Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA CA 12 022
Apply for RFA CA 12 022
- The National Institutes of Health in the education health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Research Answers to NCIs Provocative Questions Group D (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.
- This funding opportunity was created on Sep 21, 2012 and posted on Sep 21, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 20, 2013. (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.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Private institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities For profit organizations other than small businesses Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Small businesses County governments Independent school districts Special district governments Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) State governments City or township governments.
- 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 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.
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Opportunity Summary:
Research Answers to NCI's Provocative Questions - Group D (R21) (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-CA-12-022) is a National Cancer Institute grant opportunity meant to push cancer researchers toward tackling a set of deliberately targeted, underexplored scientific problems framed as "provocative questions." Rather than serving as a broad statement of NCI's overall cancer research priorities, the initiative narrows in on specific gaps, contradictions, and stubborn puzzles in the field where progress has lagged or where conventional approaches have not fully explained what is being observed. The core intent is to encourage projects that bring genuinely innovative thinking and strong scientific rigor to these defined questions, with the expectation that answering them could unlock new directions in cancer biology, prevention, detection, diagnosis, or treatment.
This opportunity uses the NIH R21 mechanism, which is generally aimed at exploratory and developmental research. In practical terms, that means the program is designed for high-impact, early-stage ideas that may be somewhat higher risk than typical hypothesis-driven proposals, but still grounded in sound logic and feasible methods. The FOA emphasizes "sound and innovative research strategies," signaling that reviewers are looking for both creativity and credible execution plans. The scope is tied to the NCI Provocative Questions initiative, so proposed work must align with one of the specific questions in Group D, focusing on resolving an identified paradox or addressing a clearly articulated problem area that has not received enough attention.
From an administrative standpoint, the FOA is categorized as a discretionary grant program under NIH, with activity areas spanning education and health and mapped to multiple CFDA program areas: cancer cause and prevention research (93.393), cancer detection and diagnosis research (93.394), cancer treatment research (93.395), and cancer biology research (93.396). NCI anticipated making about six awards under this announcement. The maximum award amount listed is an award ceiling of $200,000, and there is no cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants are not required to provide additional non-federal funds as a condition of receiving an award.
Eligibility is broad and intentionally inclusive, allowing applications from a wide range of organization types. Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (including both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) organizations), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, small businesses, and multiple levels of government such as state, county, city or township governments, special district governments, and independent school districts. Tribal entities are also eligible, including federally recognized tribal governments as well as other tribal organizations. The FOA further clarifies additional eligible applicant categories, such as historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian serving institutions, Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander serving institutions (AANAPISIs), U.S. territories or possessions, and even non-U.S. (foreign) organizations and regional organizations, along with eligible federal agencies. This wide eligibility reflects the idea that novel answers to hard cancer questions can come from many kinds of institutions and research environments.
Timing details indicate the announcement was posted and created on September 21, 2012, with an original and current closing date of June 20, 2013, and an archive date of July 21, 2013. While the listing is archived, the summary still captures how the program was structured: a time-limited solicitation intended to generate a focused set of R21 projects addressing specific provocative questions identified by NCI.
For applicants seeking full requirements, the official announcement is linked through NIH at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-CA-12-022.html. Contact guidance in the listing points to the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster for technical issues accessing the announcement or linking problems, with the email FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled Research Answers to NCI's Provocative Questions - Group D (R21).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-CA-12-022.
Which agency is offering this opportunity?
This is a National Cancer Institute (NCI) funding opportunity under the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What is the main purpose of this FOA?
The purpose is to push cancer researchers to tackle deliberately targeted, underexplored scientific problems framed as NCI "provocative questions." The focus is on specific gaps, contradictions, paradoxes, and persistent puzzles where progress has lagged or conventional approaches have not fully explained observed results, with the expectation that answers could open new directions in cancer biology, prevention, detection, diagnosis, or treatment.
Is this a broad cancer research priorities announcement?
No. The initiative is described as not a broad statement of NCI's overall cancer research priorities. It narrows in on specific, defined problems and question areas (Group D) identified by NCI.
What grant mechanism does this opportunity use?
This opportunity uses the NIH R21 mechanism, which is generally intended for exploratory and developmental research.
What does the R21 mechanism imply about the type of projects NCI wants?
It implies the program is designed for high-impact, early-stage ideas that may be higher risk than typical hypothesis-driven proposals, but still supported by sound logic and feasible methods. The FOA emphasizes "sound and innovative research strategies," indicating reviewers will look for creativity paired with credible execution plans.
What research topics are considered in-scope?
Projects must align with the NCI Provocative Questions initiative and specifically with one of the Group D questions, aiming to resolve an identified paradox or address a clearly articulated, underexplored problem area in cancer research.
What types of impact is NCI hoping for from funded projects?
The FOA indicates that answering these provocative questions could unlock new directions in cancer biology, prevention, detection, diagnosis, or treatment.
How is this program categorized administratively?
It is categorized as a discretionary grant program under NIH, with activity areas spanning education and health.
Which CFDA program areas are associated with this opportunity?
The listing maps the opportunity to multiple CFDA areas: 93.393 (cancer cause and prevention research), 93.394 (cancer detection and diagnosis research), 93.395 (cancer treatment research), and 93.396 (cancer biology research).
How many awards did NCI anticipate making?
NCI anticipated making about six awards under this announcement.
What is the maximum award amount?
The maximum award amount listed is an award ceiling of $200,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The listing states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants are not required to provide additional non-federal funds as a condition of receiving an award.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many organization types, such as public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and multiple levels of government (state, county, city or township, special district), as well as independent school districts.
Are tribal entities eligible?
Yes. Eligible applicants include federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations.
Are minority-serving institutions specifically included in the eligibility language?
Yes. The listing explicitly includes categories such as HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian serving institutions, and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander serving institutions (AANAPISIs).
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?
Yes. The FOA includes U.S. territories or possessions among eligible applicant categories.
Are foreign (non-U.S.) organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The eligibility language includes non-U.S. (foreign) organizations and regional organizations.
Are federal agencies eligible to apply?
Yes. The listing includes eligible federal agencies among the applicant categories.
When was this opportunity posted?
The announcement was posted and created on September 21, 2012.
What was the application closing date?
The original and current closing date listed is June 20, 2013.
Is this opportunity still open?
No. The listing indicates it is archived, with an archive date of July 21, 2013.
Where can applicants find the official NIH announcement?
The official announcement is available through NIH at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-CA-12-022.html.
Who should be contacted for technical problems accessing the announcement link?
For technical issues accessing the announcement or for linking problems, the listing points to the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster at FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV.
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