Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 16 252
Apply for PA 16 252
- The HHS-NIH11 in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Gene Fusions in Pediatric Sarcomas (R21)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.396,.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 10, 2016 and posted on May 10, 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 Gene Fusions in Pediatric Sarcomas (R21) opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number PA 16-252) is an NIH discretionary grant program designed to push forward exploratory and early-stage research on how oncogenic gene fusions drive pediatric sarcomas. The central focus is on chromosomal translocations that create fusion genes, and on understanding how the resulting fusion proteins and downstream molecular pathways contribute to tumor initiation, progression, and metastasis. In practical terms, the program is looking for studies that clarify the biological mechanisms linking these fusion events to cancer behavior in children, with the longer-term goal of identifying actionable vulnerabilities that could inform new therapeutic strategies.
Scientifically, the FOA emphasizes the need to move beyond simply cataloging which fusions exist and instead dissect how these fusions function at the molecular and cellular level. That includes mapping signaling networks and transcriptional programs activated by fusion proteins, understanding how they rewire epigenetic regulation, alter differentiation states, promote survival and invasion, and enable metastatic spread. The opportunity is also framed around the idea that pediatric sarcomas often have defining fusion events, so understanding fusion-driven pathways can provide a clearer route to mechanism-based treatments than approaches that rely only on broad cytotoxic therapy. By supporting mechanistic work, the FOA aims to deepen knowledge of sarcoma pathogenesis and accelerate the discovery of targets, biomarkers, and intervention points relevant to fusion-positive pediatric tumors.
From a funding and administrative standpoint, this is an R21 mechanism, which is commonly used by NIH to support innovative, higher-risk projects where preliminary data may be limited but the potential payoff is substantial. The listed award ceiling is $200,000, which reflects the smaller, proof-of-concept nature of the mechanism and signals that applications should be tightly scoped and hypothesis-driven, with clear experimental aims that can establish feasibility or generate strong mechanistic insight. The agency is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health (listed as HHS-NIH11), and the program is associated with CFDA numbers 93.396 (and an additional listing in the source data).
Eligibility is broad and includes most common research-performing organizations. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; 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; other Native American tribal organizations; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (with the caveat that the nonprofit eligibility category excludes institutions of higher education because they are listed separately); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and additional categories referenced in the NIH eligibility clarification text. This breadth is intended to allow applications from academic labs, hospitals and research institutes, eligible nonprofits, and qualified industry or small business entities that can contribute relevant technologies or models.
Key timeline details in the source information show that the FOA was created and posted on May 10, 2016, and the listed closing date for the cycle provided is May 7, 2019 (both original and current closing dates align in the data). The opportunity category is discretionary, the instrument type is a grant, and the activity category is listed under education and health, reflecting NIH research support in biomedical and health-related areas.
Overall, the grant is aimed at catalyzing mechanistic insights into fusion-driven pediatric sarcomas, especially work that can connect specific fusion genes to the pathways and cellular behaviors that make these cancers start, grow, and spread. The intended impact is to strengthen the biological foundation needed for more precise diagnostics and, importantly, for therapeutic concepts that directly address the unique dependencies created by oncogenic fusion genes in childhood sarcoma.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Gene Fusions in Pediatric Sarcomas (R21) - PA 16-252
What is the Gene Fusions in Pediatric Sarcomas (R21) funding opportunity?
This opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number PA 16-252) is an NIH discretionary grant program that supports exploratory and early-stage research focused on how oncogenic gene fusions drive pediatric sarcomas. It uses the NIH R21 mechanism, which is intended for innovative, higher-risk projects that can deliver strong proof-of-concept or mechanistic insight.
Who is the sponsoring agency for this grant?
The sponsoring agency is the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH11).
What is the main scientific focus of the FOA?
The central focus is on chromosomal translocations that create fusion genes in pediatric sarcomas, and on understanding how fusion proteins and their downstream molecular pathways contribute to tumor initiation, progression, and metastasis.
What types of research does the FOA emphasize?
The FOA emphasizes mechanistic work that goes beyond identifying or cataloging gene fusions. It prioritizes studies that dissect how fusion genes function at the molecular and cellular level and how they drive cancer behavior in children.
Why does the FOA stress moving beyond cataloging fusion events?
Because many pediatric sarcomas have defining fusion events, simply listing which fusions exist is not enough to explain how these cancers start, grow, or spread. The FOA is designed to support research that clarifies how fusion proteins operate and how they trigger downstream pathways, which can reveal actionable vulnerabilities for future therapies.
What biological mechanisms are of interest under this program?
Based on the description provided, the opportunity is interested in clarifying mechanisms such as:
- Signaling networks and transcriptional programs activated by fusion proteins
- Epigenetic rewiring and altered regulation driven by fusion events
- Changes in differentiation states linked to fusion-driven tumor biology
- Mechanisms promoting tumor cell survival, invasion, and metastatic spread
- Molecular pathway changes connecting fusion genes to initiation, progression, and metastasis
What is the longer-term goal of the research supported by this FOA?
The longer-term goal is to identify actionable vulnerabilities created by oncogenic gene fusions, which could inform new therapeutic strategies, as well as advance the discovery of targets, biomarkers, and intervention points relevant to fusion-positive pediatric tumors.
How does this FOA relate to treatment approaches for pediatric sarcomas?
The FOA is framed around the idea that understanding fusion-driven pathways can create clearer routes to mechanism-based treatments compared to approaches that rely only on broad cytotoxic therapy. The program aims to strengthen the biological foundation that can support more precise diagnostics and therapy concepts tied directly to fusion-driven dependencies.
What grant mechanism is used for this opportunity?
This opportunity uses the NIH R21 mechanism.
What does the R21 mechanism imply about project scope and readiness?
The R21 mechanism is commonly used to support innovative, exploratory, and potentially higher-risk projects. It often allows for limited preliminary data and is suited to tightly scoped, hypothesis-driven research aims designed to establish feasibility or produce strong mechanistic insight.
What is the award ceiling for this R21 opportunity?
The listed award ceiling is $200,000.
How should applicants interpret the $200,000 award ceiling?
The ceiling reflects the proof-of-concept nature of the R21 mechanism. Applications are expected to be tightly scoped, with clear experimental aims that can realistically be completed within the resources typical of an R21 and that can generate meaningful mechanistic insight.
What is the opportunity category and instrument type?
The opportunity category is discretionary, and the instrument type is a grant.
What activity category is associated with this FOA?
The activity category is listed under education and health, consistent with NIH biomedical and health-related research support.
What CFDA numbers are associated with this program?
The program is associated with CFDA number 93.396, with an additional CFDA listing referenced in the source data.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many common research-performing organizations. 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
- Private institutions of higher education
- Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
- Other Native American tribal organizations
- Public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities
- Nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education because those are listed separately)
- For-profit organizations other than small businesses
- Small businesses
- Additional categories referenced in the NIH eligibility clarification text
Are both nonprofit and for-profit organizations allowed to apply?
Yes. The eligibility list includes nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses.
Can institutions of higher education apply?
Yes. Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are explicitly 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 applicants.
Are government entities eligible to apply?
Yes. State, county, and city or township governments, as well as special district governments, are included in the eligibility list.
What kinds of organizations does this broad eligibility aim to include in practice?
The stated intent of broad eligibility is to allow applications from academic labs, hospitals and research institutes, eligible nonprofits, and qualified industry or small business entities that can contribute relevant technologies or models.
When was this FOA created and posted?
The FOA was created and posted on May 10, 2016.
What is the closing date listed for the cycle described?
The listed closing date is May 7, 2019, and the source information indicates the original and current closing dates align.
What cancers are the focus of this FOA?
This FOA focuses on pediatric sarcomas, particularly those driven by oncogenic gene fusions created through chromosomal translocations.
What is meant by "fusion-driven" pediatric sarcomas in this context?
In the context provided, fusion-driven pediatric sarcomas are tumors where chromosomal translocations generate fusion genes. These fusion genes produce fusion proteins that can drive tumor biology through altered signaling, transcriptional regulation, epigenetic changes, and related downstream pathway effects.
What outcomes or deliverables does the FOA appear to prioritize?
Based on the description, the FOA prioritizes outcomes that deepen mechanistic understanding of sarcoma pathogenesis and accelerate discovery of:
- Therapeutic targets and actionable vulnerabilities linked to fusion proteins
- Biomarkers and intervention points relevant to fusion-positive pediatric tumors
- Pathway-level insights connecting fusion genes to initiation, progression, and metastasis
Is this opportunity intended for late-stage clinical trials?
The information provided describes the program as supporting exploratory and early-stage mechanistic research under an R21 mechanism. No details are provided indicating a focus on late-stage clinical trials.
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