Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA CA 15 014
Apply for RFA CA 15 014
- The National Institutes of Health in the education health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Research Centers for Cancer Systems Biology Consortium(U54)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.395 Cancer Treatment Research 93.396 Cancer Biology Research.
- This funding opportunity was created on Sep 2, 2015 and posted on Sep 2, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 20, 2017. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $12,600,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,500,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Small businesses County governments Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) State governments 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.
- 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) Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) U.S. Territory or Possession Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are not eligible to apply. Non domestic (non U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply. Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed.
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Opportunity Summary:
The National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health, offered this funding opportunity to launch and support a new Cancer Systems Biology Consortium (CSBC) built around large, collaborative research centers. The award mechanism is a U54 Cooperative Agreement, which generally means the projects are expected to operate as coordinated, multi-component efforts with substantial programmatic involvement from NIH staff. In practical terms, this was designed for teams that can do more than a single-project study: they must integrate experimental cancer biology with computational and systems-level approaches in a way that produces models, shared data resources, and broadly useful insights about how cancer works as a complex system.
The scientific focus is on tackling complexity in both basic and translational cancer research by combining laboratory experiments with in silico modeling, multi-dimensional data analysis, and systems engineering concepts. The intent is to move beyond studying isolated genes or pathways and instead build quantitative, predictive frameworks that connect molecular events to cell behavior, tumor dynamics, and potentially treatment response. This consortium structure also signals an emphasis on standardization, interoperability, data sharing, and collaborative problem-solving across multiple sites, rather than each group working independently.
The CSBC itself was structured to include three main funding components: (1) U54 CSBC Research Centers supported under this announcement (RFA-CA-15-014), (2) a separate Coordinating Center supported under a companion U24 announcement (RFA-CA-15-015), and (3) additional related research efforts funded through the U01 mechanism. The Coordinating Center concept typically exists to keep a distributed consortium functioning smoothly by handling cross-site communication, shared policies, meeting organization, and coordinating data and tool dissemination, while the U54 centers focus on executing the core research programs.
Administratively, this opportunity fell under the NIH discretionary grant category and used the cooperative agreement funding instrument. It was associated with CFDA numbers 93.395 (Cancer Treatment Research) and 93.396 (Cancer Biology Research). There was no cost sharing or matching requirement. The opportunity was posted on September 2, 2015, with an original and current closing date of April 20, 2017, and it was archived on May 21, 2017.
Funding levels were substantial but capped per award. The estimated total funding listed was $12,600,000, and the award ceiling was $1,500,000 (typically interpreted as the maximum annual direct cost or total cost level depending on the specific NIH announcement details, though the listing here presents it as a ceiling amount). Because U54 awards usually support center-style activities, applicants would generally need to show they have the leadership structure, project management capacity, and collaborative infrastructure to run an integrated research program at scale.
Eligibility was broad across the U.S. research ecosystem. Eligible applicants included public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (with the specified exclusions), small businesses, for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and various levels of government (state and county). The announcement also explicitly included several institution types such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), along with eligible federal agencies and U.S. territories or possessions. Foreign institutions and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations were not eligible to apply, although foreign components as defined by NIH policy were allowed, which typically means a U.S. applicant could include certain well-justified foreign collaborations under NIH rules.
For applicants seeking the full official requirements, the announcement pointed to the NIH Grants Guide page for RFA-CA-15-014. For technical access issues, the contact listed was the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) Webmaster at FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV, including help for difficulty accessing the announcement or problems linking to it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is this funding opportunity?
This opportunity was offered by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to launch and support a Cancer Systems Biology Consortium (CSBC) built around large, collaborative research centers.
2) What is the goal of the Cancer Systems Biology Consortium (CSBC)?
The CSBC was intended to tackle complexity in basic and translational cancer research by combining laboratory experiments with computational and systems-level approaches. The aim was to move beyond isolated genes or pathways and instead develop quantitative, predictive frameworks that connect molecular events to cell behavior, tumor dynamics, and potentially treatment response.
3) What funding mechanism is used for the CSBC Research Centers?
The CSBC Research Centers were supported through a U54 Cooperative Agreement (RFA-CA-15-014).
4) What does a U54 Cooperative Agreement generally mean for how the project operates?
A U54 Cooperative Agreement generally indicates a coordinated, multi-component effort with substantial programmatic involvement from NIH staff. In practice, projects are expected to function as integrated center-style programs rather than as a single independent research project.
5) What kinds of research approaches were expected under this opportunity?
The opportunity emphasized integrating experimental cancer biology with in silico modeling, multi-dimensional data analysis, and systems engineering concepts. The intended outputs included models, shared data resources, and broadly useful insights about cancer as a complex system.
6) Why does this opportunity emphasize collaboration and consortium structure?
The consortium structure signaled a strong emphasis on cross-site collaboration, standardization, interoperability, and data sharing. The intent was for multiple sites to work in a coordinated way rather than operating independently.
7) What are the main components of the CSBC funding structure?
The CSBC was structured to include three main funding components: (1) U54 CSBC Research Centers (supported under RFA-CA-15-014), (2) a Coordinating Center supported under a companion U24 announcement (RFA-CA-15-015), and (3) additional related research efforts funded through the U01 mechanism.
8) What is the role of the CSBC Coordinating Center (U24)?
The Coordinating Center concept was described as supporting consortium operations by facilitating cross-site communication, shared policies, meeting organization, and coordination of data and tool dissemination. The U54 centers, in contrast, focused on executing the core research programs.
9) What agency and institute offered this opportunity?
This opportunity was offered by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) within the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
10) How was this opportunity categorized administratively?
It fell under the NIH discretionary grant category and used a cooperative agreement funding instrument.
11) What CFDA numbers were associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity was associated with CFDA 93.395 (Cancer Treatment Research) and 93.396 (Cancer Biology Research).
12) Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. The listing stated there was no cost sharing or matching requirement.
13) What were the key dates (posting, closing, archive)?
The opportunity was posted on September 2, 2015. The original and current closing date listed was April 20, 2017. It was archived on May 21, 2017.
14) Is this opportunity still open?
No. Based on the provided information, the closing date was April 20, 2017 and the opportunity was archived on May 21, 2017.
15) How much total funding was estimated for this opportunity?
The estimated total funding listed was $12,600,000.
16) What was the award ceiling?
The award ceiling was listed as $1,500,000. The listing presents this as a ceiling amount (often interpreted as a maximum per-award level; the specific interpretation can depend on the NIH announcement details).
17) What kind of organizational capacity would applicants typically need for a U54 center award?
Because U54 awards usually support center-style activities, applicants would generally need to demonstrate leadership structure, project management capacity, and collaborative infrastructure to run an integrated research program at scale.
18) Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was broad and included public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (with specified exclusions), small businesses, for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and various levels of government including state and county.
19) Were minority-serving institutions explicitly included as eligible applicants?
Yes. The announcement explicitly included institution types such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs).
20) Were federal agencies, U.S. territories, or U.S. possessions eligible?
Yes. Eligible applicants included eligible federal agencies and U.S. territories or possessions.
21) Are foreign institutions eligible to apply?
No. Foreign institutions and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations were not eligible to apply.
22) Are foreign collaborations allowed in any form?
Yes. While foreign institutions could not apply directly, foreign components (as defined by NIH policy) were allowed. This typically means a U.S. applicant could include certain foreign collaborations under NIH rules when well-justified.
23) Where can applicants find the official announcement and full requirements?
The information directed applicants to the NIH Grants Guide page for RFA-CA-15-014 for the full official requirements.
24) Who should be contacted for technical problems accessing the announcement?
For technical access issues (such as difficulty accessing the announcement or problems linking to it), the contact listed was the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) Webmaster at FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV.
25) Which specific announcement number covered the U54 CSBC Research Centers?
The U54 CSBC Research Centers were supported under RFA-CA-15-014.
26) Which companion announcement covered the Coordinating Center?
The Coordinating Center was supported under a companion U24 announcement, RFA-CA-15-015.
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