Research 93.397 Cancer Centers Support Grants 93.398 Cancer Research Manpower 93.399 Cancer Control.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 16, 2010 and posted on Feb 16, 2010.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 7, 2010. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $5,250,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Eligible applicants include: Private institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized).
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Hispanic serving Institutions Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized) Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) U.S. Territory or Possession NCI designated Cancer Centers (or group of centers) and Other Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs).
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The Comprehensive Partnerships to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities (Limited Competition U54) grant opportunity (RFA-CA-10-503) is a National Cancer Institute (NCI) cooperative agreement program designed to strengthen long-term, high-intensity collaborations between NCI-designated Cancer Centers (or groups of centers) and institutions that serve racial/ethnic minority and other underserved communities experiencing cancer health disparities. The core idea is to build durable, well-integrated partnerships that can develop stronger cancer research and training programs while directly advancing understanding of why major disparities in cancer burden persist for racial and ethnic minority populations and for socioeconomically disadvantaged groups. In practice, the program is meant to help partner institutions combine complementary strengths such as community access and trust, clinical and research infrastructure, scientific expertise, and workforce development capacity, so the collaboration can produce a more nationally impactful cancer disparities effort than either partner could achieve alone.
This funding opportunity was formerly known as the Minority Institution/Cancer Center Partnership (MI/CCP) program, and this particular solicitation is intentionally limited in competition. It is aimed at two main groups: first, renewing and extending support under the U54 mechanism for the strongest currently funded Comprehensive Partnerships under the earlier MI/CCP structure; and second, promoting the most promising developing partnerships into full “Comprehensive Partnership†status. Those developing partnerships were previously supported in a planning or developmental phase through U56 awards under the earlier Cooperative Planning Grant for Comprehensive Minority Institution/Cancer Center Partnership. In other words, NCI is using this FOA both to continue the best-established partnerships and to graduate select planning-stage collaborations into fully implemented, multi-component partnership centers.
The award mechanism is an NIH specialized center cooperative agreement (U54). A cooperative agreement differs from a standard grant in that NIH/NCI typically has substantial programmatic involvement during the project period. While the recipient institutions still lead and carry out the work, the cooperative structure signals an expectation of active coordination with NCI staff, milestone-driven management, and a stronger emphasis on integration, accountability, and shared strategic direction across the partnership’s components.
For FY 2010, NCI anticipated committing about $5.25 million in total costs to support a small number of awards, reflecting the program’s limited-competition nature and the center-like scope of the partnerships. The FOA projected funding either for four awards organized as two institutional pairs, or five awards organized as one pair plus one triad (a three-institution partnership). This structure underscores that the program is built around formal collaborations, not single-institution projects, and that NCI expected applicants to present linked applications that demonstrate a cohesive, jointly governed partnership.
Eligibility is broadly focused on collaborations between NCI-designated Cancer Centers and institutions that serve populations affected by cancer disparities, including Minority Serving Institutions and other organizations in underserved settings. The eligible applicant categories listed include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, federally recognized tribal governments, tribal organizations, and a range of designated MSIs such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), and entities in U.S. territories or possessions. The program is positioned within NIH’s cancer research and capacity-building landscape and aligns with multiple cancer-related CFDA program areas, spanning prevention, detection/diagnosis, treatment, biology, cancer centers support, research manpower, and cancer control.
Administrative details for the posted opportunity include a posting date of February 16, 2010, with an original and current closing date of April 7, 2010, and an archive date of May 8, 2010. There was no cost-sharing or matching requirement. The complete announcement was available through the NIH Grants Guide (RFA-CA-10-503), and the listing includes NIH Office of Extramural Research contact points for technical issues accessing the announcement.
Overall, this FOA reflects NCI’s strategy of investing in structured, center-like partnerships that can simultaneously build research capacity, strengthen the cancer workforce, and generate actionable evidence about the drivers of cancer inequities. By limiting eligibility to existing high-performing partnerships and the most advanced planning-stage collaborations, the program emphasizes readiness, demonstrated partnership strength, and the ability to execute a comprehensive, integrated disparities-focused cancer program at scale.
FAQs: Comprehensive Partnerships to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities (Limited Competition U54) - RFA-CA-10-503
What is this funding opportunity?
This opportunity is the National Cancer Institute (NCI) "Comprehensive Partnerships to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities (Limited Competition U54)" cooperative agreement program (RFA-CA-10-503). It is designed to strengthen long-term, high-intensity collaborations focused on cancer health disparities.
What is the main purpose of the program?
The program aims to build durable, well-integrated partnerships that (1) develop stronger cancer research and training programs and (2) advance understanding of why major disparities in cancer burden persist for racial and ethnic minority populations and for socioeconomically disadvantaged groups.
What kinds of partnerships does NCI want to support?
NCI seeks structured collaborations between NCI-designated Cancer Centers (or groups of centers) and institutions that serve racial/ethnic minority and other underserved communities experiencing cancer health disparities. The intent is for partners to combine complementary strengths (for example, community access and trust, clinical and research infrastructure, scientific expertise, and workforce development capacity) to achieve impact beyond what either could do alone.
Is this a standard NIH grant or something different?
This is an NIH specialized center cooperative agreement (U54). In a cooperative agreement, NIH/NCI typically has substantial programmatic involvement during the project period. Recipient institutions still lead and carry out the work, but the structure signals active coordination with NCI staff, milestone-driven management, and strong emphasis on integration and accountability across partnership components.
What does "limited competition" mean for this FOA?
The solicitation is intentionally limited in competition. It is aimed at (1) renewing and extending support for the strongest currently funded Comprehensive Partnerships under the earlier program structure, and (2) promoting the most promising developing partnerships into full "Comprehensive Partnership" status.
Was this program known by another name previously?
Yes. This funding opportunity was formerly known as the Minority Institution/Cancer Center Partnership (MI/CCP) program.
Who is this FOA intended to support specifically?
It targets two groups: (1) the strongest currently funded Comprehensive Partnerships previously supported under the earlier MI/CCP structure, and (2) developing partnerships that previously received U56 planning/developmental support under the earlier Cooperative Planning Grant for Comprehensive Minority Institution/Cancer Center Partnership and are ready to advance into full U54 Comprehensive Partnership status.
What is the relationship between U56 and U54 in this program?
In this program context, U56 awards supported partnerships in a planning or developmental phase. This U54 FOA is used to "graduate" select U56-supported collaborations into fully implemented, multi-component Comprehensive Partnerships, while also renewing the strongest existing U54 partnerships.
How many awards did NCI expect to make for FY 2010?
For FY 2010, NCI anticipated supporting a small number of awards. The FOA projected either four awards organized as two institutional pairs, or five awards organized as one pair plus one triad (a three-institution partnership).
How much total funding was anticipated for FY 2010?
NCI anticipated committing approximately $5.25 million in total costs for FY 2010 to support the limited number of awards.
Does the program support single-institution projects?
No. The structure described emphasizes formal collaborations rather than single-institution projects. Applicants were expected to present linked applications demonstrating a cohesive, jointly governed partnership.
Can a partnership involve more than two institutions?
Yes. The FOA described potential award structures that included a triad (a three-institution partnership), indicating that collaborations could involve more than two institutions when organized as an integrated partnership.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broadly focused on collaborations between NCI-designated Cancer Centers and institutions that serve populations affected by cancer disparities, including Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) and other organizations in underserved settings.
What types of organizations were listed as eligible applicants?
The eligible applicant categories listed include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, federally recognized tribal governments, tribal organizations, and a range of designated Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs).
Which Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) were specifically mentioned?
Examples listed include Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), and entities in U.S. territories or possessions.
What populations does the program focus on?
The program focuses on communities experiencing cancer health disparities, including racial and ethnic minority populations and socioeconomically disadvantaged groups, as well as other underserved communities.
What kinds of activities are implied by "comprehensive" partnerships?
Based on the description, "comprehensive" partnerships are expected to be multi-component, center-like collaborations that integrate cancer research, training, and workforce development while generating evidence about the drivers of cancer inequities and strengthening institutional capacity.
How does NCI expect the partnership to operate during the project period?
The cooperative agreement structure indicates expectations of active coordination with NCI staff, milestone-driven management, and a shared strategic direction with strong integration and accountability across the partnership's components.
Is cost-sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity stated there was no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
What were the key dates for this opportunity?
The posting date was February 16, 2010. The original and current closing date was April 7, 2010. The archive date was May 8, 2010.
Where was the full announcement made available?
The complete announcement was available through the NIH Grants Guide under RFA-CA-10-503.
What should applicants expect regarding coordination with NIH/NCI?
Because this is a U54 cooperative agreement, applicants should expect substantial NIH/NCI programmatic involvement, including coordination with NCI staff and milestone-driven oversight, while the recipient institutions remain responsible for executing the work.
What broader NIH/NCI program areas does this FOA align with?
The listing indicated alignment with multiple cancer-related CFDA program areas, spanning prevention, detection/diagnosis, treatment, biology, cancer centers support, research manpower, and cancer control.
Who was listed as a contact for technical issues accessing the announcement?
The listing included NIH Office of Extramural Research contact points for technical issues related to accessing the announcement.
What is NCI trying to achieve through limiting eligibility to certain partnerships?
The limited competition approach emphasizes readiness and demonstrated partnership strength, prioritizing established high-performing partnerships and the most advanced planning-stage collaborations that can execute a comprehensive, integrated disparities-focused cancer program at scale.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Education Health
Next opportunity: School Leadership Grant Program CFDA 84.363A
Previous opportunity: ROSES 2010 Cassini Data Analysis
USGrants.org Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for RFA CA 10 503
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (RFA CA 10 503) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Advancing Palliative Care Research for Children Facing Life Limiting Conditions (R21) Apply for RFA NR 10 007 Funding Number: RFA NR 10 007 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Advancing Palliative Care Research for Children Facing Life Limiting Conditions (R01) Apply for RFA NR 10 006 Funding Number: RFA NR 10 006 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Common Pathogenetic Mechanisms of Lung Cancer and COPD (R01) Apply for RFA HL 11 002 Funding Number: RFA HL 11 002 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Collaborative Clinical Trials in Drug Abuse (Collaborative R01) Apply for PAR 10 099 Funding Number: PAR 10 099 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Strategic Partnering to Evaluate Cancer Signatures SPECS II (U01) Apply for PAR 10 126 Funding Number: PAR 10 126 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Epigenetic Factors Associated with Symptoms and Complications of Chronic Disorders (Competitive Revision R01) Apply for RFA NR 10 005 Funding Number: RFA NR 10 005 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Epigenetic Factors Associated with Symptoms and Complications of Chronic Disorders (R01) Apply for RFA NR 10 004 Funding Number: RFA NR 10 004 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Drug Abuse Aspects of HIV/AIDS (R03) Apply for PA 10 131 Funding Number: PA 10 131 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Drug Abuse Aspects of HIV/AIDS (R01) Apply for PA 10 129 Funding Number: PA 10 129 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Drug Abuse Aspects of HIV/AIDS (R21) Apply for PA 10 130 Funding Number: PA 10 130 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| The Medical Education Partnership Initiative (MEPI) (R24) Apply for RFA TW 10 008 Funding Number: RFA TW 10 008 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Research Education Program for Laboratory Animal Medicine Veterinarians (R25) Apply for RFA RR 10 002 Funding Number: RFA RR 10 002 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $224,000 |
| Next Generation Genetic Association Studies (U01) Apply for RFA HL 11 006 Funding Number: RFA HL 11 006 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Exploratory Cancer Prevention Studies Involving Molecular Targets for Bioactive Food Components (R21) Apply for PA 10 088 Funding Number: PA 10 088 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Development of Animal Models and Related Biological Materials For Research (R21) Apply for PA 10 138 Funding Number: PA 10 138 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Diet Composition and Energy Balance (R01) Apply for PA 10 152 Funding Number: PA 10 152 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Paul Calabresi Career Development Award for Clinical Oncology (K12) Apply for PAR 10 155 Funding Number: PAR 10 155 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Identification and Characterization of Molecular Targets Within the mTOR Pathway With Potential to Impact Healthspan and Lifespan (R21) Apply for PA 10 164 Funding Number: PA 10 164 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| National Cancer Institute (NCI) Cancer Education and Career Development Program (R25) Apply for PAR 10 165 Funding Number: PAR 10 165 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Academic Industrial Partnerships for Translation of in vivo Imaging Systems for Cancer Investigations (R01) Apply for PAR 10 169 Funding Number: PAR 10 169 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Subscribe to Leads
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "RFA CA 10 503", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.