Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 16 175
Apply for PA 16 175
- The HHS-NIH11 in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Exploratory Grants in Cancer Epidemiology and Genomics Research (R21)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.393,.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 08, 2016 and posted on Apr 08, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 07, 2019. (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: 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 Exploratory Grants in Cancer Epidemiology and Genomics Research (R21) opportunity (PA-16-175) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant program under HHS (listed as HHS-NIH11) that supports early-stage, high-potential research ideas in cancer epidemiology, genomics, and cancer risk assessment. It is designed for exploratory projects that are still in the conceptual or proof-of-principle phase, where investigators need initial support to test novel approaches, generate preliminary data, or establish the feasibility of innovative methods that could later grow into larger, definitive studies. The overall emphasis is on creativity and potential impact, rather than on having a fully mature research program at the outset.
In terms of scientific scope, the FOA is centered on pushing forward how cancer risk and outcomes are studied at the population level, especially where emerging technologies or new data strategies can substantially improve what epidemiologic studies can measure or infer. Examples of responsive topics include improving epidemiologic data collection methods, developing or validating better measurements of exposures using body fluids and tissues (for instance, strengthening how biomarkers of environmental, behavioral, or physiologic exposures are captured), and integrating newer molecular tools into population research. The announcement explicitly encourages the use of epigenetic and metabolomic approaches in cancer epidemiology, reflecting interest in biological signals that may link exposures and inherited susceptibility to cancer development or progression.
A major theme is advancing the discovery and interpretation of genetic risk, particularly in settings where traditional approaches have limitations. The FOA highlights interest in novel strategies to identify risk variants for rare cancers, where small case counts and limited biospecimen availability can make standard genome-wide approaches difficult. It also encourages work that clarifies the population genetic architecture of cancer in understudied populations, which can include research aimed at improving representation, refining ancestry-aware analyses, and ensuring that genomic findings and risk models are relevant across diverse groups rather than concentrated in well-studied populations.
Another important area is methodological development around clinical data, especially leveraging electronic medical records (EMRs). The FOA calls out projects that validate methods to extract, collect, and synthesize clinical information from EMRs for observational studies of cancer patients and survivors. This can involve developing and testing phenotyping algorithms, data harmonization and quality assessment methods, approaches for capturing treatment trajectories and outcomes, and strategies for using real-world clinical data in a way that produces reliable epidemiologic inference.
From an administrative standpoint, this is an R21 mechanism, meaning it is intended for exploratory work rather than large-scale definitive research programs. The opportunity is associated with CFDA numbers 93.393 and lists an award ceiling of $200,000. A wide range of applicant organizations are eligible, including state, county, and local governments; public and private institutions of higher education; independent school districts; special district governments; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other entities as allowed under the FOA’s eligibility language. The FOA was created and posted on April 8, 2016, with a listed closing date of May 7, 2019.
Overall, this grant opportunity is best understood as a catalyst for new directions in cancer epidemiology and genomics: it funds projects that try out promising new measurement tools, analytic strategies, and data sources, particularly those that could upgrade how researchers assess exposures, integrate multi-omic data, study rare cancers, expand discovery in diverse populations, and responsibly convert routine clinical records into usable, validated research data for studies of cancer risk, prognosis, and survivorship.
FAQs: Exploratory Grants in Cancer Epidemiology and Genomics Research (R21) (PA-16-175)
What is the Exploratory Grants in Cancer Epidemiology and Genomics Research (R21) opportunity?
It is an NIH discretionary grant opportunity under HHS (listed as HHS-NIH11) that supports exploratory, early-stage research ideas in cancer epidemiology, genomics, and cancer risk assessment.
What does the R21 mechanism mean for this funding opportunity?
The R21 mechanism is intended for exploratory projects rather than large, definitive research programs. It supports early work that tests novel approaches, generates preliminary data, or establishes feasibility.
What is the main purpose of this FOA?
The FOA is designed to help investigators move high-potential ideas forward when the work is still conceptual or at the proof-of-principle stage, with an emphasis on creativity and potential impact.
What scientific areas does this opportunity focus on?
The focus is cancer epidemiology, genomics, and cancer risk assessment, especially projects that improve how cancer risk and outcomes are studied at the population level using emerging technologies or new data strategies.
What kinds of projects are a good fit for this FOA?
Projects that need initial support to test innovative methods, validate new measurement approaches, generate preliminary findings, or demonstrate feasibility for methods that could later scale into larger studies.
Does this FOA prioritize fully developed research programs?
No. The emphasis is on exploratory work and new directions, rather than requiring a fully mature research program at the outset.
What are examples of responsive research topics mentioned in the description?
Examples include improving epidemiologic data collection methods; developing or validating better measurements of exposures using body fluids and tissues (including biomarkers of environmental, behavioral, or physiologic exposures); and integrating newer molecular tools into population research.
Are epigenetic and metabolomic approaches encouraged?
Yes. The announcement explicitly encourages the use of epigenetic and metabolomic approaches in cancer epidemiology.
What is the FOA’s interest in genetic risk discovery?
A major theme is advancing discovery and interpretation of genetic risk, particularly where traditional approaches have limitations.
Does the FOA mention rare cancers specifically?
Yes. It highlights interest in novel strategies to identify risk variants for rare cancers, where small case counts and limited biospecimen availability can make standard genome-wide approaches difficult.
How does this opportunity address understudied populations?
It encourages work that clarifies the population genetic architecture of cancer in understudied populations, including improving representation, refining ancestry-aware analyses, and making genomic findings and risk models relevant across diverse groups.
What role do electronic medical records (EMRs) play in this FOA?
The FOA calls out methodological development to validate methods to extract, collect, and synthesize clinical information from EMRs for observational studies of cancer patients and survivors.
What kinds of EMR-related methods are in scope?
Examples include developing and testing phenotyping algorithms, data harmonization and quality assessment methods, approaches for capturing treatment trajectories and outcomes, and strategies for using real-world clinical data to support reliable epidemiologic inference.
What is the award ceiling listed for this opportunity?
The opportunity lists an award ceiling of $200,000.
What CFDA numbers are associated with this FOA?
The CFDA numbers listed are 93.393 (as provided in the opportunity description).
Who can apply for this grant opportunity?
A wide range of organizations are eligible, including state, county, and local governments; public and private institutions of higher education; independent school districts; special district governments; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits (501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other entities as allowed under the FOA’s eligibility language.
When was this FOA created and posted?
It was created and posted on April 8, 2016.
What is the listed closing date for this opportunity?
The listed closing date is May 7, 2019.
What is the overall goal or takeaway for applicants?
This opportunity functions as a catalyst for new directions in cancer epidemiology and genomics by funding early-stage projects that try new measurement tools, analytic strategies, and data sources, particularly those that can improve exposure assessment, integrate multi-omic data, study rare cancers, expand discovery in diverse populations, and validate the research use of clinical records for studies of cancer risk, prognosis, and survivorship.
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| Health Services Research on Minority Health and Health Disparities (R21) Apply for PAR 16 222 Funding Number: PAR 16 222 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
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| The Role of Mobile Genetic Elements in Cancer (R21) Apply for PAR 16 226 Funding Number: PAR 16 226 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
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