Minority Based Community Clinical Oncology Program Groups (U10) | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is this funding opportunity?

This opportunity is the Minority Based Community Clinical Oncology Program Groups (U10) funding opportunity (RFA-CA-11-008), an initiative from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Cancer Institute (NCI). It was designed to expand access to NCI-sponsored cancer clinical trials for patients from racial and ethnic minority communities by supporting groups of community-based oncologists and their partners.

What is the main goal of the Minority Based CCOP Groups initiative?

The central goal is to increase minority participation in NCI-sponsored cancer clinical trials across cancer prevention, cancer control, and cancer treatment studies. A related goal is to speed the movement of research evidence and advances from academic cancer centers into the community settings where many minority patients receive care.

Who is this program intended to support?

It is intended to support groups of practicing oncologists and their community-based partners who routinely care for large racial and ethnic minority populations, and to connect them formally to the national NCI clinical trials infrastructure.

How does the program improve access to clinical trials for minority communities?

By building and sustaining linkages between minority-serving community practices and the broader NCI clinical trials ecosystem, community clinicians are enabled to open NCI trials locally and accrue (enroll) patients from minority communities into those studies.

What types of cancer studies are included under this opportunity?

The opportunity is focused on participation in NCI-sponsored studies spanning cancer prevention, cancer control, and cancer treatment, with an emphasis on improving minority participation across these areas.

What is the award mechanism, and what does U10 mean here?

The funding uses a cooperative agreement mechanism (U10). This generally means the awardee would run the local program while working closely with NCI in an ongoing partnership, reflecting the coordination needs of clinical trials (common protocols, consistent data and safety procedures, and regular communication).

How is a cooperative agreement different from a typical grant in this context?

Rather than a simple fund-and-step-back model, the cooperative structure indicates ongoing collaboration with NCI. This approach aligns with the operational requirements of clinical trials, including coordination across sites and adherence to shared procedures and protocols.

What role do community oncologists play under this program model?

Community oncologists serving minority populations can open and accrue patients to NCI clinical trials, contribute to research activities, and help ensure that results from major trials are applicable to the diverse populations affected by cancer.

Is the focus only on enrolling patients (accrual)?

No. While patient accrual is a key element, the opportunity also emphasizes knowledge transfer. When community clinicians participate directly in NCI studies, they are more likely to adopt and disseminate up-to-date prevention, screening, control, and treatment practices within their local health systems and communities.

How does this opportunity relate to the broader CCOP Network?

The announcement notes that the larger Community Clinical Oncology Program (CCOP) Network had three components, each covered under its own separate funding opportunity announcement. This specific funding opportunity targeted minority-based program groups.

What is the opportunity category?

The opportunity is listed under the "Discretionary" category.

Which CFDA program areas are associated with this announcement?

The announcement is associated with multiple CFDA program areas tied to cancer research: 93.393 (Cancer Cause and Prevention Research), 93.394 (Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research), 93.395 (Cancer Treatment Research), and 93.399 (Cancer Control).

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The announcement indicated there was no cost sharing or matching requirement.

What was the estimated total funding amount listed for the initiative?

The estimated total funding amount posted for the initiative was $3,600,000.

When was this funding opportunity posted and created?

The posted and created date listed for the opportunity was May 24, 2011.

What were the closing dates for this opportunity?

The original and current closing date listed was July 28, 2011.

When was the opportunity archived?

The archive date listed was August 28, 2011.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was broad and included nonprofit, public, private, and certain for-profit entities. Specifically listed eligible applicants included nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status, other than institutions of higher education), public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and for-profit organizations other than small businesses.

Were minority-serving institutions and community-rooted organizations eligible?

Yes. The FOA highlighted eligibility for a range of minority-serving and community-rooted institutions and organizations, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and tribal organizations (including federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal entities).

Are faith-based and community-based organizations eligible?

Yes. The FOA explicitly included faith-based and community-based organizations as eligible applicants.

Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible to apply?

Yes. U.S. territories or possessions were included among eligible applicants.

Are federal agencies eligible?

Yes. The FOA listed eligible federal agencies among eligible applicant types.

Are non-U.S. entities eligible to apply?

No. Non-U.S. entities were explicitly not eligible to apply.

Are foreign components of U.S. organizations allowed?

No. The announcement stated that foreign components of U.S. organizations were not permitted.

Why did the FOA emphasize connecting community practices to the NCI trials infrastructure?

The program was designed to function as a national resource by linking minority-serving community practices to NCI-sponsored trials. This linkage supports both increased minority participation and the practical coordination required for trials, while also improving the relevance and real-world adoption of research findings in community settings.

What long-term impact was this opportunity trying to achieve?

Overall, it aimed to reduce gaps in trial access and representation for minority communities, improve the relevance of clinical research findings to diverse populations, and accelerate delivery of new cancer prevention, control, and treatment approaches into minority communities through direct engagement of local physicians and care sites.