Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 12 229
Apply for PAR 12 229
- 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 (R21)" 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 12, 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.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Independent school districts County governments Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education City or township governments Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) For profit organizations other than small businesses Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Special district governments Small businesses Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) State governments.
- 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 12-229, titled "Physical activity and weight control interventions among cancer survivors: Effects on biomarkers of prognosis and survival (R21)," supports early-stage, exploratory research aimed at figuring out how lifestyle changes after a cancer diagnosis might influence the course of the disease. The central focus is not simply whether exercise or weight management is "good" for survivors in a general sense, but which specific biological and biobehavioral mechanisms are involved and how those mechanisms could plausibly translate into better prognosis and improved survival. NIH is looking for projects that connect intervention to mechanism in a way that can move the field beyond broad associations and toward clearer, testable pathways.
The FOA specifically encourages transdisciplinary and translational work, meaning it is designed for teams and study designs that bridge clinical oncology, behavioral science, exercise physiology, metabolism/endocrinology, immunology, and related areas. The expectation is that proposed studies will take promising leads from earlier animal studies or observational research in humans and then put them to a more rigorous test using interventions among cancer survivors. In practical terms, applicants are expected to implement a physical activity intervention, a weight control intervention (either intentional weight loss or prevention of weight gain), or a combined intervention, and then measure how that intervention changes biomarkers that are relevant to cancer prognosis.
A key requirement is that the application must test intervention effects on biomarkers of prognosis in cancer survivors, rather than only assessing behavior change outcomes (like steps per day) or intermediate health outcomes (like fitness) without tying them to biologic indicators that are plausibly linked to recurrence, progression, or survival. The FOA lists 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 factors; oxidative stress and markers of DNA damage or DNA repair capacity; angiogenesis-related markers; and prostaglandins. The list is not meant to be exhaustive, but it signals the types of mechanistic targets NIH wants investigators to prioritize, especially when there is prior evidence suggesting a role in prognosis.
Because this is an R21 mechanism, the grant is positioned as a developmental, proof-of-concept style award rather than a large, definitive clinical endpoint trial. The idea is to enable investigators to test mechanistic hypotheses, refine interventions, validate biomarker panels, explore dose-response relationships, and generate the kind of preliminary evidence that could justify a larger follow-on study. In other words, the emphasis is on credible mechanistic insight and translational potential rather than long-term survival follow-up within the R21 itself, which is often impractical within the scope and timeline of an exploratory grant.
Administratively, this opportunity is a discretionary grant under NIH, and it falls under health and education-related funding activity categories with CFDA numbers 93.393 (Cancer Cause and Prevention Research) and 93.399 (Cancer Control). The award ceiling listed is $200,000, and there is no cost sharing or matching requirement, which is typical for NIH research grants. The FOA was originally posted July 12, 2012, with later record dates showing creation July 24, 2015, and an archived date of August 25, 2015; the listing includes an original closing date of September 7, 2015 and a current closing date of July 24, 2015, reflecting the historical status of the announcement in the source data.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of organizations: public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) entities), small businesses and other for-profit organizations (other than small businesses are also explicitly listed), and multiple levels of government (state, county, city/township, special district, independent school districts, and housing authorities). It also explicitly includes tribal governments and tribal organizations, historically underserved and minority-serving institutions (such as HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian serving institutions, and tribally controlled colleges and universities), faith-based and community-based organizations, regional organizations, US territories/possessions, and notably, foreign institutions and foreign components of US organizations, which NIH sometimes allows depending on the program. That broad eligibility aligns with the FOA's emphasis on transdisciplinary and translational work, since strong intervention science and biomarker expertise can be distributed across many institutional settings.
Overall, this FOA is best understood as NIH's push to tighten the link between lifestyle interventions and cancer outcomes by focusing on mechanisms. It supports studies that intervene on physical activity and/or weight control in cancer survivors and then carefully measure biologic changes that are plausibly on the causal pathway to prognosis and survival. The end goal is to clarify which pathways matter, for whom, and under what intervention conditions, so that later-stage research can be more targeted and clinically meaningful. For the full official announcement and any institute-specific nuances, NIH provided the program link at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-12-229.html and contact help through the NIH Office of Extramural Research webmaster (FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV).
FAQs: NIH PAR-12-229 - Physical activity and weight control interventions among cancer survivors (R21)
What is NIH PAR 12-229 about?
PAR 12-229 is an NIH funding opportunity titled "Physical activity and weight control interventions among cancer survivors: Effects on biomarkers of prognosis and survival (R21)." It supports early-stage, exploratory research that tests how lifestyle interventions after a cancer diagnosis (physical activity and/or weight control) affect biological and biobehavioral mechanisms that are plausibly tied to cancer prognosis and survival.
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The main purpose is to move beyond broad associations (for example, that exercise is generally beneficial) and instead identify and test specific mechanisms. NIH is looking for studies that connect an intervention to measurable changes in biomarkers that are relevant to recurrence, progression, prognosis, and survival.
What kind of research stage is this FOA meant to support?
This is an R21 mechanism, meaning it is positioned as a developmental, proof-of-concept style award. It is intended for mechanistic hypothesis testing, refinement of interventions, validation of biomarker panels, exploration of dose-response relationships, and generation of preliminary evidence that could justify a larger follow-on study.
Is this intended to fund large clinical endpoint trials focused on survival outcomes?
No. The emphasis is on credible mechanistic insight and translational potential rather than long-term survival follow-up within the R21 itself, which is often impractical within the scope and timeline of an exploratory award.
What interventions are expected under this FOA?
Applicants are expected to implement a physical activity intervention, a weight control intervention (either intentional weight loss or prevention of weight gain), or a combined physical activity and weight control intervention among cancer survivors.
Are behavior change outcomes alone sufficient (for example, steps per day or fitness improvements)?
No. A key requirement is that the application must test intervention effects on biomarkers of prognosis in cancer survivors. Projects that only assess behavior change outcomes (like steps per day) or intermediate health outcomes (like fitness) without tying them to biologic indicators relevant to prognosis are not aligned with the central requirement described in the FOA summary.
What does NIH mean by "biomarkers of prognosis" in this announcement?
In this FOA, biomarkers of prognosis are biological indicators that are plausibly linked to cancer recurrence, progression, prognosis, or survival, and that could change in response to physical activity and/or weight control interventions.
Which biomarker domains are explicitly mentioned as examples of interest?
The FOA lists 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 factors; oxidative stress and markers of DNA damage or DNA repair capacity; angiogenesis-related markers; and prostaglandins.
Is the biomarker list exhaustive?
No. The FOA indicates the list is not meant to be exhaustive, but it signals the types of mechanistic targets NIH wants investigators to prioritize, especially where there is prior evidence suggesting a role in prognosis.
What types of study designs or teams does NIH encourage?
The FOA specifically encourages transdisciplinary and translational work. This includes projects and teams that bridge clinical oncology, behavioral science, exercise physiology, metabolism/endocrinology, immunology, and related fields, with study designs that translate promising leads from animal studies or human observational research into more rigorous intervention testing among cancer survivors.
What does "transdisciplinary and translational" mean in practical terms for applicants?
Practically, it means the project should combine expertise across relevant disciplines and use an intervention-based approach in cancer survivors to test mechanistic hypotheses, rather than remaining purely observational or purely behavioral without biological linkage.
What is the overall scientific theme NIH is pushing with this FOA?
NIH is pushing to tighten the link between lifestyle interventions and cancer outcomes by focusing on mechanisms. The goal is to clarify which pathways matter, for whom, and under what intervention conditions, so later-stage research can be more targeted and clinically meaningful.
What is the maximum award amount listed for this opportunity?
The award ceiling listed in the provided information is $200,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The provided information states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement, which is typical for NIH research grants.
What CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?
The information provided lists CFDA 93.393 (Cancer Cause and Prevention Research) and 93.399 (Cancer Control).
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) entities); small businesses; other for-profit organizations (including those other than small businesses); and multiple levels of government (state, county, city/township, special district, independent school districts, and housing authorities).
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. The provided information explicitly includes tribal governments and tribal organizations among eligible applicants.
Are minority-serving and historically underserved institutions included in eligibility?
Yes. The eligibility description explicitly includes historically underserved and minority-serving institutions such as HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian serving institutions, and tribally controlled colleges and universities.
Are faith-based and community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly includes faith-based and community-based organizations among the eligible applicant types listed in the provided information.
Are foreign institutions allowed to apply?
Yes, the eligibility description notably includes foreign institutions and foreign components of U.S. organizations, as stated in the provided information.
Is this opportunity still open?
The dates provided indicate this is a historical announcement. The FOA was originally posted July 12, 2012, with record dates showing creation July 24, 2015, and an archived date of August 25, 2015. The listing includes an original closing date of September 7, 2015 and a current closing date of July 24, 2015, reflecting the historical status in the source data.
Where can applicants find the official NIH program announcement?
The provided information lists the NIH program link as: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-12-229.html
Who is listed as a contact for help on this opportunity?
The provided information lists contact help through the NIH Office of Extramural Research webmaster at FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV.
What should a competitive application clearly demonstrate, based on the FOA description?
Based on the information provided, a competitive application should clearly connect the physical activity and/or weight control intervention to changes in biomarkers relevant to prognosis, with a plausible mechanistic pathway. It should also reflect the R21 emphasis on exploratory, translational, mechanism-focused work rather than definitive endpoint trials.
Does the FOA require that studies be conducted in cancer survivors specifically?
Yes. The described focus is on interventions among cancer survivors and testing how post-diagnosis lifestyle changes influence biomarkers of prognosis and survival.
Does the FOA encourage building on prior evidence?
Yes. The FOA expects proposed studies to take promising leads from earlier animal studies or observational research in humans and test them more rigorously using interventions among cancer survivors.
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|---|
| 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 |
| Revisions for Early Stage Development of Informatics Technology (R01) Apply for PAR 12 286 Funding Number: PAR 12 286 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $150,000 |
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