NASA Specialized Centers of Research Carcinogenesis and Central Nervous System Risks from Space Radiation | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is this NASA funding opportunity about?

NASA is soliciting proposals to establish NASA Specialized Centers of Research (NSCORs) focused on understanding and reducing key astronaut health risks from space radiation. The specific scientific focus areas highlighted are space-radiation-driven carcinogenesis (solid cancers and leukemia) and central nervous system (CNS) effects, with an emphasis on research that strengthens NASA's astronaut health risk estimates and reduces uncertainty for long-duration exploration missions.

Which NASA program is sponsoring this work?

This opportunity sits under NASA's Human Research Program, within the Space Radiation Program Element. The intent is to generate research that directly informs NASA's risk modeling and risk assessment needs for astronaut exposure to space radiation, especially galactic cosmic rays (GCR).

What are the main health risks NASA is asking NSCOR teams to study?

The solicitation specifically calls out two major categories of risk from space radiation:

• Carcinogenesis, including solid cancers and leukemia
• Central nervous system (CNS) effects

Why does NASA emphasize galactic cosmic rays (GCR) in this announcement?

NASA highlights GCR because it is a major exposure concern for long-duration exploration missions. The research is intended to improve how NASA estimates health risks under mission-relevant space radiation conditions, with a goal of reducing uncertainty in those estimates.

What does NASA mean by "hypothesis driven" and "mechanistically grounded" research?

NASA is seeking studies built around clear hypotheses and biological mechanisms that explain why effects occur under space radiation conditions. Proposals are expected to use modern, cutting-edge methods and aim to produce genuinely new scientific understanding, rather than simply reporting observations.

Are purely observational or phenomenological studies allowed?

The announcement explicitly discourages and does not plan to support purely phenomenological studies that primarily describe observations without a strong mechanistic rationale or without a clear path to meaningful scientific advances. Proposals need to explain the biological "why" under space radiation conditions, not only the "whether."

What is an NSCOR, and how is it different from a single-investigator grant?

An NSCOR is a team-based, integrated research center rather than an isolated project. NASA is looking for coordinated efforts where investigators bring complementary expertise and work together around a tightly focused set of questions, operating as a cohesive center rather than as disconnected subprojects.

Do all team members need to be at the same institution?

No. Teams may be located at a single institution or distributed across multiple locations. However, the proposal must demonstrate a workable collaboration plan and an effective mechanism for operating as an integrated center.

Is use of the NASA Space Radiation Laboratory (NSRL) required?

Yes. A central requirement is that experimental research must simulate relevant space radiation biological effects using the NASA Space Radiation Laboratory (NSRL) at Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, New York. This indicates NASA wants controlled, mission-relevant radiation qualities and exposure scenarios that NSRL is designed to provide.

Why is NSRL a required facility for the experimental work?

The solicitation signals that NASA is aiming for studies conducted under controlled and mission-relevant radiation conditions to improve comparability across studies and strengthen the translational value of results for NASA risk estimation and uncertainty reduction.

Does the solicitation include countermeasure research?

Yes. In addition to improving risk modeling and reducing uncertainty, the announcement emphasizes discovery of biological countermeasures that could lower solid cancer risk from GCR exposure.

What is the official solicitation identifier?

The opportunity is identified as NASA Research Announcement (NRA) NNJ08ZSA003N and is described as a broad agency announcement under FAR 6.102(d)(2).

What type of award will NASA make (grant or cooperative agreement)?

NASA indicates it may use either grants or cooperative agreements depending on the selected proposal. This means the degree of NASA involvement could vary by project based on the instrument used.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No cost sharing or matching requirement is listed in the provided information.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broadly open to U.S. organizations, including universities, industry, nonprofit organizations, NASA centers, and other government agencies.

Can non-U.S. organizations participate?

NASA notes that collaboration with non-U.S. organizations is generally possible on a cooperative basis without an exchange of funds, consistent with typical federal research collaboration constraints.

How must proposals be submitted?

Proposals must be submitted electronically by an authorized organizational representative. Submissions can be made through NSPIRES (NASA's proposal system) or Grants.gov.

What registrations are required to apply?

Organizations intending to apply must register in NSPIRES and ensure that the principal investigator and other participants meet the relevant system registration requirements. The guidance encourages starting registration and system familiarization early to avoid last-minute administrative delays.

What are the key dates for this opportunity?

The timeline provided indicates the announcement became available around early September 2008. Proposals were due January 15, 2009. The posting information lists a posted date of September 30, 2008, and an archive date of January 16, 2009.

Which NASA office is referenced in the source information?

The sponsoring agency is NASA, and NASA Johnson Space Center is referenced in the source data.

Who is the contracting contact for access issues related to the full announcement?

The contracting contact provided is Ann E. Bronson, Contracting Officer, phone 281-483-9889.

What would a strong NSCOR application look like based on the description provided?

Based on the opportunity description, an ideal application would present an integrated center plan that connects: (1) experimental space radiation exposures performed at NSRL, (2) mechanistic biology relevant to cancer and CNS outcomes, and (3) clear implications for improving NASA's risk estimation frameworks, while also exploring realistic countermeasure pathways for mitigating carcinogenic effects of GCR.