Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 09 158

  • The National Institutes of Health in the education health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Developmental Research in Cancer Prognosis and Prediction (R21)" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.394 Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research 93.395 Cancer Treatment Research.
  • This funding opportunity was created on Apr 14, 2009 and posted on Apr 14, 2009.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by May 7, 2012. (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 Special district governments Private institutions of higher education State governments For profit organizations other than small businesses Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) City or township governments Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) 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 Small businesses.
  • 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) Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) Regional Organizations Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) U.S. Territory or Possession.
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Opportunity Summary:

The Developmental Research in Cancer Prognosis and Prediction (R21) opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number PA-09-158) is a National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding announcement aimed at early, exploratory projects that can move promising cancer biomarkers and related approaches closer to real clinical use. The central focus is on prognosis and prediction: building and testing new ways to estimate how a cancer is likely to behave over time (prognosis) or how a patient is likely to respond to a specific therapy (prediction). Rather than supporting large, definitive validation efforts right away, this program is designed to help investigators take biomarkers that look encouraging in initial, correlation-based studies and convert them into practical assays or test systems that are ready to be used in clinical trials or other confirmatory clinical research settings. The end goal is straightforward: create tools that can sharpen clinical decision-making for cancer patient care, such as guiding treatment selection, anticipating outcomes, or supporting risk stratification.

This FOA uses the NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant mechanism (R21), which is commonly used for high-impact, early-stage work where feasibility, refinement, and proof-of-concept development are key milestones. In parallel, NIH also offered a companion announcement with the same scientific scope under the R33 mechanism (PA-09-159), which is typically oriented toward a more advanced “phase II” stage of exploratory development. In practice, the R21 here is positioned for projects that still need targeted development and piloting before they can credibly support larger confirmatory studies.

Funding details reflect the flexible, developmental nature of the program. The listed award ceiling is $200,000, and NIH notes that the size and duration of awards may vary depending on the proposed work. The total number of awards and total dollars ultimately depend on the volume of applications received and their scientific quality, duration, and cost. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement, which reduces barriers for applicants who may not have institutional funds to contribute.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of organizations that can conduct biomedical research. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, state and local governments (including county and city/township governments), special district governments, nonprofit organizations (both with and without 501(c)(3) status, excluding higher education institutions when specified), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses. The eligibility language also explicitly includes a range of additional entities such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), federally recognized and other tribal governments, U.S. territories or possessions, regional organizations, and non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations). That broad eligibility reflects NIH’s intent to draw strong translational ideas from many sectors, including academic, clinical, nonprofit, governmental, and commercial research environments.

Administratively, the FOA was posted on April 14, 2009, with an original and final closing date of May 7, 2012, and it was archived on June 7, 2012. The activity sits within NIH’s health-related research portfolio and is associated with CFDA numbers 93.394 (Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research) and 93.395 (Cancer Treatment Research). Although the opportunity is archived and no longer open, the announcement remains a useful reference point for understanding how NCI structures early-stage translational funding intended to bridge the gap between biomarker discovery and clinically deployable testing approaches.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Developmental Research in Cancer Prognosis and Prediction (R21) opportunity?

It is a National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding announcement (Funding Opportunity Number PA-09-158) that supports early, exploratory research projects aimed at moving promising cancer biomarkers and related approaches closer to real clinical use.

What is the main scientific focus of this FOA?

The central focus is on cancer prognosis and prediction: developing and testing new ways to estimate how a cancer is likely to behave over time (prognosis) and/or how a patient is likely to respond to a specific therapy (prediction).

How does this program describe "prognosis" and "prediction"?

Within this announcement, prognosis refers to estimating how a cancer is likely to behave over time, while prediction refers to estimating how a patient is likely to respond to a specific therapy.

What types of projects is this R21 meant to support?

This R21 is meant for high-impact, early-stage projects where feasibility, refinement, and proof-of-concept are key. It is designed to help convert encouraging, correlation-based biomarker findings into practical assays or test systems that are ready for clinical trials or other confirmatory clinical research settings.

Is this FOA intended to fund large, definitive biomarker validation studies?

No. The announcement emphasizes that it is not designed to support large, definitive validation efforts right away. Instead, it supports targeted development and piloting that can prepare tools for later confirmatory clinical research.

What is the end goal of the work supported under this FOA?

The end goal is to create tools that can sharpen clinical decision-making for cancer patient care, such as guiding treatment selection, anticipating outcomes, or supporting risk stratification.

What grant mechanism does this opportunity use?

This FOA uses the NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant mechanism (R21).

How is the R21 mechanism positioned in terms of project stage?

The R21 mechanism is commonly used for early-stage, exploratory work where feasibility testing, method refinement, and proof-of-concept development are important milestones before larger confirmatory studies.

Is there a related or companion funding announcement?

Yes. NIH offered a companion announcement with the same scientific scope under the R33 mechanism (PA-09-159), which is described as more aligned with a later, more advanced "phase II" stage of exploratory development.

How does the R33 companion relate to the R21 described here?

Based on the description provided, the R21 is positioned for projects that still need targeted development and piloting, while the R33 is oriented toward a more advanced stage of exploratory development using the same overall scientific scope.

What is the maximum award amount mentioned in the FOA?

The listed award ceiling is $200,000.

Are award size and duration fixed?

No. NIH notes that the size and duration of awards may vary depending on the proposed work.

Does the FOA specify how many awards will be made?

No specific number is guaranteed. The total number of awards and total funding depend on the volume of applications received and their scientific quality, duration, and cost.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The FOA states there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes many organizations capable of biomedical research, including public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, state and local governments (including county and city/township governments), special district governments, nonprofit organizations (with and without 501(c)(3) status, excluding higher education institutions when specified), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses.

Are minority-serving institutions and tribal entities included in eligibility?

Yes. The eligibility language explicitly includes entities such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), federally recognized and other tribal governments, and regional organizations.

Can non-U.S. organizations apply?

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

Are U.S. territories or possessions included as eligible entities?

Yes. The eligibility language explicitly includes U.S. territories or possessions.

When was this FOA posted?

The FOA was posted on April 14, 2009.

What were the closing dates for this opportunity?

The original and final closing date listed is May 7, 2012.

Is this funding opportunity still open?

No. The opportunity is archived and is no longer open.

When was the FOA archived?

It was archived on June 7, 2012.

Which NIH institute is associated with this announcement?

The funding announcement is associated with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) within the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

What is the CFDA information associated with this opportunity?

The activity is associated with CFDA numbers 93.394 (Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research) and 93.395 (Cancer Treatment Research).

How should this archived FOA be used today?

Although it is no longer open, the announcement can still serve as a reference for how NCI structures early-stage translational funding intended to bridge the gap between biomarker discovery and clinically deployable testing approaches.

What kinds of clinical impact does the FOA highlight?

The FOA highlights clinical decision-making impacts such as guiding treatment selection, anticipating outcomes, and supporting risk stratification for cancer patient care.

What is meant by moving biomarkers "closer to real clinical use" in this context?

In the context provided, it means taking biomarkers that look promising in initial, correlation-based studies and developing them into practical assays or test systems that are ready to be used in clinical trials or other confirmatory clinical research settings.

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Applicants also applied for:

Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (PA 09 158) also looked into and applied for these:

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Developmental Research in Cancer Prognosis and Prediction (R33) Apply for PA 09 159

Funding Number: PA 09 159
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Funding Amount: Case Dependent
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Funding Number: PA 09 188
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Funding Number: PA 09 187
Agency: National Institutes of Health
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Funding Number: PA 09 189
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Funding Number: RFA DA 10 003
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International Research Collaborations on HIV/AIDS and Drug Use (R01) Apply for RFA DA 10 008

Funding Number: RFA DA 10 008
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Centers of Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence (CCNEs)(U54) Apply for RFA CA 09 012

Funding Number: RFA CA 09 012
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Cancer Nanotechnology Platform Partnerships (U01) Apply for RFA CA 09 013

Funding Number: RFA CA 09 013
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Biomarkers for Early Detection of Hematopoietic Malignancies (R01) Apply for PA 09 197

Funding Number: PA 09 197
Agency: National Institutes of Health
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Biomarkers for Early Detection of Hematopoietic Malignancies (R21) Apply for PA 09 198

Funding Number: PA 09 198
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Identifying Non coding RNA Targets for Cancer Early Detection and Prevention (R21) Apply for PA 09 200

Funding Number: PA 09 200
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Identifying Non coding RNA Targets for Cancer Early Detection and Prevention (R01) Apply for PA 09 199

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