Memory T Lymphocytes in Cancer Immunology (R01) | Apply Online

Opportunity Summary:

The NIH National Cancer Institute funding opportunity titled "Memory T Lymphocytes in Cancer Immunology (R01)" (Funding Opportunity Number PA-07-255) supports basic research aimed at understanding how memory T lymphocytes contribute to antitumor immunity. The central idea behind the announcement is that memory T cells, along with the surrounding cells and molecular signals that shape their behavior, are a key lever for improving cancer immunotherapy and designing more effective cancer vaccines. Projects responding to this FOA are expected to focus on fundamental mechanisms rather than late-stage clinical testing, with an emphasis on the biology that determines whether durable, protective immune responses against tumors can be generated and maintained.

The scientific scope is broad but clearly anchored in memory T-cell biology in the context of cancer. NCI is seeking studies that examine how memory T cells form (differentiation), how they persist over time (maintenance), and how they can be triggered again to respond effectively (reactivation). Applications can investigate memory T cells directly and/or the immune and non-immune components that interact with them, which could include antigen-presenting cells, stromal factors, cytokines and chemokines, costimulatory and coinhibitory pathways, and tumor-driven mechanisms that suppress or reshape memory responses. The FOA explicitly allows for both human and animal research, and it welcomes both in vitro and in vivo experimental approaches, which gives applicants flexibility to build mechanistic models, validate findings in patient samples, or use animal systems to test causal hypotheses.

A notable feature of the announcement is its encouragement of innovation in tools and methods. Applicants are invited not only to apply existing technologies and reagents in creative ways, but also to develop new technologies, assays, and reagents that can deepen the field's ability to measure, track, and manipulate memory T-cell responses in cancer settings. This can include improved phenotyping approaches, functional profiling methods, lineage-tracing or fate-mapping strategies, advanced imaging, improved tumor models, or new platforms for interrogating T-cell receptor specificity and memory dynamics. The expectation is that advancing the toolset will accelerate discoveries that translate into better immunotherapies and vaccine concepts, even if the funded work remains basic and mechanistic in its immediate aims.

This opportunity uses the NIH Research Project Grant (R01) mechanism, which is designed for substantial, hypothesis-driven research programs with defined aims and a well-supported approach. The FOA also notes that it runs in parallel with a companion announcement of the same scientific scope that uses the R21 exploratory/developmental mechanism (PA-06-349). In practical terms, that parallel structure signals that NCI is interested in both mature projects appropriate for a full R01 and earlier-stage, higher-risk ideas that might fit an R21, even though this specific listing is for the R01 route.

Funding decisions under this FOA depend on the availability of appropriated funds and the presence of enough high-quality, meritorious applications. The announcement does not guarantee a set number of awards; instead, it indicates that awards will be made based on scientific merit and budget conditions. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement, which aligns with standard NIH research grant practices.

Eligibility is expansive and includes a wide range of domestic and foreign organizations. Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (including those with and without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit entities other than small businesses, small businesses, and various levels of government (state, county, city/township, special district, and independent school districts). The FOA also states that federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations may apply, and it explicitly notes that foreign institutions are eligible, eligible federal agencies can apply, and faith-based or community-based organizations may apply as well. This wide eligibility reflects NIH's focus on supporting the strongest science regardless of institutional type, provided the applicant can meet NIH requirements for research capability, compliance, and grants management.

The opportunity was originally posted on December 20, 2006, and it uses multiple receipt dates rather than a single one-time deadline, meaning applications could be submitted on the standard NIH cycle dates listed in the full announcement. The archived date is June 1, 2009, which indicates that the specific FOA is no longer active as written, but the program topic remains relevant to current NCI and broader NIH immuno-oncology priorities. The full announcement was available through the NIH Grants Guide at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-07-255.html, and the listing provides NIH Office of Extramural Research webmaster contacts for access or linking issues.

Overall, PA-07-255 is best understood as an NCI-sponsored invitation for rigorous, mechanistic studies of memory T-cell biology in cancer, with room for both classical immunology and cutting-edge technology development, all aimed at generating the foundational knowledge needed to make cancer immunotherapies and vaccines more durable, potent, and predictable.

Browse more opportunities from the same agency: National Institutes of Health

Browse more opportunities from the same category: Education Health

Next opportunity: Cancer Surveillance Using Health Claims Based Data (R01)

Previous opportunity: Structural Biology of Membrane Proteins (R01)

USGrants.org Applicant Portal:

Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.

Apply for PA 07 255

 

[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?

Applicants also applied for:

Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (PA 07 255) also looked into and applied for these:

 

Grant application guides and resources

It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!

Apply for Grants

 

 

Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers

Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.

If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.

Subscribe to Leads

 

Request more information:

Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "PA 07 255", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:

Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.