Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 14 031
Apply for PAR 14 031
- The National Institutes of Health in the education health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPOREs) in Human Cancer for Years 2013 and 2014 (P50)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.121 Oral Diseases and Disorders Research 93.393 Cancer Cause and Prevention Research 93.394 Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research 93.395 Cancer Treatment Research 93.396 Cancer Biology Research 93.397 Cancer Centers Support Grants 93.399 Cancer Control.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 20, 2013 and posted on Dec 11, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 23, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: For profit organizations other than small businesses Special district governments Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Private institutions of higher education Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education City or township governments Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) State governments Small businesses County governments Independent school districts.
- 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) Regional Organizations 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 eligible to apply. Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPOREs) in Human Cancer for Years 2013 and 2014 (P50) grant opportunity, Funding Opportunity Number PAR-14-031, is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Funding Opportunity Announcement designed to support large, organ-focused cancer research centers that are explicitly translational in purpose. The core idea of the program is to fund state-of-the-art, investigator-initiated research that moves discoveries along the path from mechanistic understanding of human cancer biology toward real-world improvements in prevention, early detection, diagnosis, and treatment. Unlike basic research programs that can remain primarily exploratory, this FOA stresses that SPORE projects must be driven by human biology and must aim for a clear translational human endpoint within the grant project period.
A SPORE funded under this FOA is expected to function as a coordinated center rather than a collection of unrelated studies. The work needs to be organized around an organ-specific cancer (or a related group of cancers), meaning the research program should be tightly focused on a defined disease area and built to accelerate clinical or population impact in that context. The translational requirement is central: supported research should be grounded in knowledge of human cancer biology and may use cellular, molecular, structural, biochemical, and genetic approaches, but the intent must always be to connect those approaches to outcomes that matter for humans. In practical terms, the program expects research that bridges laboratory findings and clinical application, such as developing and validating biomarkers, improving screening or early detection strategies, refining diagnostic approaches, advancing therapeutic targets, or informing prevention interventions, all anchored in evidence relevant to human disease.
Beyond the research projects themselves, SPOREs are expected to build infrastructure and collaborative capacity that enables high-impact translation. A major element is the development and strengthening of specialized shared resource Core facilities (often referred to as "Cores"). These Cores are meant to provide essential capabilities, shared tools, specialized technologies, and support services that multiple projects within the SPORE can use, improving efficiency and scientific rigor while making it easier to conduct complex translational work. The FOA also emphasizes the importance of improved research model systems, which typically refers to developing, refining, or validating experimental models that better reflect human cancer biology and can be used to test hypotheses or interventions more reliably. In addition, SPOREs are encouraged to pursue collaborative research projects with other institutions, reflecting the program's expectation that impactful translational cancer research often requires multi-institutional partnerships, access to diverse patient populations, and shared expertise.
Two required programmatic components underscore the SPORE model's emphasis on innovation and workforce development. First, each SPORE must include a Developmental Research Program that supports pilot studies. This is intended to seed new ideas, generate preliminary data, and allow promising but early-stage translational concepts to be tested quickly, with the potential to mature into full projects. Second, each SPORE must include a Career Development Program focused on fostering careers in organ-based translational cancer science. This requirement reflects an expectation that SPOREs contribute not only to near-term scientific progress but also to building a pipeline of investigators equipped to lead future translational research efforts in specific cancer areas.
From an administrative and eligibility standpoint, this is a discretionary grant opportunity using the P50 Research Center Grant mechanism, categorized under Education and Health and linked to multiple CFDA numbers spanning oral diseases and disorders research and a broad range of cancer research areas, including cancer cause and prevention, detection and diagnosis, treatment, biology, cancer centers support, and cancer control. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement. The FOA was posted on December 11, 2013, created on December 20, 2013, and had an application closing date of September 23, 2014, with an archive date of October 24, 2014.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of domestic organizations and governmental entities. Eligible applicants listed include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (including those other than institutions of higher education), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, small businesses, and a wide range of government entities such as state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, independent school districts, and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. The FOA also notes 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 Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and eligible agencies of the federal government. Foreign institutions (non-domestic, non-U.S. entities) are not eligible to apply as applicant organizations, though non-domestic components of U.S. organizations may participate, and foreign components are allowed as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.
Overall, PAR-14-031 is structured to fund comprehensive, organ-focused translational cancer research centers that combine multiple integrated research projects with shared infrastructure, model development, and collaboration, while also investing in pilot innovation and the career growth of translational investigators. The defining feature is that the science must consistently connect back to human cancer biology and must be aimed at tangible translational endpoints within the grant period, aligning the SPORE program with measurable progress in clinical and preventive cancer outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the SPOREs in Human Cancer (P50) funding opportunity?
This opportunity is the Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPOREs) in Human Cancer for Years 2013 and 2014 (P50), Funding Opportunity Number PAR-14-031. It is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Funding Opportunity Announcement designed to support large, organ-focused cancer research centers with an explicitly translational purpose.
What is the main goal of PAR-14-031?
The main goal is to fund state-of-the-art, investigator-initiated research that moves discoveries from mechanistic understanding of human cancer biology toward real-world improvements in prevention, early detection, diagnosis, and treatment, with a clear translational human endpoint expected within the grant project period.
What does "explicitly translational" mean in this FOA?
In this FOA, "explicitly translational" means projects must be driven by human biology and must aim to connect laboratory and mechanistic findings to outcomes that matter for humans (for example, prevention interventions, screening/early detection strategies, diagnostic improvements, therapeutic targets, or biomarker development and validation), rather than remaining primarily exploratory.
How is a SPORE expected to be organized?
A SPORE is expected to function as a coordinated center rather than a collection of unrelated studies. The research program should be organized around an organ-specific cancer (or a related group of cancers) and designed to accelerate clinical or population impact in that defined disease context.
What disease focus is required for a SPORE under this announcement?
The work needs to be tightly focused on a defined organ-specific cancer (or a related group of cancers). The expectation is a cohesive center program built around that disease area, rather than a broad cancer portfolio across unrelated organs.
What kinds of scientific approaches can be used in SPORE projects?
The FOA indicates that SPORE research may use cellular, molecular, structural, biochemical, and genetic approaches, but the central intent must remain anchored to human cancer biology and tied to translational endpoints relevant to humans.
What types of translational outcomes does the FOA emphasize?
The FOA emphasizes translation toward tangible outcomes such as developing and validating biomarkers, improving screening or early detection strategies, refining diagnostic approaches, advancing therapeutic targets, and informing prevention interventions, all grounded in evidence relevant to human disease.
What is the required expectation regarding endpoints during the grant period?
The FOA stresses that SPORE projects must aim for a clear translational human endpoint within the grant project period, meaning the research should be structured to produce progress that is meaningfully connected to human application during the award timeframe.
What is the role of shared resource Core facilities ("Cores") in a SPORE?
The FOA expects SPOREs to develop and strengthen specialized shared resource Core facilities. These Cores provide essential capabilities, shared tools, specialized technologies, and support services that multiple SPORE projects can use, improving efficiency, scientific rigor, and the ability to execute complex translational work.
Does this FOA encourage development of improved research model systems?
Yes. The FOA emphasizes the importance of improved research model systems, generally meaning model development, refinement, or validation efforts that better reflect human cancer biology and can be used to test hypotheses or interventions more reliably.
Are collaborative and multi-institutional projects encouraged?
Yes. The FOA encourages collaborative research projects with other institutions, reflecting the expectation that impactful translational cancer research may require multi-institutional partnerships, shared expertise, and access to diverse patient populations.
What is the Developmental Research Program requirement?
Each SPORE must include a Developmental Research Program that supports pilot studies. This component is intended to seed new ideas, generate preliminary data, and quickly test early-stage translational concepts that could mature into full projects.
What is the Career Development Program requirement?
Each SPORE must include a Career Development Program focused on fostering careers in organ-based translational cancer science. The intent is to build a pipeline of investigators prepared to lead future translational research efforts in specific cancer areas.
What grant mechanism is used for this opportunity?
This is a discretionary grant opportunity using the P50 Research Center Grant mechanism.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The FOA states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
What broad subject areas does this FOA fall under?
The opportunity is categorized under Education and Health and is linked to multiple CFDA numbers spanning oral diseases and disorders research and a wide range of cancer research areas, including cancer cause and prevention, detection and diagnosis, treatment, biology, cancer centers support, and cancer control.
When was PAR-14-031 posted and when did it close?
The FOA was posted on December 11, 2013, created on December 20, 2013, and had an application closing date of September 23, 2014. The archive date is October 24, 2014.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility includes a wide range of domestic organizations and governmental entities, including public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status, including those other than institutions of higher education), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, small businesses, and multiple types of government entities (state, county, city/township, special district, independent school districts, and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities).
Are certain institution types explicitly mentioned as eligible?
Yes. The FOA notes 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 Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and eligible agencies of the federal government.
Are foreign institutions eligible to apply as the applicant organization?
No. Foreign institutions (non-domestic, non-U.S. entities) are not eligible to apply as applicant organizations under this FOA.
Can foreign components participate in a SPORE application?
Yes. While foreign institutions are not eligible as applicants, the FOA notes that non-domestic components of U.S. organizations may participate, and foreign components are allowed as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.
What makes this FOA different from a basic research program?
Unlike programs that can remain primarily exploratory, this FOA stresses that SPORE projects must be driven by human biology and must aim for a clear translational human endpoint within the project period, consistently connecting mechanistic work to prevention, detection, diagnosis, or treatment impact.
What is the defining feature of a SPORE funded under PAR-14-031?
The defining feature is a comprehensive, organ-focused translational cancer research center model that integrates multiple research projects with shared infrastructure (Cores), emphasizes improved model systems, encourages collaboration, and requires both pilot innovation (Developmental Research Program) and investigator pipeline development (Career Development Program), all tied back to human cancer biology and tangible translational endpoints.
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