Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA CA 13 017
Apply for RFA CA 13 017
- The National Institutes of Health in the education health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Research Answers to NCIs Provocative Questions Group A (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 93.394 Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research 93.395 Cancer Treatment Research 93.396 Cancer Biology Research 93.399 Cancer Control.
- This funding opportunity was created on Sep 30, 2013 and posted on Sep 30, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 20, 2014. (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 Independent school districts Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education For profit organizations other than small businesses City or township governments Special district governments Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Small businesses Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) County governments Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized).
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs) 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) Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) 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 funding opportunity titled "Research Answers to NCI's Provocative Questions Group A (R21)" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-CA-13-017) is a National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute (NCI) grant program designed to spark genuinely new, high-impact ideas in cancer research. It specifically targets research projects that aim to answer a set of carefully selected "Provocative Questions" developed by NCI. These questions highlight persistent problems, contradictions, or underexplored areas in cancer biology, prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment, and control. The central idea is that some important cancer research challenges remain unsolved not because they are impossible, but because they are difficult, unconventional, or have not attracted sustained attention. This FOA is meant to push investigators to take fresh approaches and generate insights that could open up new lines of investigation or resolve long-standing puzzles.
This announcement uses the NIH R21 mechanism, which is typically intended for exploratory and developmental research. In practice, that means applicants are expected to propose innovative, conceptually bold projects that may be earlier-stage or higher-risk than traditional research proposals, but still grounded in a sound scientific rationale and a feasible plan. The emphasis is on creativity and problem-solving directed at the NCI-designated Provocative Questions rather than covering the entire scope of NCI priorities. Put differently, the questions act as a focused set of challenges, and proposed projects should be clearly aligned with answering one or more of those challenges.
The award information provided indicates an award ceiling of $200,000, and there is no cost sharing or matching requirement. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary and uses the grant funding instrument, with activity categories spanning education and health and mapping to multiple cancer-related CFDA program areas. Those CFDA listings include cancer cause and prevention research (93.393), detection and diagnosis (93.394), treatment (93.395), cancer biology (93.396), and cancer control (93.399). This mix signals that the program is intentionally broad in scientific domain, as long as the work is responsive to the targeted provocative problems.
Eligibility is wide and intentionally inclusive. Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (including both 501(c)(3) and certain nonprofits without that status, where applicable), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses, which are also eligible), and multiple levels of government entities such as state, county, city or township, special district governments, and certain housing authorities. The eligibility language also explicitly includes a range of mission-driven and capacity-building institution types such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), and Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, among others. Importantly, foreign organizations and foreign institutions are eligible to apply, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are also eligible. Foreign components, as defined under NIH policy, are allowed, which makes this a globally accessible opportunity as long as applicants meet NIH requirements and can justify the relevance and feasibility of the work.
From an administrative timeline perspective, the FOA was posted and created on September 30, 2013, with an original and current closing date of June 20, 2014, and it was archived on July 21, 2014. While those dates indicate the specific competition has closed, the structure and intent of the program reflect the ongoing NCI approach of using targeted question-driven initiatives to catalyze innovation. The official full announcement was hosted through the NIH Grants Guide (link provided in the source data), and NIH’s Office of Extramural Research webmaster contacts were listed for access or technical problems with the posting.
Overall, this FOA can be understood as a focused innovation grant: it does not simply invite general cancer research proposals, but instead asks investigators to take on a defined set of under-addressed cancer research puzzles identified by NCI and to propose creative, exploratory studies capable of producing meaningful answers, new hypotheses, or transformative directions for the field.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the full title of this funding opportunity?
The funding opportunity is titled "Research Answers to NCI's Provocative Questions Group A (R21)."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-CA-13-017.
Which federal agency and institute sponsor this opportunity?
This opportunity is offered through the National Institutes of Health (NIH), specifically the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
What is the main purpose of this grant program?
The program is designed to spark genuinely new, high-impact ideas in cancer research by supporting projects that answer NCI-selected "Provocative Questions." These questions focus on persistent problems, contradictions, or underexplored areas across cancer research.
What are NCI "Provocative Questions" in this context?
They are a set of carefully selected research questions developed by NCI to highlight important cancer research challenges that may be difficult, unconventional, underexplored, or lacking sustained attention, despite being potentially solvable.
Do projects have to address a Provocative Question to be considered responsive?
Yes. Proposed projects should be clearly aligned with answering one or more of the NCI-designated Provocative Questions targeted by this announcement.
Is this opportunity intended for general cancer research proposals?
No. The focus is not on general cancer research broadly; it is specifically on research aimed at answering the defined set of NCI Provocative Questions.
What NIH grant mechanism does this FOA use?
This announcement uses the NIH R21 mechanism.
What does the R21 mechanism imply about the type of research expected?
The R21 mechanism is typically intended for exploratory and developmental research. Applicants are expected to propose innovative, conceptually bold projects that may be earlier-stage or higher-risk than traditional research proposals, while still being grounded in sound scientific rationale and a feasible plan.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling) listed for this opportunity?
The award ceiling indicated is $200,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
What type of funding instrument is used?
This is a discretionary grant opportunity that uses the grant funding instrument.
What scientific areas does this opportunity cover?
The scientific scope is intentionally broad as long as the project is responsive to the targeted Provocative Questions. The questions span cancer biology, prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment, and control.
Which CFDA program areas are associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA listings include cancer cause and prevention research (93.393), detection and diagnosis (93.394), treatment (93.395), cancer biology (93.396), and cancer control (93.399).
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) and certain nonprofits without that status, where applicable); for-profit organizations (including small businesses and other than small businesses); and government entities such as state, county, city or township, special district governments, and certain housing authorities.
Are mission-driven or capacity-building institution types explicitly included?
Yes. The eligibility language explicitly includes institution types such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), and Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, among others.
Are foreign organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. Foreign organizations and foreign institutions are eligible to apply.
Are non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations allowed?
Yes. Non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are eligible, and foreign components (as defined under NIH policy) are allowed.
When was this FOA posted and created?
The FOA was posted and created on September 30, 2013.
What was the closing date for this opportunity?
The original and current closing date listed is June 20, 2014.
Is this specific funding opportunity still open?
No. The listing indicates it was archived on July 21, 2014, and the closing date has passed.
Where was the official full announcement hosted?
The full announcement was hosted through the NIH Grants Guide (a link was provided in the source data).
Who was listed for help with access or technical issues?
NIH's Office of Extramural Research webmaster contacts were listed for access or technical problems with the posting.
What kind of outcomes is this FOA trying to generate?
This FOA is intended to catalyze creative, exploratory studies that can produce meaningful answers, generate new hypotheses, open up new lines of investigation, or resolve long-standing puzzles in cancer research, specifically in areas framed by the Provocative Questions.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Education Health
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Previous opportunity: Research Answers to NCIs Provocative Questions Group A (R01)
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| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Research Answers to NCIs Provocative Questions Group B (R01) Apply for RFA CA 13 018 Funding Number: RFA CA 13 018 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Research Answers to NCIs Provocative Questions Group C (R01) Apply for RFA CA 13 020 Funding Number: RFA CA 13 020 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Research Answers to NCIs Provocative Questions Group D (R01) Apply for RFA CA 13 022 Funding Number: RFA CA 13 022 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Research Answers to NCIs Provocative Questions Group D (R21) Apply for RFA CA 13 023 Funding Number: RFA CA 13 023 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Research Answers to NCIs Provocative Questions Group B (R21) Apply for RFA CA 13 019 Funding Number: RFA CA 13 019 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Research Answers to NCIs Provocative Questions Group C (R21) Apply for RFA CA 13 021 Funding Number: RFA CA 13 021 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Research Answers to NCIs Provocative Questions Group E (R01) Apply for RFA CA 13 024 Funding Number: RFA CA 13 024 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Research Answers to NCIs Provocative Questions Group E (R21) Apply for RFA CA 13 025 Funding Number: RFA CA 13 025 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Interpreting Variation in Human Non Coding Genomic Regions Using Computational Approaches and Experimental Assessment (R01) Apply for RFA HG 13 013 Funding Number: RFA HG 13 013 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Planning for a National Center for Particle Beam Radiation Therapy Research (P20) Apply for PAR 13 371 Funding Number: PAR 13 371 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Research on Malignancies in the Context of HIV/AIDS (R21) Apply for PA 13 378 Funding Number: PA 13 378 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Research on Malignancies in the Context of HIV/AIDS (R01) Apply for PA 13 377 Funding Number: PA 13 377 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Sub Saharan African Collaborative HIV and Cancer Consortia (U54) Apply for RFA CA 13 010 Funding Number: RFA CA 13 010 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| FY 2014 American Schools and Hospitals Abroad (ASHA) Program Apply for APS ASHA 14 000001 Funding Number: APS ASHA 14 000001 Agency: Agency for International Development Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| Cancer Detection, Diagnostic and Treatment Technologies for Global Health (UH2/UH3) Apply for RFA CA 13 015 Funding Number: RFA CA 13 015 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Population based Research Optimizing Screening through Personalized Regimens (PROSPR) Revision to Enhance the Collection of Cervical Cancer Screening Data (U54) Apply for RFA CA 14 001 Funding Number: RFA CA 14 001 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $650,000 |
| Cancer Center Support Grants (CCSGs) for NCI designated Cancer Centers (P30) Apply for PAR 13 386 Funding Number: PAR 13 386 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Low Cost, Pragmatic, Patient Centered Randomized Controlled Intervention Trials (UH2/UH3) Apply for RFA HL 14 019 Funding Number: RFA HL 14 019 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Development of Opioid and Adjuvant Fixed Combination Dosage Forms for the Treatment of Chronic Pain with Reduced Addiction Potential (R41/R42) Apply for PA 13 388 Funding Number: PA 13 388 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Development of Opioid and Adjuvant Fixed Combination Dosage Forms for the Treatment of Chronic Pain with Reduced Addiction Potential (R43/R44) Apply for PA 13 387 Funding Number: PA 13 387 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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