Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 15 125
Apply for PA 15 125
- The National Institutes of Health in the education environment health income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Early life Factors and Cancer Development Later in Life (R21)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.113 Environmental Health 93.393 Cancer Cause and Prevention Research 93.865 Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 26, 2015 and posted on Feb 26, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 7, 2018. (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: Special district governments Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Small businesses City or township 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 Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Private institutions of higher education County governments Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities State governments Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Independent school districts.
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs) 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) 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 NIH funding opportunity "Early Life Factors and Cancer Development Later in Life (R21)" (Funding Opportunity Number PA 15-125) was designed to spur exploratory research on how experiences and exposures early in life may influence cancer risk decades later. The central idea behind the announcement is that cancer prevention could be strengthened if researchers can clarify which early-life factors matter most, understand the biological pathways that connect those factors to carcinogenesis, and develop measurable indicators that signal elevated risk long before a tumor appears. Because many cancers emerge late in adulthood, the FOA emphasizes the need for approaches that do not require waiting 30 to 50 years to observe cancer outcomes directly, including the development and validation of biomarkers or intermediate endpoints tied to malignancy or premalignant states.
The FOA highlights a broad definition of "early life," explicitly spanning maternal and paternal influences, in utero conditions, birth and infancy, puberty and adolescence, and the teenage and young adult years. Within that life-course window, the announcement encourages studies that identify early-life events, environments, behaviors, and exposures associated with later cancer development. It also calls for mechanistic work that explains how these early inputs shape biological processes relevant to cancer initiation and progression, such as developmental programming, endocrine and metabolic changes, immune function, inflammation, or other pathways that could plausibly alter lifetime susceptibility. A major motivating theme is that if science can pinpoint when and how risk is "set" early, then interventions during pregnancy, infancy, childhood, or adolescence could potentially prevent cancers that would otherwise arise much later.
This opportunity uses the NIH R21 mechanism, which generally supports early-stage, innovative, and higher-risk exploratory projects intended to generate key preliminary data or proof-of-concept findings. The listed award ceiling for this FOA is $200,000, and it does not require cost sharing or matching. The announcement was posted February 26, 2015, with an original and final closing date of January 7, 2018, and an archive date of February 7, 2018, indicating it is no longer active but remains relevant as a reference for the types of projects NIH sought to stimulate in this area.
Eligibility was intentionally broad, reflecting NIH's interest in drawing ideas from many sectors and research environments. Eligible applicants included state, county, city/township, and special district governments; public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits (including both 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) entities); for-profit organizations (including small businesses); independent school districts; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; and tribal governments and organizations (including federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal entities). The FOA also explicitly included a range of mission-focused institutions and organizations such as HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, AANAPISI institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities, faith-based and community-based organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, regional organizations, and even non-U.S. (foreign) entities, along with eligible federal agencies.
In terms of topic fit, the FOA is best understood as supporting research that links early-life exposures to later cancer risk in a way that is biologically grounded and prevention-oriented. Projects aligned with the announcement would typically aim to (1) connect specific early-life factors with later cancer-related outcomes, (2) explain the causal or mediating biology that makes those associations meaningful for carcinogenesis, and/or (3) identify and test early measurable markers that could serve as practical predictors of future malignancy or premalignant change. The long-term public health goal emphasized throughout is earlier, more effective prevention: by understanding origins of risk in early development, researchers could inform interventions during pregnancy or early life that might reduce cancer incidence across the lifespan.
The FOA was issued by the National Institutes of Health and is associated with CFDA numbers 93.113 (Environmental Health), 93.393 (Cancer Cause and Prevention Research), and 93.865 (Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research), reflecting the cross-cutting nature of the science at the intersection of environment, developmental biology, and cancer etiology. For historical reference, the full announcement was linked at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-15-125.html, and NIH provided contact support through the NIH Office of Extramural Research webmaster channels for access or linking issues.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the NIH funding opportunity "Early Life Factors and Cancer Development Later in Life (R21)" (PA-15-125)?
This NIH Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) was created to encourage exploratory research on how experiences and exposures early in life may influence cancer risk much later, often decades afterward. The FOA emphasizes prevention-oriented science that clarifies which early-life factors matter, how they connect biologically to carcinogenesis, and how to measure elevated risk long before cancer is diagnosed.
What is the main goal of this FOA?
The central aim is to strengthen cancer prevention by improving scientific understanding of how cancer risk may be shaped early in development. The FOA prioritizes research that can identify influential early-life factors, uncover biological pathways that link those factors to cancer development, and develop measurable indicators (such as biomarkers or intermediate endpoints) that can be observed without waiting decades for cancer outcomes.
Which NIH grant mechanism does this opportunity use?
This opportunity uses the NIH R21 mechanism. R21 awards generally support early-stage, innovative, higher-risk exploratory projects intended to generate key preliminary data or proof-of-concept findings.
What was the maximum award amount for this FOA?
The listed award ceiling for this FOA was $200,000.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. The FOA stated that it did not require cost sharing or matching.
Is this funding opportunity still open?
No. The FOA is no longer active. It was posted on February 26, 2015, had an original and final closing date of January 7, 2018, and an archive date of February 7, 2018. It remains useful as a reference for the types of projects NIH aimed to stimulate in this research area.
How does the FOA define "early life"?
The FOA uses a broad definition of early life, explicitly including maternal and paternal influences, in utero conditions, birth and infancy, puberty and adolescence, and the teenage and young adult years.
What kinds of research topics were encouraged under this FOA?
The FOA encourages studies that identify early-life events, environments, behaviors, and exposures associated with later cancer development. It also encourages mechanistic research that explains how these early inputs affect biological processes relevant to cancer initiation and progression.
What types of biological pathways or mechanisms were highlighted as relevant?
The FOA highlights pathways that could plausibly alter lifetime susceptibility to cancer, including developmental programming, endocrine and metabolic changes, immune function, inflammation, and other mechanisms that connect early-life exposures to carcinogenesis.
Why does the FOA emphasize approaches that do not require waiting 30 to 50 years?
Because many cancers occur late in adulthood, direct observation of cancer outcomes from early-life exposures can require decades. To make research feasible and informative within typical study timelines, the FOA emphasizes developing and validating biomarkers or intermediate endpoints tied to malignancy or premalignant states.
What kinds of outcomes or indicators did the FOA suggest using instead of waiting for cancer diagnosis?
The FOA points to biomarkers and intermediate endpoints that are tied to malignancy or premalignant states, with the goal of detecting elevated risk well before a tumor appears.
What would a well-aligned project generally aim to do?
Projects aligned with the FOA would typically aim to (1) connect specific early-life factors with later cancer-related outcomes, (2) explain the causal or mediating biology that makes those associations meaningful for carcinogenesis, and/or (3) identify and test early measurable markers that could serve as practical predictors of future malignancy or premalignant change.
What is the prevention-oriented theme behind this FOA?
A key motivating theme is that if researchers can pinpoint when and how risk is "set" early in development, interventions during pregnancy, infancy, childhood, or adolescence could potentially prevent cancers that would otherwise arise much later.
Who was eligible to apply for this funding opportunity?
Eligibility was broad and included state, county, city/township, and special district governments; public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) organizations); for-profit organizations (including small businesses); independent school districts; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; and tribal governments and organizations (including federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal entities).
Did the FOA encourage applications from specific types of institutions or community-based organizations?
Yes. The FOA explicitly included mission-focused institutions and organizations such as HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, AANAPISI institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities, faith-based and community-based organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, regional organizations, and non-U.S. (foreign) entities, along with eligible federal agencies.
Were non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA explicitly listed non-U.S. (foreign) entities among eligible applicants.
Which federal agency issued this FOA?
The FOA was issued by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What CFDA numbers were associated with this FOA?
The FOA was associated with CFDA 93.113 (Environmental Health), 93.393 (Cancer Cause and Prevention Research), and 93.865 (Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research).
What does it mean that the FOA is cross-cutting?
Based on the associated CFDA areas described in the FOA, the opportunity sits at the intersection of environmental health, developmental biology/child health, and cancer cause and prevention research.
Where could applicants historically find the full FOA text?
For historical reference, the full announcement was linked at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-15-125.html
Who was listed as a point of contact for access or linking issues?
NIH provided contact support through the NIH Office of Extramural Research webmaster channels for access or linking issues.
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| Early life Factors and Cancer Development Later in Life (R03) Apply for PA 15 124 Funding Number: PA 15 124 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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