Diet, Epigenetic Events, and Cancer Prevention (R01) | Apply Online

FAQs: Diet, Epigenetic Events, and Cancer Prevention (R01) (PA-09-234)

What is the purpose of the NIH funding opportunity "Diet, Epigenetic Events, and Cancer Prevention (R01)" (PA-09-234)?

This funding opportunity was designed to support research that explains how diet and dietary factors can influence epigenetic mechanisms tied to cancer risk, cancer prevention, and cancer development. The emphasis is on moving from broad associations to clearer, mechanistic evidence linking specific nutrition-related exposures to measurable epigenetic changes that matter for cancer biology.

Which NIH institutes or offices sponsored this FOA?

The opportunity was sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), together with the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and the Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS).

What grant mechanism does this FOA use?

This opportunity uses the NIH R01 research project grant mechanism, which is generally intended for well-developed, hypothesis-driven projects with a substantial scope of work.

Is there a related or companion funding opportunity?

Yes. The FOA was issued alongside a companion opportunity with the same scientific scope using the R21 exploratory/developmental mechanism (PA-09-235), which is generally more appropriate for earlier-stage or higher-risk pilot concepts.

What kinds of studies are encouraged under PA-09-234?

The FOA focuses on both clinical and preclinical studies that connect diet and dietary factors (including dietary supplements) to measurable changes in epigenetic regulation relevant to cancer prevention and development.

What types of dietary exposures or factors are in scope?

Projects are expected to examine diet and dietary factors, including dietary supplements, and to evaluate how these nutrition-related exposures relate to epigenetic regulation in ways that are relevant to cancer.

What epigenetic mechanisms are specifically highlighted?

The announcement highlights key epigenetic processes such as DNA methylation, histone posttranslational modifications, noncoding RNAs, and other epigenetic events that can switch genes on or off without changing the underlying DNA sequence.

What is meant by "epigenetic events" in the context of this FOA?

In this FOA, epigenetic events refer to regulatory mechanisms that affect gene activity without altering the DNA sequence. These changes can influence whether genes are turned on or off and may shape cancer initiation, cancer progression, or resistance to normal growth controls.

What is the central scientific theme of the FOA?

A central theme is building clearer mechanistic links between specific dietary components and cancer-related epigenetic patterns. The FOA encourages research that can trace the effects of particular dietary exposures through identifiable epigenetic pathways and connect those epigenetic signatures to cancer-relevant outcomes.

Does the FOA emphasize any particular cancer-related biological processes?

Yes. The announcement encourages examining epigenetic events embedded in major cancer-related processes, including carcinogen metabolism, regulation of cell division, cellular differentiation, and programmed cell death (apoptosis).

What kinds of results or linkages are applicants expected to establish?

The FOA emphasizes moving beyond general associations toward evidence that diet-related exposures produce particular epigenetic signatures (for example, methylation patterns) that can be linked to tumor incidence, tumor behavior, or other cancer-relevant changes in cells and tissues.

Is multidisciplinary collaboration encouraged?

Yes. The FOA explicitly encourages collaboration between disciplines that do not always work closely together, particularly teams that integrate nutrition science and epigenetics expertise.

What types of expertise does NIH suggest combining in competitive teams?

The FOA encourages teams that combine nutrition science expertise (such as dietary assessment, bioactive food compounds, supplementation, and metabolism) with epigenetics expertise (such as epigenomic profiling, chromatin biology, RNA regulation, and functional epigenetic assays).

Are dietary supplements within the scope of this FOA?

Yes. The FOA explicitly includes dietary factors "including dietary supplements" and encourages connecting these exposures to measurable epigenetic changes relevant to cancer prevention and development.

Are awards guaranteed under this FOA?

No. Awards were not guaranteed. Funding depended on the availability of appropriations and whether enough high-quality, meritorious applications were submitted.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The opportunity stated there was no cost sharing or matching requirement.

What CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?

The FOA is associated with multiple program areas reflected in these CFDA numbers: 93.273 (Alcohol Research Programs), 93.393 (Cancer Cause and Prevention Research), and 93.396 (Cancer Biology Research).

When was this FOA originally posted and when did it close?

The opportunity was originally posted on July 15, 2009. The original and final closing date was September 7, 2012.

Is this funding opportunity still active?

No. The FOA was archived on October 8, 2012.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was broad and included many organization types, such as state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) organizations other than universities); small businesses and other for-profit organizations; and additional eligible applicants such as eligible federal agencies, faith-based or community-based organizations, Hispanic-serving institutions, Indian/Native American tribal governments (other than federally recognized), U.S. territories or possessions, regional organizations, and non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations).

Are foreign (non-U.S.) organizations eligible?

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

Can for-profit organizations apply?

Yes. Eligibility included small businesses and other for-profit organizations.

Can government entities apply?

Yes. Eligibility included multiple government entity types, including state, county, and city or township governments, as well as special district governments.

Can colleges and universities apply?

Yes. Eligibility included public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education.

Can nonprofit organizations apply?

Yes. Eligibility included nonprofits, including 501(c)(3) organizations and certain non-501(c)(3) organizations other than universities.

Does the FOA include community-based or faith-based organizations?

Yes. Eligibility included faith-based or community-based organizations.

Does the FOA mention specific institution types like Hispanic-serving institutions or tribal governments?

Yes. The eligibility list included Hispanic-serving institutions and Indian/Native American tribal governments (other than federally recognized), among other organization types.

What is the broader goal NIH is trying to achieve through this FOA?

The broader goal is to attract strong, multidisciplinary proposals that clarify how diet and supplements may shape epigenetic regulation relevant to cancer prevention and cancer biology, with an emphasis on measurable epigenetic mechanisms and biologically meaningful links to cancer-related outcomes.