Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 16 131
Apply for PAR 16 131
- The HHS-NIH11 in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Emerging Questions in Cancer Systems Biology (U01)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.395, 93.396.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 11, 2016 and posted on Mar 11, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 23, 2018. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), 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, Private institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Opportunity Summary:
The funding opportunity titled "Emerging Questions in Cancer Systems Biology (U01)" (Funding Opportunity Number PAR 16 131) is a National Cancer Institute (NCI) grant program designed to support focused research projects that tackle timely, clearly defined problems in cancer through a systems biology lens. It uses the U01 mechanism, which is a cooperative agreement. In practice, that means awardees are not simply given funds and left on their own; instead, the NCI expects an ongoing, collaborative relationship with substantial program involvement. The overall emphasis is on well-scoped, discrete, and circumscribed projects rather than broad center-style programs, with the intent of enabling investigators to pursue emerging questions that can materially advance the field.
This U01 opportunity sits inside a larger initiative: the Cancer Systems Biology Consortium (CSBC). The CSBC is structured to include multiple components that work together, specifically U54 CSBC Research Centers (referenced as RFA-CA-15-014), a U24 CSBC Coordinating Center (RFA-CA-15-015), and these U01 research projects that address emerging problems. Conceptually, the consortium setup is meant to create a coordinated ecosystem where individual projects can benefit from shared resources, common standards, collaborative opportunities, and community-level integration, while still allowing smaller, targeted projects to move quickly on new scientific directions.
From a scientific standpoint, the opportunity is centered on systems biology approaches to cancer. The NCI frames the goal as addressing major challenges in cancer research by combining experimental biology or population science with computational and engineering-driven methods. The key expectation is integration: projects are encouraged to link wet-lab or real-world data generation with in silico modeling, multi-dimensional data analysis, and systems engineering perspectives. This highlights the kinds of research that can connect mechanisms across scales, such as molecular networks, cell-to-cell interactions, tumor microenvironment dynamics, and population-level patterns, using computational models to organize complexity, generate testable predictions, and guide experiments or analyses.
The eligible applicant pool is broad and includes many types of domestic organizations across government, academia, nonprofit, and industry. Eligible applicants include state, county, city, township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other Native American tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The listing also includes an "Others" category with a note to consult the opportunity text for additional eligibility clarifications, signaling that the FOA likely provides further detail on allowable applicant types and any conditions.
Administratively, the opportunity is offered by HHS-NIH11 (NCI under NIH within HHS). It is categorized as a discretionary funding opportunity and falls under the activity category of Education, Health, reflecting NIH's health research mission. The CFDA numbers associated with the program are 93.395 and 93.396, which correspond to NIH/NCI assistance listings tied to cancer research and related programs. The opportunity was created and posted on March 11, 2016, with a listed closing date of November 23, 2018 (both the original and current closing dates match in the provided record). The source excerpt does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, indicating those details were either not provided in the snippet or were specified elsewhere in the full FOA.
Overall, this U01 program is best understood as a mechanism for funding tightly framed, high-impact cancer systems biology projects that can plug into the broader CSBC consortium. The NCI is signaling a preference for research that deliberately integrates experimental or population-based investigation with rigorous computational modeling and high-dimensional data analytics, with the cooperative agreement structure reinforcing that funded projects are intended to operate as part of an actively managed, collaborative national effort rather than as isolated grants.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this funding opportunity?
The funding opportunity is titled "Emerging Questions in Cancer Systems Biology (U01)."
What is the funding opportunity number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is PAR 16 131.
Which agency is offering this grant opportunity?
This opportunity is offered by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) under NIH within HHS (listed as HHS-NIH11).
What type of funding opportunity is this?
It is categorized as a discretionary funding opportunity.
What is the grant mechanism used for this program?
This program uses the U01 mechanism, which is a cooperative agreement.
What does a U01 cooperative agreement mean in practice?
Under a cooperative agreement, awardees are expected to have an ongoing, collaborative relationship with NCI, with substantial program involvement. It is not a "fund and forget" arrangement; NCI expects active engagement as projects move forward.
What is the main purpose of this U01 opportunity?
The purpose is to support focused research projects that tackle timely, clearly defined problems in cancer using systems biology approaches, with an emphasis on advancing the field through well-scoped, discrete, and circumscribed projects.
Does this program support large center-style efforts?
The emphasis described is on discrete and circumscribed projects rather than broad center-style programs.
How does this U01 relate to the Cancer Systems Biology Consortium (CSBC)?
This U01 opportunity is part of a larger initiative called the Cancer Systems Biology Consortium (CSBC). It is intended to support emerging, targeted research projects that can plug into the consortium ecosystem.
What other components make up the CSBC, according to the description provided?
The CSBC includes U54 CSBC Research Centers (RFA-CA-15-014), a U24 CSBC Coordinating Center (RFA-CA-15-015), and these U01 projects that address emerging problems.
Why does the consortium structure matter for applicants?
The consortium model is described as a coordinated ecosystem where individual projects can benefit from shared resources, common standards, collaborative opportunities, and community-level integration, while still enabling smaller projects to move quickly on new scientific directions.
What scientific area does this opportunity focus on?
It focuses on systems biology approaches to cancer.
What kinds of approaches does NCI expect in proposed projects?
NCI emphasizes integration of experimental biology or population science with computational and engineering-driven methods, including in silico modeling, multi-dimensional data analysis, and systems engineering perspectives.
Is integration between experimental/population work and computational modeling required or encouraged?
The description highlights integration as a key expectation and encourages linking wet-lab or real-world data generation with computational modeling and high-dimensional analytics.
What kinds of biological scales or systems might be relevant to this opportunity?
The description gives examples such as molecular networks, cell-to-cell interactions, tumor microenvironment dynamics, and population-level patterns, with computational models used to organize complexity, generate testable predictions, and guide experiments or analyses.
What is meant by "emerging questions" in this context?
Based on the provided description, "emerging questions" refers to timely, clearly defined problems where a focused, systems biology approach can materially advance the field and enable investigators to move quickly on new scientific directions.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many domestic organization types across government, academia, nonprofit, and industry, as listed in the opportunity summary.
Which government entities are listed as eligible applicants?
Eligible government entities include state, county, city, township, and special district governments, as well as independent school districts and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities.
Are higher education institutions eligible?
Yes. Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, as well as private institutions of higher education, are listed as eligible.
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other Native American tribal organizations are listed as eligible.
Are nonprofit organizations eligible?
Yes. Nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status are listed as eligible, with a note excluding institutions of higher education within those nonprofit categories.
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. For-profit organizations other than small businesses are listed as eligible, and small businesses are also listed as eligible.
What does the "Others" eligibility category mean?
The listing includes an "Others" category with a note to consult the opportunity text for additional eligibility clarifications, suggesting the full FOA may include more detail on allowable applicant types and any conditions.
What is the activity category for this funding opportunity?
The activity category is listed as Education, Health, reflecting NIH's health research mission.
What CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA numbers associated with the program are 93.395 and 93.396.
When was this opportunity created and posted?
It was created and posted on March 11, 2016.
What is the closing date for this opportunity?
The listed closing date is November 23, 2018 (the original and current closing dates match in the provided record).
Does the provided information specify an award ceiling?
No. The excerpt provided does not specify an award ceiling.
Does the provided information specify the expected number of awards?
No. The excerpt provided does not state the expected number of awards.
What is the overall takeaway about what NCI is trying to fund through this U01?
The program is described as funding tightly framed, high-impact cancer systems biology projects that integrate experimental or population-based investigation with rigorous computational modeling and high-dimensional data analytics, within an actively managed and collaborative consortium environment.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (PAR 16 131) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Cancer Research Education Grants Program to Promote Diversity - Research Experiences (R25) Apply for PAR 16 138 Funding Number: PAR 16 138 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| The Early Detection Research Network: Biomarker Developmental Laboratories (U01) Apply for RFA CA 16 009 Funding Number: RFA CA 16 009 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Coordinating Center for Barrett's Esophagus Translational Research Network (BETRNet)(U24) Apply for RFA CA 16 007 Funding Number: RFA CA 16 007 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Cancer Research Education Grants Program to Promote Diversity - Courses for Skills Development (R25) Apply for PAR 16 139 Funding Number: PAR 16 139 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Research Centers for Barretts Esophagus Translational Research Network (BETRNet)(U54) Apply for RFA CA 16 006 Funding Number: RFA CA 16 006 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $900,000 |
| Population Health Interventions: Integrating Individual and Group Level Evidence (R21) Apply for PA 16 147 Funding Number: PA 16 147 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Role of Astrocytes and Astrocytic Networks in Drug Abuse (R21) Apply for PA 16 145 Funding Number: PA 16 145 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Population Health Interventions: Integrating Individual and Group Level Evidence (R01) Apply for PA 16 146 Funding Number: PA 16 146 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Role of Astrocytes and Astrocytic Networks in Drug Abuse (R01) Apply for PA 16 144 Funding Number: PA 16 144 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Revision Applications to R01 Awards for Research on the NCI's Provocative Questions (R01) Apply for RFA CA 16 010 Funding Number: RFA CA 16 010 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Revisions to Add Provocative Question-Relevant Research to Active Research Projects (P01) Apply for RFA CA 16 013 Funding Number: RFA CA 16 013 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Revisions Applications to P50 Awards for Research on NCI's Provocative Questions (P50) Apply for RFA CA 16 012 Funding Number: RFA CA 16 012 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Revision Applications to U01 Awards for Research on the NCI's Provocative Questions (U01) Apply for RFA CA 16 011 Funding Number: RFA CA 16 011 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Integrating Biospecimen Science into Clinical Assay Development (U01) Apply for PAR 16 166 Funding Number: PAR 16 166 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Novel Strategies for Targeting HIV-CNS Reservoirs without Reactivation (R01) Apply for RFA MH 17 101 Funding Number: RFA MH 17 101 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Novel Strategies for Targeting HIV-CNS Reservoirs without Reactivation (R21) Apply for RFA MH 17 100 Funding Number: RFA MH 17 100 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Pilot and Feasibility Studies Evaluating the Role of RNA Modifications (the 'epitranscriptome') in Cancer Biology (R21) Apply for PA 16 177 Funding Number: PA 16 177 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Exploratory Grants in Cancer Epidemiology and Genomics Research (R21) Apply for PA 16 175 Funding Number: PA 16 175 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| NCI Clinical and Translational Exploratory/Developmental Studies (R21) Apply for PAR 16 176 Funding Number: PAR 16 176 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Improved Technologies and Ligands for Non-invasive Brain Imaging (R43/R44) Apply for RFA DA 17 011 Funding Number: RFA DA 17 011 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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