Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 14 353
Apply for PAR 14 353
- 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 Cancers for Years 2015 and 2016 (P50)" 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.
- This funding opportunity was created on Sep 26, 2014 and posted on Sep 26, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 22, 2016. (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 $2,300,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education City or township governments Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Small businesses Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education For profit organizations other than small businesses Special district governments Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education County governments State governments Independent school districts Private institutions of higher education Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities.
- 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 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 NIH funding opportunity PAR-14-353 supports Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPOREs) in Human Cancers through P50 Research Center Grants, with the intent of pushing investigator-initiated translational cancer research that can realistically move toward better prevention, earlier detection, improved diagnosis, and more effective treatment. The central expectation is that funded centers will not just generate basic discoveries, but will actively drive those findings toward a clear human-focused endpoint within the grant period. In practice, this means the work needs to be grounded in human biology and human disease relevance, using modern experimental approaches such as cellular, molecular, structural, biochemical, and genetic methods, while keeping the research anchored to outcomes that matter clinically, such as biomarkers, risk stratification tools, new therapeutic strategies, or improved clinical management approaches.
A defining feature of this SPORE announcement is its focus on an organ-specific cancer or a scientifically justified related group of cancers. The most straightforward grouping is by organ system, where the cancers arise from organs with shared physiological function, such as gastrointestinal, endocrine, or circulatory systems. At the same time, the FOA explicitly allows alternative groupings when the scientific rationale is strong, including cancers that span different organ systems but share a common causal driver or biological mechanism that is critical to tumor initiation or progression. Examples noted in the announcement include cancers linked by the same infectious agent or cancers sustained by dysregulation of a shared signaling pathway. This flexibility is meant to encourage proposals that reflect how modern cancer biology often cuts across traditional anatomical boundaries, while still requiring a cohesive, focused theme that keeps the center integrated rather than a loose collection of unrelated projects.
The SPORE model emphasized here goes beyond funding a set of research projects. Applicants are expected to build a coordinated program that supports a wide spectrum of translational activities and also strengthens the broader research environment. That includes developing specialized shared resources and core facilities that enable the translational pipeline, improving research model systems that more faithfully represent human cancers, and creating collaborative projects, including collaborations with other institutions when it strengthens the translational impact. In other words, the award is intended to function like an engine for a sustained, team-based translational effort, where shared infrastructure and coordinated planning are as important as the individual experiments.
Two required program components highlight the workforce and innovation goals of the SPORE mechanism. First, each SPORE must include a Developmental Research Program, which is essentially a structured way to support pilot studies and early-stage ideas that could become future full projects. This component is designed to keep the center nimble and responsive to emerging opportunities, letting investigators generate the preliminary data needed to advance promising translational directions. Second, each SPORE must include a Career Enhancement Program aimed at fostering and accelerating careers in translational research aligned with the SPORE focus. This reflects NIH interest in building long-term translational capacity by mentoring and supporting investigators who can bridge laboratory science and clinical application.
From an administrative standpoint, this opportunity is a discretionary grant program offered by the National Institutes of Health under the activity category of education and health, and it is associated with CFDA number 93.395 (Cancer Treatment Research). The FOA was posted on September 26, 2014, and it remained open through a final application due date (current closing date) of September 22, 2016, with an archive date of October 23, 2016. The listed award ceiling is $2,300,000, and there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement, which indicates applicants are not required to contribute institutional funds as a condition of eligibility (though, in practice, many large center applications still document institutional commitment in other ways).
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and governmental entities. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, state and local governments (including county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, and independent school districts), tribal governments and tribal organizations, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofit organizations (both with and without 501(c)(3) status), and for-profit organizations, including small businesses. The FOA also identifies a wide range of mission-specific or community-focused institution types as eligible, 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), as well as faith-based or community-based organizations and eligible federal agencies. Foreign organizations and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply directly, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible; however, “foreign components” as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement are allowed, meaning a U.S. applicant can include certain well-justified international elements within the project when permitted under NIH policy.
Overall, PAR-14-353 is aimed at creating or strengthening high-impact, team-science translational cancer centers organized around a coherent cancer focus, with expectations that awardees will build shared infrastructure, advance human-relevant model systems, collaborate effectively, and maintain a pipeline for both new ideas (via pilot projects) and new translational investigators (via structured career development). For full details, NIH directed applicants to the official posting at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-14-353.html, with technical access support available through the NIH Office of Extramural Research webmaster.
FAQs: NIH PAR-14-353 (SPOREs in Human Cancers, P50)
What is PAR-14-353?
PAR-14-353 is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity that supports Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPOREs) in Human Cancers through the P50 Research Center Grant mechanism.
What is the main purpose of this SPORE funding opportunity?
The purpose is to support investigator-initiated translational cancer research that can realistically move toward improved cancer prevention, earlier detection, improved diagnosis, and more effective treatment. A central expectation is that the funded center actively drives discoveries toward a clear human-focused endpoint within the grant period.
How does this FOA define "translational" cancer research?
Translational research under this FOA is research grounded in human biology and human disease relevance, using modern experimental approaches (such as cellular, molecular, structural, biochemical, and genetic methods) while staying anchored to clinically meaningful outcomes. The work should push findings toward endpoints that matter in humans, not just generate basic discoveries.
What kinds of outcomes or endpoints does NIH expect SPORE projects to aim for?
Examples of expected clinically relevant endpoints include biomarkers, risk stratification tools, new therapeutic strategies, and improved clinical management approaches, along with advances that contribute to better prevention, detection, diagnosis, or treatment.
Does the SPORE need to focus on a specific cancer type?
Yes. A defining feature is a focus on an organ-specific cancer or a scientifically justified related group of cancers, organized around a cohesive, integrated theme rather than a loose set of unrelated projects.
How can applicants group cancers under this FOA?
The most straightforward grouping is by organ system (for example, cancers arising from organs with shared physiological function such as gastrointestinal, endocrine, or circulatory systems). The FOA also allows alternative groupings when the scientific rationale is strong.
Are cross-organ cancer groupings allowed?
Yes. The FOA explicitly allows groupings that span different organ systems when there is a strong scientific rationale, such as cancers sharing a common causal driver or biological mechanism critical to tumor initiation or progression.
What examples are given for alternative groupings of cancers?
The FOA notes examples such as cancers linked by the same infectious agent, or cancers sustained by dysregulation of a shared signaling pathway.
Is this award intended to fund only individual research projects?
No. The SPORE model described here goes beyond funding a set of projects. Applicants are expected to build a coordinated, team-based translational program with shared resources, core facilities, collaborative efforts, and coordinated planning that strengthen the broader translational research environment.
What types of shared capabilities or infrastructure are emphasized?
The FOA emphasizes developing specialized shared resources and core facilities that enable the translational pipeline, along with improving research model systems that more faithfully represent human cancers.
Are collaborations encouraged under this FOA?
Yes. The FOA encourages collaborative projects, including collaborations with other institutions when doing so strengthens translational impact.
What required program components must each SPORE include?
Two required components highlighted in the FOA are: (1) a Developmental Research Program and (2) a Career Enhancement Program.
What is the Developmental Research Program?
The Developmental Research Program is a required component designed to support pilot studies and early-stage ideas that could become future full projects. It helps the SPORE remain nimble and responsive by enabling investigators to generate preliminary data to advance promising translational directions.
What is the Career Enhancement Program?
The Career Enhancement Program is a required component aimed at fostering and accelerating careers in translational research aligned with the SPORE focus. It reflects NIH interest in building long-term translational capacity through mentoring and support for investigators who bridge laboratory science and clinical application.
Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?
This is a discretionary grant program offered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What is the activity category associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with the activity category of education and health.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The CFDA number listed for this opportunity is 93.395 (Cancer Treatment Research).
What is the award mechanism for PAR-14-353?
The FOA supports SPOREs through the P50 Research Center Grant mechanism.
What is the maximum award amount listed?
The listed award ceiling is $2,300,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The FOA states there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
When was the FOA posted and when did it close?
The FOA was posted on September 26, 2014. It remained open through a final application due date (current closing date) of September 22, 2016. The archive date is October 23, 2016.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many U.S.-based organizations and governmental entities. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, state governments, local governments (including county, city or township, special district governments, and independent school districts), tribal governments and tribal organizations, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status), and for-profit organizations (including small businesses). Eligible federal agencies are also included.
Are community-focused and minority-serving institutions eligible?
Yes. The FOA identifies multiple mission-specific or community-focused institution types as eligible, including 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), as well as faith-based or community-based organizations.
Can foreign organizations apply directly?
No. Foreign organizations and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply directly under this FOA.
Are non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations eligible?
No. The FOA states that non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible.
Are any international elements allowed at all?
Yes. The FOA allows "foreign components" as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement. This means a U.S. applicant may include certain well-justified international elements within the project when permitted under NIH policy.
Where can applicants find the official FOA posting?
NIH directed applicants to the official posting at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-14-353.html
Where can applicants get technical help accessing the FOA?
Technical access support is available through the NIH Office of Extramural Research webmaster.
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