Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 16 213
Apply for PAR 16 213
- The HHS-NIH11 in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Leveraging Cognitive Neuroscience to Improve Assessment of Cancer Treatment-Related Cognitive Impairment (R21)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.395,.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 21, 2016 and posted on Apr 21, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 11, 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 grant opportunity titled "Leveraging Cognitive Neuroscience to Improve Assessment of Cancer Treatment-Related Cognitive Impairment (R21)" (Funding Opportunity Number PAR 16-213) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) research announcement designed to push forward how cancer treatment-related cognitive impairment is measured and understood. It focuses on the cognitive problems many patients report during or after treatment for cancers outside the central nervous system, a cluster of symptoms often described as "chemobrain." The core goal is to bring tools, concepts, and experimental approaches from cognitive neuroscience into this space so that the field can move beyond traditional, sometimes blunt, neuropsychological testing and toward more precise, mechanism-informed assessment strategies.
This FOA calls for transdisciplinary projects, meaning it is looking for teams or approaches that bridge fields such as oncology, neuropsychology, cognitive neuroscience, behavioral science, imaging, biostatistics, and related disciplines. The emphasis is not simply on documenting that cognitive changes happen, but on improving measurement itself: developing or refining assessment methods that can capture subtle cognitive shifts, clarify which domains are affected (for example, attention, executive function, processing speed, working memory), and distinguish short-term treatment effects from longer-term or late-emerging changes. By using cognitive neuroscience frameworks, applicants are encouraged to design studies that more directly link cognitive performance to underlying processes, potentially enabling assessments that are more sensitive, specific, and clinically meaningful.
A central theme is understanding both acute and late-term cognitive changes associated with adjuvant chemotherapy and newer molecularly targeted therapies, including hormonal treatments. The announcement specifically notes non-central nervous system tumors, highlighting survivorship concerns in large patient populations where cognition may be affected even though the cancer is not in the brain. The intent is that better measurement and characterization of these cognitive trajectories will ultimately inform clinical assessment protocols. In practical terms, that means the research should help clinicians know what to measure, when to measure it, and how to interpret results in ways that can feed into survivorship care planning, monitoring, supportive interventions, and patient counseling.
Mechanistically informed assessment is an implied downstream priority. Cognitive neuroscience approaches may include experimental task design grounded in validated cognitive models, the use of objective behavioral markers, and potentially the integration of complementary measures that can triangulate cognitive functioning more effectively than questionnaires or broad test batteries alone. While the FOA summary does not prescribe specific methods, the framing makes clear it is looking for innovative measurement science that can improve the field's ability to detect and quantify treatment-related cognitive impairment, identify meaningful subgroups, and track change over time.
The funding mechanism is an NIH R21, which is typically used for exploratory or early-stage projects that test novel ideas, generate preliminary data, or develop new methods that can later be scaled. The award ceiling listed is $200,000. The opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant within the education and health activity area, with CFDA numbers 93.395. The sponsoring agency is listed as HHS-NIH11. The FOA was posted on April 21, 2016, created the same day, and had an application closing date of April 11, 2019 (original and current closing dates match in the provided record). The listing notes expected awards but does not provide a number in the source data you supplied.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of organizations that could reasonably support this kind of translational and methods-focused research. 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 and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions where applicable); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The inclusion of both nonprofit and for-profit entities, as well as governmental bodies and academic institutions, reflects NIH's interest in encouraging a wide range of capable applicants, including those with expertise in assessment development, digital measurement tools, or clinical implementation.
Taken together, this FOA is aimed at improving the scientific and clinical toolkit for detecting and understanding cancer treatment-related cognitive impairment. By leveraging cognitive neuroscience, it seeks to produce better measurement approaches that can clarify how cognition changes during and after common cancer therapies, ultimately strengthening clinical assessment practices and improving survivorship care planning for patients who experience these cognitive effects.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Leveraging Cognitive Neuroscience to Improve Assessment of Cancer Treatment-Related Cognitive Impairment (R21)."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is PAR 16-213.
Which federal agency is sponsoring this opportunity?
The sponsor is the National Institutes of Health (NIH), listed as HHS-NIH11.
What is the main purpose of this FOA?
The FOA is intended to advance how cancer treatment-related cognitive impairment is measured and understood, particularly by bringing tools, concepts, and experimental approaches from cognitive neuroscience into assessment development and refinement.
What problem area does the FOA focus on?
It focuses on cognitive problems reported during or after treatment for cancers outside the central nervous system, often referred to as "chemobrain" (cancer treatment-related cognitive impairment).
What is the overall scientific emphasis: proving cognitive change or improving measurement?
The emphasis is on improving measurement itself (developing or refining assessment methods) rather than simply documenting that cognitive changes occur.
What kinds of assessment improvements is NIH looking for?
The FOA seeks more precise, mechanism-informed assessment strategies that can capture subtle cognitive shifts, clarify which cognitive domains are affected, distinguish short-term effects from longer-term or late-emerging changes, and produce results that are clinically meaningful.
Which cognitive domains are specifically mentioned as examples?
The FOA includes examples such as attention, executive function, processing speed, and working memory.
Does the FOA encourage transdisciplinary research teams?
Yes. It explicitly calls for transdisciplinary projects that bridge fields such as oncology, neuropsychology, cognitive neuroscience, behavioral science, imaging, biostatistics, and related disciplines.
What cancer populations are highlighted?
The FOA highlights patients with non-central nervous system tumors, emphasizing survivorship concerns in large populations where cognition may be affected even though the cancer is not in the brain.
Which treatments are specifically called out in the description?
The FOA emphasizes understanding both acute and late-term cognitive changes associated with adjuvant chemotherapy and newer molecularly targeted therapies, including hormonal treatments.
What does the FOA mean by leveraging cognitive neuroscience?
Based on the description provided, it means using cognitive neuroscience frameworks to design assessments that link cognitive performance to underlying processes, potentially using experimental task design grounded in validated cognitive models and objective behavioral markers, and possibly integrating complementary measures to better triangulate cognitive functioning.
Are specific research methods required?
The summary does not prescribe specific methods, but it clearly frames the opportunity as supporting innovative measurement science and mechanism-informed assessment strategies.
What is meant by "mechanism-informed" assessment in this context?
It refers to assessment approaches grounded in cognitive neuroscience concepts that more directly connect observed performance or behavioral markers to underlying cognitive processes, with the goal of improving sensitivity, specificity, and interpretability.
How could the results of this research be used in clinical practice?
The intent is that better measurement and characterization of cognitive trajectories will inform clinical assessment protocols, helping clinicians understand what to measure, when to measure it, and how to interpret results for survivorship care planning, monitoring, supportive interventions, and patient counseling.
Does the FOA address changes over time (trajectories)?
Yes. It emphasizes tracking acute and late-term cognitive changes and distinguishing short-term treatment effects from longer-term or late-emerging changes.
What is the grant mechanism used for this opportunity?
This is an NIH R21 mechanism.
What does an R21 generally imply about the type of project?
An R21 is typically used for exploratory or early-stage projects that test novel ideas, generate preliminary data, or develop new methods that can later be scaled.
What is the award ceiling listed for this R21?
The award ceiling listed is $200,000.
What CFDA number(s) are associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number provided is 93.395.
How is this opportunity categorized in the listing?
It is categorized as a discretionary grant within the education and health activity area.
When was the FOA posted?
The FOA was posted on April 21, 2016, and created the same day.
What was the application closing date?
The application closing date listed is April 11, 2019 (the original and current closing dates match in the provided record).
Is the number of expected awards provided?
The listing notes expected awards, but the number is not provided in the source information supplied.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes: 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 and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions where applicable); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses.
Are for-profit organizations allowed to apply?
Yes. The eligibility list includes for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and it also includes small businesses.
Are nonprofit organizations required to have 501(c)(3) status?
No. The eligibility list includes nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions where applicable).
Are tribal governments or tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations are included in the eligibility list.
Are educational institutions eligible to apply?
Yes. Both public/state-controlled and private institutions of higher education are listed as eligible applicants, and independent school districts are also included.
Does the FOA encourage work that can identify subgroups of patients?
Yes. The description indicates interest in measurement approaches that can identify meaningful subgroups and track change over time.
Is this FOA limited to central nervous system cancers?
No. The FOA specifically highlights cognitive impairment associated with treatment for cancers outside the central nervous system and emphasizes non-central nervous system tumors.
What is the long-term goal of improving these assessments?
The long-term goal described is to strengthen clinical assessment practices and improve survivorship care planning for patients who experience treatment-related cognitive effects.
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Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (PAR 16 213) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Leveraging Cognitive Neuroscience Research to Improve Assessment of Cancer Treatment Related Cognitive Impairment (R01) Apply for PAR 16 212 Funding Number: PAR 16 212 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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| Research Answers to NCIs Pediatric Provocative Questions (R21) Apply for PAR 16 217 Funding Number: PAR 16 217 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Research Answers to NCIs Pediatric Provocative Questions (R01) Apply for PAR 16 218 Funding Number: PAR 16 218 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| 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 |
| Health Services Research on Minority Health and Health Disparities (R01) Apply for PAR 16 221 Funding Number: PAR 16 221 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| 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 |
| NIDA Research Education Program for Clinical Researchers and Clinicians (R25) Apply for PAR 16 224 Funding Number: PAR 16 224 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $350,000 |
| The Role of Mobile Genetic Elements in Cancer (R01) Apply for PAR 16 227 Funding Number: PAR 16 227 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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| Non-healing Ulcerative Wounds in Aging (R01) Apply for PA 16 230 Funding Number: PA 16 230 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Metabolic Reprogramming to Improve Immunotherapy (R01) Apply for PAR 16 228 Funding Number: PAR 16 228 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Clinical Sequencing Evidence-Generating Research (CSER2) - Clinical Sites with Enhanced Diversity (U01) Apply for RFA HG 16 011 Funding Number: RFA HG 16 011 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $2,500,000 |
| Clinical Sequencing Evidence-Generating Research (CSER2) - Clinical Sites (U01) Apply for RFA HG 16 010 Funding Number: RFA HG 16 010 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| Neural Regulation of Cancer (R01) Apply for PAR 16 245 Funding Number: PAR 16 245 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Neural Regulation of Cancer (R21) Apply for PAR 16 246 Funding Number: PAR 16 246 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Prescription Drug Abuse (R01) Apply for PA 16 233 Funding Number: PA 16 233 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Gene Fusions in Pediatric Sarcomas (R01) Apply for PA 16 251 Funding Number: PA 16 251 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Innovative Approaches to Studying Cancer Communication in the New Media Environment (R01) Apply for PAR 16 249 Funding Number: PAR 16 249 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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