Pilot studies in Pancreatic Cancer (R21) | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Pilot Studies in Pancreatic Cancer (R21) (PA-11-297)

What is the Pilot Studies in Pancreatic Cancer (R21) funding opportunity?

The Pilot Studies in Pancreatic Cancer (R21) opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number PA-11-297) was a National Cancer Institute (NCI) funding announcement under the National Institutes of Health (NIH). It was designed to spark early-stage, high-impact research focused on pancreatic cancer.

What was the main purpose of PA-11-297?

The main purpose was to support innovative, exploratory projects that push new ideas forward across disciplines. The broader goal was to improve how pancreatic cancer is understood and addressed from multiple angles.

What kinds of research topics did the FOA emphasize?

The FOA emphasized advancing knowledge and generating preliminary findings that could open new research directions related to pancreatic cancer biology and causes, earlier and better detection approaches, strategies for prevention, and improvements in treatment.

What does it mean that this opportunity used the NIH R21 mechanism?

The NIH R21 mechanism is typically aimed at pilot or exploratory work rather than large, fully developed research programs. Under this mechanism, projects were expected to be creative and potentially transformative, often testing concepts, tools, models, biomarkers, or approaches that might be too early or too risky for larger grants.

What stage of research was this program intended to support?

This program was intended to support early-stage, exploratory research and proof-of-concept work, with an emphasis on generating preliminary findings that could justify or guide future research directions.

Was this opportunity focused on interdisciplinary research?

Yes. The opportunity highlighted projects that cut across disciplines and move new ideas forward, reflecting an interest in approaches that integrate perspectives or methods to address pancreatic cancer.

What were the activity areas or research categories associated with the FOA?

The activity areas aligned with NCI and NIH cancer research missions and were mapped to multiple CFDA research categories, including cancer cause and prevention, detection and diagnosis, treatment, biology, and control.

What type of funding instrument was used?

The funding instrument was a discretionary grant.

Was cost-sharing or matching required?

No. The opportunity had no cost-sharing or matching requirement, reducing barriers for applicants that might not have access to non-federal funds.

What was the award ceiling for this opportunity?

The listed award ceiling was $275,000, reflecting a modest, pilot-scale budget intended to support early data generation or proof-of-concept results.

Who was the awarding agency?

The awarding agency was the National Institutes of Health (NIH), with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) as the issuing institute for this funding announcement.

Which organizations were eligible to apply?

Eligibility was broad. Eligible applicants included public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (outside higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and many governmental entities.

Which government entities were listed as eligible applicants?

Eligible governmental entities included state, county, city or township, special district governments, independent school districts, and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities.

Were underrepresented or mission-driven institution types explicitly included?

Yes. The FOA explicitly included categories such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs).

Were tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?

Yes. The eligibility language explicitly included federally recognized and other tribal governments, and it also included Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs).

Could faith-based or community-based organizations apply?

Yes. The FOA explicitly included faith-based or community-based organizations among the eligible applicant types.

Were U.S. territories or possessions included in eligibility?

Yes. The FOA explicitly included U.S. territories or possessions.

Were foreign (non-U.S.) organizations eligible to apply?

Yes. The opportunity allowed non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations), broadening the potential for international collaboration where it could accelerate progress.

Could federal agencies apply under this opportunity?

Yes. The FOA allowed eligible federal agencies as applicants.

When was PA-11-297 posted and created?

The opportunity was posted and created on August 9, 2011.

What were the opening and closing dates for applications?

The original and final closing date listed for this opportunity was January 7, 2015.

When was the opportunity archived?

The opportunity was archived on February 7, 2015.

Where could applicants find the official announcement and full requirements?

The official announcement and full requirements were hosted through the NIH Grants Guide at the link provided in the source information for the funding opportunity.

Who was listed as the contact for access or technical issues?

For access or technical issues with the announcement, the contact listed was the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) Webmaster at FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV.

What was the overall intent of offering a pilot-scale award for pancreatic cancer research?

The intent was to provide support for innovative, exploratory pancreatic cancer research efforts that could generate key early data, test new ideas, and open up new research directions across areas such as causes and biology, detection, prevention, and treatment.