Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 12 228
Apply for PAR 12 228
- The National Institutes of Health in the education health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Physical activity and weight control interventions among cancer survivors Effects on biomarkers of prognosis and survival (R01)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.393 Cancer Cause and Prevention Research 93.399 Cancer Control.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 24, 2015 and posted on Jul 13, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 24, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Special district governments Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Independent school districts Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) County governments City or township governments Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) State governments Private institutions of higher education For profit organizations other than small businesses Small businesses Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized).
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government Faith based or Community based Organizations Hispanic serving Institutions Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized) Regional Organizations Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) U.S. Territory or Possession Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are eligible to apply.Non domestic (non U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are eligible to apply.Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed.
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Opportunity Summary:
The NIH grant opportunity PAR 12-228, titled "Physical activity and weight control interventions among cancer survivors: Effects on biomarkers of prognosis and survival (R01)," is an investigator-initiated research funding announcement that supports R01 studies focused on how lifestyle interventions might influence cancer outcomes after diagnosis. The central idea is to move beyond simply observing that exercise or weight management correlates with better outcomes and instead pinpoint the actual biological and biobehavioral mechanisms that could explain improvements in prognosis and survival among cancer survivors. NIH is looking for transdisciplinary and translational projects, meaning proposals are expected to bring together expertise across areas like oncology, behavioral science, exercise physiology, metabolism, endocrinology, immunology, molecular biology, and biostatistics, while also emphasizing clinical relevance and measurable mechanistic endpoints.
Projects funded under this FOA must test the effects of a physical activity intervention, a weight control intervention (either intentional weight loss or prevention of weight gain), or a combination of both, specifically in cancer survivors. A key requirement is that the intervention study measures changes in biomarkers tied to prognosis, with those biomarkers being selected based on prior evidence from animal studies or observational human research. In other words, applicants are not being asked to start from scratch identifying candidate pathways; they are expected to build on existing evidence and then use intervention research to see whether changing physical activity and/or weight trajectories produces detectable, meaningful changes in biologic indicators that plausibly relate to recurrence risk, disease progression, or survival.
The FOA highlights a set of example biomarker domains that are of interest, while making clear that the list is not exhaustive. These include sex hormones; insulin and insulin-like growth factors (and their binding proteins); insulin resistance and glucose metabolism; leptin and other adipokines; immune and inflammatory markers; oxidative stress measures; indicators of DNA damage and repair capacity; angiogenesis-related markers; and prostaglandins. The emphasis on these pathways reflects major hypotheses in cancer survivorship science, such as the roles of metabolic dysregulation, chronic inflammation, endocrine signaling, and tumor microenvironment biology in influencing recurrence and long-term outcomes. The expectation is that a well-designed intervention can test whether improving fitness, increasing activity, reducing adiposity, or preventing post-treatment weight gain leads to biologically measurable shifts that align with improved prognosis.
Structurally, this is a discretionary grant mechanism under the NIH R01 activity code, meaning it supports full-scale research projects rather than small pilots, and it is categorized under health and education related funding activities. It falls under CFDA numbers 93.393 (Cancer Cause and Prevention Research) and 93.399 (Cancer Control). There is no cost sharing or matching requirement stated for applicants, which is typical for many NIH research grants and lowers barriers for institutions that may not be able to contribute additional funds.
Eligibility is broad and includes many organizational types: public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private universities, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, small businesses and other for-profit organizations (other than small businesses are explicitly listed as eligible), school districts, and a wide range of government entities at the city, county, and state level. The FOA also explicitly includes institutions and organizations that NIH often highlights to encourage diversity and reach, such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, faith-based and community-based organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions. Importantly, foreign institutions are eligible to apply, and foreign components of U.S. organizations are allowed, consistent with NIH policies for global collaboration when scientifically justified.
Administrative details in the provided record show it was posted July 13, 2012, with an original closing date of September 7, 2015, and an archive date of August 25, 2015, indicating this particular FOA cycle is no longer open. The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health, and the official announcement link is hosted on the NIH Grants Guide website. For access or technical issues, the contact given is the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster email.
In practical terms, this opportunity was designed for research teams that can deliver a rigorous lifestyle intervention in a survivorship population, collect high-quality biologic specimens and clinical/behavioral data, and analyze mechanistic endpoints in a way that strengthens causal inference about how physical activity and weight control might influence cancer prognosis. The focus on biomarkers of prognosis and survival signals that NIH wanted studies capable of connecting behavior change to measurable intermediate outcomes that are biologically credible and clinically meaningful, potentially laying groundwork for larger trials or for integrating lifestyle medicine more directly into cancer survivorship care.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is NIH PAR 12-228?
PAR 12-228 is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity announcement titled "Physical activity and weight control interventions among cancer survivors: Effects on biomarkers of prognosis and survival (R01)." It supports investigator-initiated R01 research projects that test lifestyle interventions in cancer survivors and measure how those interventions affect biomarkers linked to prognosis and survival.
What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?
The main goal is to move beyond observational correlations (for example, that exercise is associated with better outcomes) and directly test biological and biobehavioral mechanisms. Projects are expected to determine whether changing physical activity and/or weight trajectories after cancer diagnosis produces measurable changes in biomarkers that plausibly relate to recurrence risk, disease progression, or survival.
What type of grant mechanism does this opportunity use?
This opportunity uses the NIH R01 mechanism, which is intended for full-scale research projects rather than small pilot studies.
Who is the sponsoring agency?
The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Is this an investigator-initiated opportunity?
Yes. The announcement is described as investigator-initiated, meaning applicants propose their own research questions and approach within the scope of the FOA.
What kinds of interventions are required to be tested?
Funded projects must test the effects of at least one of the following in cancer survivors: (1) a physical activity intervention, (2) a weight control intervention (either intentional weight loss or prevention of weight gain), or (3) a combination of physical activity and weight control.
Does the intervention have to be conducted in cancer survivors specifically?
Yes. The FOA is focused on interventions among cancer survivors and on understanding post-diagnosis lifestyle effects on biologic markers tied to prognosis and survival.
What outcomes must studies measure?
A key requirement is measuring changes in biomarkers tied to prognosis. The study design is expected to connect the lifestyle intervention to measurable mechanistic endpoints that are biologically credible and clinically relevant.
Are applicants expected to discover brand-new biomarkers or pathways?
No. Applicants are expected to select biomarkers based on prior evidence from animal studies or observational human research. The emphasis is on testing whether an intervention alters those evidence-based biomarkers rather than starting from scratch to identify candidate pathways.
What biomarker domains are highlighted as examples?
The FOA provides examples of biomarker domains of interest, including: sex hormones; insulin and insulin-like growth factors (and their binding proteins); insulin resistance and glucose metabolism; leptin and other adipokines; immune and inflammatory markers; oxidative stress measures; indicators of DNA damage and repair capacity; angiogenesis-related markers; and prostaglandins.
Is the biomarker list limited to the examples provided?
No. The FOA notes that the biomarker domains listed are examples and are not exhaustive.
What scientific areas or expertise are expected on the research team?
NIH emphasizes transdisciplinary and translational projects. Proposals are expected to integrate expertise across relevant fields such as oncology, behavioral science, exercise physiology, metabolism, endocrinology, immunology, molecular biology, and biostatistics, with an emphasis on clinical relevance and measurable mechanistic endpoints.
What does "transdisciplinary and translational" mean in the context of this FOA?
In this FOA, "transdisciplinary" means combining expertise across multiple scientific and clinical domains to address mechanistic questions. "Translational" signals an expectation that the work is clinically relevant, uses rigorous intervention research, and measures endpoints that help bridge behavior change to biologic processes tied to prognosis and survival.
What is the focus beyond behavior change itself?
The focus is on identifying and testing mechanisms that could explain improved prognosis and survival, using biomarkers and other mechanistic endpoints to strengthen causal inference about how physical activity and/or weight control may influence cancer outcomes.
What funding activity category is this opportunity associated with?
It is categorized under health and education related funding activities (as indicated in the provided record).
Which CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?
The record lists CFDA 93.393 (Cancer Cause and Prevention Research) and CFDA 93.399 (Cancer Control).
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No cost sharing or matching requirement is stated in the provided information.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private universities, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, small businesses, other for-profit organizations (other than small businesses are also explicitly listed as eligible), school districts, and many government entities at the city, county, and state level.
Are minority-serving institutions and community-based organizations included in eligible applicants?
Yes. The FOA explicitly includes organizations such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, as well as faith-based and community-based organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions.
Are foreign institutions eligible?
Yes. Foreign institutions are eligible to apply, and foreign components of U.S. organizations are allowed, consistent with NIH policies when scientifically justified.
Is this funding opportunity still open?
No. The provided record shows it was posted on July 13, 2012, had an original closing date of September 7, 2015, and an archive date of August 25, 2015, indicating that this FOA cycle is no longer open.
Where is the official announcement hosted?
The official announcement link is hosted on the NIH Grants Guide website (as stated in the provided information).
Who should be contacted for access or technical issues?
For access or technical issues, the contact listed is the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster email.
What kind of study capabilities does NIH appear to be looking for?
Based on the description, the opportunity targets teams able to deliver a rigorous lifestyle intervention in a survivorship population, collect high-quality biologic specimens and clinical/behavioral data, and analyze mechanistic endpoints that connect behavior change to biologically measurable indicators related to prognosis and survival.
Why does the FOA emphasize biomarkers of prognosis and survival?
The emphasis indicates NIH wanted intervention studies that can link physical activity and/or weight control to intermediate biologic outcomes that are clinically meaningful and biologically credible, strengthening the evidence base for how lifestyle factors might influence recurrence risk, disease progression, or survival among cancer survivors.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (PAR 12 228) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Physical activity and weight control interventions among cancer survivors Effects on biomarkers of prognosis and survival (R21) Apply for PAR 12 229 Funding Number: PAR 12 229 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Translational Research on Interventions for Adolescents in the Legal System TRIALS (U01) Apply for RFA DA 13 009 Funding Number: RFA DA 13 009 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Development of Minimally Invasive Bioassays to Support Outpatient Clinical Trials of Therapeutics for Substance Use Disorders (R21) Apply for PAR 12 238 Funding Number: PAR 12 238 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Clinical Development of Minimally Invasive Bioassays to Support Outpatient Clinical Trials of Therapeutics for Substance Use Disorders (R01) Apply for PAR 12 239 Funding Number: PAR 12 239 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| NCI National Clinical Trials Network Network Radiotherapy and Imaging Core Services Centers (U24) Apply for RFA CA 12 014 Funding Number: RFA CA 12 014 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NCI National Clinical Trials Network Canadian Collaborating Clinical Trials Network (Limited Competition U10) Apply for RFA CA 12 504 Funding Number: RFA CA 12 504 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NCI National Clinical Trials Network Network Group Operations Centers (U10) Apply for RFA CA 12 010 Funding Number: RFA CA 12 010 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NCI National Clinical Trials Network Network Group Statistics and Data Management Centers (U10) Apply for RFA CA 12 011 Funding Number: RFA CA 12 011 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NCI National Clinical Trials Network Network Group Integrated Translational Science Centers (U10) Apply for RFA CA 12 012 Funding Number: RFA CA 12 012 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NCI National Clinical Trials Network Network Lead Academic Participating Sites (U10) Apply for RFA CA 12 013 Funding Number: RFA CA 12 013 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Behavioral Science Track Award for Rapid Transition (B/START) (R03) Apply for PAR 12 251 Funding Number: PAR 12 251 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| SBIR Phase IIB Bridge Awards to Accelerate the Development of Cancer Therapeutics, Imaging Technologies, Interventional Devices, Diagnostics, and Prognostics Toward Commercialization (R44) Apply for RFA CA 12 023 Funding Number: RFA CA 12 023 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| The Interplay of Substance Abuse and HIV 1 Infection on Glial Cell Function (R01) Apply for RFA DA 13 010 Funding Number: RFA DA 13 010 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| The Interplay of Substance Abuse and HIV 1 Infection on Glial Cell Function (R21) Apply for RFA DA 13 011 Funding Number: RFA DA 13 011 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Examination of Survivorship Care Planning Efficacy and Impact R21 Apply for PA 12 274 Funding Number: PA 12 274 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Examination of Survivorship Care Planning Efficacy and Impact R01 Apply for PA 12 275 Funding Number: PA 12 275 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| FY 2013 American Schools and Hospitals Abroad Program Apply for DRAFT APS ASHA 12 000001 Funding Number: DRAFT APS ASHA 12 000001 Agency: Agency for International Development Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| HIV/AIDS, Drug Use, and Vulnerable Populations in the US (R21) Apply for PA 12 280 Funding Number: PA 12 280 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| HIV/AIDS, Drug Use, and Vulnerable Populations in the US (R01) Apply for PA 12 281 Funding Number: PA 12 281 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| AIDS Science Track Award for Research Transition (R03) Apply for PA 12 282 Funding Number: PA 12 282 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
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