Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 06 413
Apply for PA 06 413
- The National Institutes of Health in the education food and nutrition health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Diet, Epigenetic Events, and Cancer Prevention (R21)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.273 Alcohol Research Programs 93.393 Cancer Cause and Prevention Research 93.396 Cancer Biology Research.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 5, 2008 and posted on May 16, 2006.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Multiple Receipt Dates See Link to Full Announcement for details.. (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: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) For profit organizations other than small businesses Special district governments Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Private institutions of higher education Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) City or township governments Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Independent school districts County governments Public and State controlled institutions of higher education State governments.
- Foreign institutions are eligible to apply. Eligible agencies of the Federal Government can apply. Faith based or community based organizations can apply.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Diet, Epigenetic Events, and Cancer Prevention (R21) funding opportunity (PA-06-413) is an NIH exploratory/developmental grant aimed at pushing forward early-stage clinical and preclinical studies that connect diet to epigenetic mechanisms relevant to cancer. The central scientific focus is on how dietary patterns, specific dietary factors, and dietary supplements can influence key epigenetic processes such as DNA methylation and histone posttranslational modifications, along with other epigenetic regulatory events that may contribute to either cancer prevention or cancer development. The FOA is designed for projects that can help clarify how nutrition-driven epigenetic changes may translate into measurable differences in cancer risk, tumor incidence, or tumor behavior.
A major theme in this announcement is building stronger bridges between two fields that often operate separately: nutrition science and epigenetics. NIH is explicitly encouraging collaborative, cross-disciplinary teams that can evaluate bioactive food components thought to have cancer-preventive properties, while also investigating specific epigenetic events that shape cancer-related biology. Examples of the cancer-relevant processes highlighted include carcinogen metabolism, cell division, cellular differentiation, and apoptosis. The broader goal is to begin establishing clearer, evidence-based linkages between diet-driven epigenetic signatures (including methylation patterns) and downstream cancer outcomes, rather than stopping at descriptive findings.
The FOA also calls out institute-specific areas of interest. NIAAA emphasizes research on chronic alcohol consumption and its potential to alter levels of methyl-donor and one-carbon metabolism-related factors such as SAM (S-adenosylmethionine), betaine, and folate, and how those changes may be associated with DNA methylation patterns and cancer risk or progression. NIDDK, in contrast, highlights interest in studies addressing both normal and neoplastic conditions in the gastrointestinal tract and related organs, with particular attention to how epigenetic regulation affects cell division, differentiation, and/or apoptosis in these tissues. In practice, this means applicants who can tie nutritional exposures to epigenetic regulation in GI biology or alcohol-related methylation biology are especially well aligned with the priorities stated in the announcement.
Mechanistically, this opportunity uses the NIH R21 format, which is intended for exploratory, developmental, and potentially higher-risk projects that can generate strong preliminary signals, methods, or proof-of-concept data within a short timeline. The maximum project period is 2 years. Budget-wise, direct costs are capped at $275,000 total across the two-year period, with an additional constraint of no more than $200,000 in direct costs in any single year. Consortium or third-party facilities and administrative (F and A) costs are noted as not counting toward the direct cost cap, which can matter for multi-institution collaborations. The FOA indicates that award size and duration may vary within those limits depending on the proposed work.
This R21 announcement is part of a set of three parallel FOAs with the same scientific scope but different NIH mechanisms: an R03 small grant option (PA-06-414) and an R01 research project grant option (PA-06-412). That structure gives applicants flexibility to match the scope of their ideas to an appropriate mechanism, whether they need a short, exploratory push (R21), a smaller pilot (R03), or a larger, more comprehensive project (R01).
Eligibility is broad. Applicants can come from for-profit or nonprofit organizations, public or private institutions (including universities, colleges, hospitals, and laboratories), units of state and local government, eligible federal agencies, and a range of community-based, faith-based, and tribal entities. Importantly, foreign institutions and organizations are eligible to apply, which opens the door to international cohorts, dietary exposures, and global collaborations. PD/PI eligibility is similarly inclusive: any individual with the necessary expertise and institutional support may serve as PD/PI, and NIH reiterates its standard encouragement for applications from individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups and individuals with disabilities. Organizations and investigators may submit more than one application as long as each submission is scientifically distinct.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary NIH grant with no cost sharing requirement. The opportunity had multiple receipt dates (rather than a single deadline), and awards are explicitly contingent on available funds and the number of meritorious applications received, so the FOA does not promise a fixed number of awards. The listing is associated with NIH and aligns with CFDA areas covering alcohol research programs and cancer cause, prevention, and biology research. For full details, NIH pointed applicants to the full announcement page at grants.nih.gov (PA-06-413).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Diet, Epigenetic Events, and Cancer Prevention (R21) - PA-06-413
What is the PA-06-413 funding opportunity?
PA-06-413 is an NIH exploratory/developmental grant opportunity using the R21 mechanism titled "Diet, Epigenetic Events, and Cancer Prevention (R21)." It supports early-stage clinical and preclinical studies that connect diet to epigenetic mechanisms relevant to cancer prevention or cancer development.
What is the main scientific focus of this FOA?
The FOA focuses on how dietary patterns, specific dietary factors, and dietary supplements can influence epigenetic processes tied to cancer-related biology. Emphasis is placed on linking nutrition-driven epigenetic changes to measurable cancer outcomes (such as cancer risk, tumor incidence, or tumor behavior), rather than stopping at descriptive observations.
Which epigenetic mechanisms are specifically mentioned?
The opportunity highlights key epigenetic processes including DNA methylation and histone posttranslational modifications, as well as other epigenetic regulatory events that may contribute to cancer prevention or cancer development.
What kinds of outcomes is NIH looking for beyond epigenetic measurements?
NIH is looking for projects that help clarify whether diet-driven epigenetic signatures (including methylation patterns) translate into measurable differences in cancer-related outcomes, including cancer risk, tumor incidence, or tumor behavior.
Does the FOA encourage cross-disciplinary collaboration?
Yes. A major theme is building stronger bridges between nutrition science and epigenetics. NIH explicitly encourages collaborative, cross-disciplinary teams that can evaluate bioactive food components and investigate specific epigenetic events shaping cancer-related biology.
What cancer-relevant biological processes are highlighted as examples?
The FOA notes several cancer-relevant processes as examples, including carcinogen metabolism, cell division, cellular differentiation, and apoptosis.
Are dietary supplements within scope for this funding opportunity?
Yes. The FOA explicitly includes dietary supplements as one of the types of dietary exposures that may influence epigenetic mechanisms relevant to cancer.
What NIH grant mechanism is used, and what does it imply about project scope?
This opportunity uses the NIH R21 mechanism, which is intended for exploratory, developmental, and potentially higher-risk projects. The goal is to generate strong preliminary signals, methods, or proof-of-concept data within a short project period.
What is the maximum project period for an R21 under this FOA?
The maximum project period is 2 years.
What is the budget limit for this R21 opportunity?
Direct costs are capped at $275,000 total across the two-year project period, with no more than $200,000 in direct costs in any single year.
Do consortium or subcontract F&A (indirect) costs count toward the direct cost cap?
No. The FOA notes that consortium or third-party facilities and administrative (F&A) costs do not count toward the direct cost cap, which may be important for multi-institution collaborations.
Can the award size or duration vary?
Yes. The FOA indicates that award size and duration may vary within the stated limits depending on the proposed work.
Are there related funding opportunities with the same scientific scope?
Yes. This R21 FOA is part of a set of three parallel announcements sharing the same scientific scope but using different NIH mechanisms: an R03 small grant option (PA-06-414) and an R01 research project grant option (PA-06-412).
How should an applicant choose between the R21, R03, and R01 options mentioned?
Based on the FOA description, the R21 is positioned for a short, exploratory push; the R03 is a smaller pilot option; and the R01 supports a larger, more comprehensive project. Applicants can align the mechanism with the maturity, scale, and needs of their proposed research.
What institute-specific interests are called out in the FOA?
The FOA highlights institute-specific priorities including NIAAA interest in chronic alcohol consumption and methyl-donor/one-carbon metabolism factors and NIDDK interest in normal and neoplastic conditions in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and related organs, with attention to epigenetic regulation of key cellular processes in these tissues.
What does NIAAA emphasize within this FOA?
NIAAA emphasizes research on chronic alcohol consumption and its potential to alter levels of methyl-donor and one-carbon metabolism-related factors such as SAM (S-adenosylmethionine), betaine, and folate, and how these changes may be associated with DNA methylation patterns and cancer risk or progression.
What does NIDDK emphasize within this FOA?
NIDDK highlights studies addressing both normal and neoplastic conditions in the gastrointestinal tract and related organs, with particular attention to how epigenetic regulation affects cell division, differentiation, and/or apoptosis in these tissues.
Are projects focused on GI biology or alcohol-related methylation biology especially aligned?
Yes. The FOA states interests suggesting that applicants who can tie nutritional exposures to epigenetic regulation in GI biology or alcohol-related methylation biology are especially well aligned with stated priorities.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes for-profit and nonprofit organizations; public or private institutions such as universities, colleges, hospitals, and laboratories; units of state and local government; eligible federal agencies; and community-based, faith-based, and tribal entities.
Are foreign (non-U.S.) institutions eligible?
Yes. The FOA states that foreign institutions and organizations are eligible to apply, enabling international cohorts, dietary exposures, and global collaborations.
Who can serve as the PD/PI?
Any individual with the necessary expertise and institutional support may serve as PD/PI. NIH also reiterates its standard encouragement for applications from individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups and individuals with disabilities.
Can an organization or investigator submit multiple applications?
Yes. Organizations and investigators may submit more than one application as long as each submission is scientifically distinct.
Is cost sharing required?
No. The FOA indicates there is no cost sharing requirement.
Is there a single application deadline?
No. The opportunity had multiple receipt dates rather than a single deadline.
How are awards determined (and are awards guaranteed)?
Awards are discretionary and contingent on available funds and the number of meritorious applications received. The FOA does not promise a fixed number of awards.
Where can applicants find the full official announcement details?
The FOA directs applicants to the full announcement page at grants.nih.gov under PA-06-413.
How is this opportunity categorized administratively?
The listing is associated with NIH and aligns with CFDA areas covering alcohol research programs and cancer cause, prevention, and biology research.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Education Food and Nutrition Health
Next opportunity: Diet, Epigenetic Events, and Cancer Prevention (R03)
Previous opportunity: Exploratory Innovations in Biomedical Computational Science and Technology (R21)
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