Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 16 177
Apply for PA 16 177
- The HHS-NIH11 in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Pilot and Feasibility Studies Evaluating the Role of RNA Modifications (the 'epitranscriptome') in Cancer Biology (R21)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.396,.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 08, 2016 and posted on Apr 08, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 16, 2019. (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: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Opportunity Summary:
The grant opportunity titled "Pilot and Feasibility Studies Evaluating the Role of RNA Modifications (the 'epitranscriptome') in Cancer Biology (R21)" (Funding Opportunity Number PA 16-177) is an NIH discretionary grant program focused on early-stage, exploratory basic research. Its central goal is to stimulate new studies that clarify how chemical modifications on RNA, collectively referred to as the epitranscriptome, influence cancer initiation, tumor progression, and related cancer biology. The program is interested in the molecular machinery that controls these RNA marks, specifically the "writers" that install modifications, the "readers" that recognize and interpret them, and the "erasers" that remove them. Because RNA modifications can affect how RNAs behave after they are transcribed, the FOA frames epitranscriptomic regulation as an emerging and potentially critical layer of post-transcriptional gene control that may reshape how researchers understand oncogenic processes.
A key scientific premise behind this FOA is that chemical changes to RNA bases can regulate the fate and function of both coding RNAs (such as mRNAs that produce proteins) and noncoding RNAs (which can regulate gene expression and cellular state without being translated into proteins). The announcement emphasizes that these RNA modifications are increasingly seen as more than incidental biochemical details; they may actively direct how RNAs are processed, localized, stabilized or degraded, and translated, and therefore may influence cell identity, stress responses, differentiation programs, and malignant transformation. Within the cancer context, the FOA is geared toward uncovering mechanisms showing how dysregulation of RNA modification pathways could contribute to hallmarks of cancer, including uncontrolled proliferation, survival signaling, invasion, metastasis, and adaptation to hostile tumor microenvironments or therapy-induced stress.
The funding mechanism is the NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant (R21), which is designed for high-impact pilot and feasibility projects rather than mature, fully developed research programs. In practical terms, this means the opportunity is meant to help investigators test novel ideas, generate preliminary data, and validate new concepts, model systems, tools, or technologies that could later support larger, more definitive grants. The R21 format typically aligns with projects that are conceptually bold but still at an early stage, such as mapping a previously uncharacterized RNA modification in a cancer-relevant setting, developing or adapting methods to detect specific RNA chemical marks, identifying candidate writer/reader/eraser proteins involved in tumor phenotypes, or establishing causal links between epitranscriptomic changes and cancer-related cellular behaviors.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the National Institutes of Health (listed as HHS-NIH11 in the source data). It is categorized under Education and Health funding activities and includes CFDA numbers 93.396 and related listings, indicating alignment with NIH cancer and biomedical research funding streams. The FOA was created and posted on April 8, 2016, with an application closing date of June 16, 2019 (the original and current closing dates are the same in the provided data). The award ceiling is listed as $200,000, reflecting the typical scale of an R21-style pilot award intended to support a focused, time-limited exploratory project rather than a large multi-year program.
Eligibility is broad and includes a wide range of domestic applicant organizations. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education where specified); public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; other Native American tribal organizations; for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other entities as described in the FOA's additional eligibility language. This wide eligibility suggests the NIH intended to encourage participation across academia, government research settings, nonprofit research institutes, and certain commercial or translational environments, as long as the proposed work fits the basic research emphasis and exploratory purpose of the R21 mechanism.
Overall, this FOA is best understood as a targeted push to accelerate foundational discoveries and enabling technologies around RNA modifications in cancer biology. It prioritizes innovative, feasibility-oriented studies that could open new directions in understanding tumor biology by connecting specific RNA chemical marks and their regulatory proteins to cancer-relevant molecular pathways and phenotypes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Pilot and Feasibility Studies Evaluating the Role of RNA Modifications (the 'epitranscriptome') in Cancer Biology (R21)."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number)?
The Funding Opportunity Number listed is PA 16-177.
Which agency is offering this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the National Institutes of Health (NIH), listed as HHS-NIH11 in the source information.
What type of grant mechanism is used for this opportunity?
This opportunity uses the NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant mechanism (R21), which is intended for early-stage, high-impact pilot and feasibility research.
What is the main purpose of this FOA?
The central goal is to stimulate new, exploratory basic research that clarifies how chemical modifications on RNA (the epitranscriptome) influence cancer initiation, tumor progression, and related cancer biology.
What does the FOA mean by the "epitranscriptome"?
In this context, the epitranscriptome refers to chemical modifications on RNA bases. The FOA frames these RNA marks as an emerging layer of post-transcriptional gene regulation that can affect RNA fate and function.
What kinds of RNA are relevant to this opportunity?
The FOA covers both coding RNAs (such as mRNAs that produce proteins) and noncoding RNAs (which can regulate gene expression and cellular state without being translated into proteins).
Why are RNA modifications considered important for cancer biology in this program?
The FOA emphasizes that RNA modifications may actively direct how RNAs are processed, localized, stabilized or degraded, and translated. Because these processes can influence cell identity, stress responses, differentiation programs, and malignant transformation, dysregulation of RNA modification pathways could contribute to cancer-related phenotypes.
What molecular components of RNA modification does the FOA highlight?
The FOA is specifically interested in the molecular machinery that controls RNA marks, including:
- "Writers" that install RNA modifications
- "Readers" that recognize and interpret RNA modifications
- "Erasers" that remove RNA modifications
What kinds of cancer-related processes does the FOA connect to epitranscriptomic dysregulation?
The FOA describes potential links to hallmarks of cancer such as uncontrolled proliferation, survival signaling, invasion, metastasis, and adaptation to hostile tumor microenvironments or therapy-induced stress.
Is this funding intended for mature research programs or early-stage ideas?
This R21 opportunity is intended for early-stage, conceptually bold pilot and feasibility projects rather than mature, fully developed research programs. It is positioned to help investigators test novel ideas and generate preliminary data that could support later, larger studies.
What types of projects fit the R21 pilot and feasibility focus described in the FOA?
Examples described in the information provided include projects such as mapping a previously uncharacterized RNA modification in a cancer-relevant setting, developing or adapting methods to detect specific RNA chemical marks, identifying candidate writer/reader/eraser proteins involved in tumor phenotypes, or establishing causal links between epitranscriptomic changes and cancer-related cellular behaviors.
Is this opportunity focused on basic research, applied research, or both?
Based on the description provided, the program is focused on early-stage, exploratory basic research, including foundational discoveries and enabling technologies related to RNA modifications in cancer biology.
What is the award ceiling for this opportunity?
The award ceiling is listed as $200,000, reflecting the typical scale of an R21-style pilot award supporting a focused exploratory project.
When was the FOA created and posted?
The FOA was created and posted on April 8, 2016.
What is the application closing date?
The application closing date is June 16, 2019. The information provided indicates the original and current closing dates are the same.
What funding activity categories are associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is categorized under Education and Health funding activities in the provided information.
What CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?
The information provided lists CFDA number 93.396 and related listings, indicating alignment with NIH cancer and biomedical research funding streams.
Who is eligible to apply for this grant?
Eligibility is broad and includes a wide range of domestic applicant organizations, including government entities, higher education institutions, nonprofits, certain housing authorities, tribal entities, and for-profit organizations (including small businesses), as described in the FOA eligibility language.
Which government entities are eligible applicants?
Eligible government applicants include state governments; county governments; city or township governments; special district governments; and federally recognized Native American tribal governments. Other Native American tribal organizations are also listed as eligible.
Are colleges and universities eligible to apply?
Yes. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education.
Are nonprofit organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The eligible applicants listed include nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (with additional eligibility language noted in the FOA description provided).
Are for-profit organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The eligibility list includes for-profit organizations other than small businesses, as well as small businesses.
Are public housing authorities eligible to apply?
Yes. The eligibility list includes public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities.
What is the overall theme and priority of the FOA?
The FOA is a targeted push to accelerate foundational discoveries and enabling technologies around RNA modifications in cancer biology. It prioritizes innovative, feasibility-oriented studies that connect specific RNA chemical marks and their regulatory proteins to cancer-relevant molecular pathways and phenotypes.
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