Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 08 121
Apply for PA 08 121
- The National Institutes of Health in the education health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Symptom Interactions in Cancer and Immune Disorders (R01)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.213 Research and Training in Complementary and Integrative Health 93.361 Nursing Research 93.399 Cancer Control.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 5, 2008 and posted on Mar 28, 2008.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 7, 2011. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Independent school districts Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) State governments Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Private institutions of higher education Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Small businesses County governments For profit organizations other than small businesses City or township governments Special district governments.
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions 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
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Opportunity Summary:
The Symptom Interactions in Cancer and Immune Disorders (R01) opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number PA-08-121) is an NIH discretionary research grant focused on improving the scientific understanding of how multiple symptoms relate to and influence one another in people with cancer and immune-related disorders, including during treatment and survivorship. The participating NIH components include the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the National Center on Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM, now known as NCCIH), and the National Institute on Aging (NIA). Rather than treating symptoms as isolated problems, this announcement pushes applicants to study the ways symptoms co-occur and interact biologically and behaviorally, with the goal of producing knowledge that can lead to better patient outcomes and more effective symptom management strategies.
The core scientific emphasis is on four connected aims that applicants can address: first, identifying and assessing biobehavioral interactions among two or more related, co-occurring symptoms; second, characterizing the mechanisms and pathways that explain why and how those symptom interactions happen; third, clarifying what degree or pattern of interaction is sufficient to justify labeling a set of symptoms as a true "symptom cluster" (as opposed to symptoms that merely happen to appear together); and fourth, designing and testing interventions that specifically target interacting symptoms or symptom clusters, based on the expectation that addressing the interaction itself can produce better clinical results than addressing each symptom separately. A key requirement embedded in the description is that applications need a clear rationale for why the selected symptoms belong together conceptually or mechanistically. In other words, simply documenting that two or more symptoms co-occur is not enough; applicants must justify the symptom selection and link the symptoms to a specific disease or syndrome, or to the treatment of that condition.
The mechanism of support is the NIH R01, which is the standard research project grant intended for more mature, hypothesis-driven programs of research. The announcement also notes that it runs in parallel with a companion FOA of identical scientific scope that uses the R21 mechanism (PA-08-122), which is typically used for exploratory or early-stage projects. Under the R01 version, studies can be positioned anywhere along the disease trajectory, meaning work may focus on early diagnosis, active treatment phases, advanced disease, long-term management, or the survivorship period. This broad allowance signals NIH interest in symptom interaction science across the full continuum of patient experiences, not just at a single clinical timepoint.
From an applicant and administrative standpoint, the opportunity was posted March 28, 2008, with a closing date of May 7, 2011, and an archive date of June 7, 2011, indicating it is no longer open for new submissions today but remains useful as a reference point for the type of science NIH has prioritized in this area. The award landscape is described as dependent on available funds and the quality and quantity of meritorious applications, and the announcement does not promise a fixed number of awards. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement, which is typical for many NIH research project grants.
Eligibility is expansive and includes a wide range of domestic and non-domestic organizations. Eligible applicants listed include public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status, for-profit organizations (including small businesses and other for-profit entities), state and local governments (including counties, cities, townships, and special districts), independent school districts, and public or Indian housing authorities. It also explicitly includes federally recognized tribal governments as well as other tribal organizations, and it broadens eligibility further through an additional list that mentions Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based and community-based organizations, regional organizations, U.S. territory or possession agencies, and even non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations). The listed CFDA program areas connected to this FOA include complementary and integrative health research and training (93.213), nursing research (93.361), and cancer control (93.399), reflecting the cross-cutting nature of symptom science across disciplines and patient populations.
Overall, this FOA is best understood as a call for rigorous, mechanism-informed symptom research that treats symptom burden as an interconnected system rather than a checklist. It encourages applicants to move beyond correlation toward explanations (pathways and mechanisms), clearer definitions (what qualifies as a cluster), and practical translation (interventions that intentionally target interacting symptoms). The full archived announcement was referenced via the NIH Grants Guide link (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-08-121.html), and applicants who had trouble accessing the announcement were directed to the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster contact listed in the notice.
FAQs: Symptom Interactions in Cancer and Immune Disorders (R01) - PA-08-121
What is the Symptom Interactions in Cancer and Immune Disorders (R01) opportunity (PA-08-121)?
PA-08-121 is an NIH discretionary research grant opportunity using the R01 mechanism. It focused on improving scientific understanding of how multiple symptoms relate to and influence one another in people with cancer and immune-related disorders, including during treatment and survivorship.
What is the main purpose or scientific theme of this FOA?
The FOA pushed applicants to study symptoms as interconnected and interacting (biologically and behaviorally), rather than as isolated problems. The intended outcome was knowledge that can support better patient outcomes and more effective symptom management strategies.
Which NIH components participated in PA-08-121?
The participating NIH components were the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the National Center on Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM, now known as NCCIH), and the National Institute on Aging (NIA).
What types of patient populations or conditions were in scope?
The FOA emphasized people with cancer and people with immune-related disorders, including symptom experiences during treatment and throughout survivorship.
What does the FOA mean by studying symptom interactions?
It means examining how two or more co-occurring symptoms relate to each other and potentially influence each other through biobehavioral processes, rather than only documenting that the symptoms appear at the same time.
What are the core scientific aims applicants could address?
The FOA described four connected aims: (1) identifying and assessing biobehavioral interactions among two or more related, co-occurring symptoms; (2) characterizing mechanisms and pathways that explain why and how symptom interactions occur; (3) clarifying what degree or pattern of interaction is sufficient to define a true "symptom cluster"; and (4) designing and testing interventions that specifically target interacting symptoms or symptom clusters.
Is it enough to show that symptoms co-occur?
No. The description emphasized that simply documenting co-occurrence was not sufficient. Applications needed a clear rationale for why the selected symptoms belong together conceptually or mechanistically.
What kind of rationale was expected for choosing a set of symptoms?
Applicants were expected to justify the symptom selection and link the symptoms to a specific disease or syndrome, or to the treatment of that condition, with a conceptual or mechanistic basis for why the symptoms fit together.
What is meant by a "symptom cluster" in this announcement?
Within the FOA framing, a symptom cluster was not just a set of symptoms that appear together. The FOA highlighted the need to clarify what degree or pattern of interaction justifies labeling a set of symptoms as a true cluster.
What kinds of projects were encouraged beyond observation and description?
The FOA encouraged moving beyond correlation toward mechanism and translation, including research that explains pathways and mechanisms and studies that design and test interventions aimed at interacting symptoms or symptom clusters.
What mechanism of support did PA-08-121 use?
PA-08-121 used the NIH R01 mechanism, described as the standard research project grant intended for more mature, hypothesis-driven programs of research.
Was there a related or companion funding opportunity?
Yes. The announcement ran in parallel with a companion FOA of identical scientific scope that used the R21 mechanism: PA-08-122. The R21 was described as typically used for exploratory or early-stage projects.
Where along the disease trajectory could R01 studies be positioned?
Studies could be positioned anywhere along the disease trajectory, including early diagnosis, active treatment phases, advanced disease, long-term management, or the survivorship period.
When was this FOA posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was posted on March 28, 2008, had a closing date of May 7, 2011, and an archive date of June 7, 2011.
Is PA-08-121 currently open for new submissions?
No. Based on the closing and archive dates provided, it is no longer open for new submissions. It remains useful as a reference for the type of science NIH has prioritized in this area.
Did the FOA promise a set number of awards?
No. The award landscape was described as dependent on available funds and the quality and quantity of meritorious applications, and it did not promise a fixed number of awards.
Was there a cost sharing or matching requirement?
No. The FOA stated there was no cost sharing or matching requirement.
What kinds of organizations were eligible to apply?
Eligibility was expansive and included public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status, for-profit organizations (including small businesses and other for-profit entities), and a wide range of government and community-based entities.
Were state, local, or special district governments eligible?
Yes. The FOA listed state and local governments (including counties, cities, townships, and special districts) as eligible applicants.
Were tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA explicitly included federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations, and it also referenced Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs).
Could non-U.S. (foreign) organizations apply?
Yes. The eligibility list explicitly included non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations).
Did the FOA mention eligibility for specific institution types like HSIs, HBCUs, or Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions?
Yes. The additional eligibility list mentioned Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs).
Were faith-based and community-based organizations included as eligible applicants?
Yes. The eligibility list included faith-based and community-based organizations.
Were independent school districts or housing authorities eligible?
Yes. The FOA listed independent school districts and public or Indian housing authorities among eligible applicants.
Which CFDA program areas were connected to this FOA?
The FOA listed CFDA program areas including complementary and integrative health research and training (93.213), nursing research (93.361), and cancer control (93.399).
Where was the archived FOA posted, and what link was referenced?
The archived announcement was referenced via the NIH Grants Guide link: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-08-121.html
What if someone had trouble accessing the announcement?
The notice indicated that applicants who had trouble accessing the announcement were directed to the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster contact listed in the notice.
How should this FOA be understood at a high level?
It was a call for rigorous, mechanism-informed symptom research that treats symptom burden as an interconnected system. It encouraged clearer definitions of clusters, stronger explanations of pathways and mechanisms, and interventions intentionally designed around interacting symptoms.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Education Health
Next opportunity: Symptom Interactions in Cancer and Immune Disorders (R21)
Previous opportunity: Cancer Education Grants Program (R25)
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (PA 08 121) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Symptom Interactions in Cancer and Immune Disorders (R21) Apply for PA 08 122 Funding Number: PA 08 122 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Epidemiology Of Drug Abuse (R01) Apply for PA 08 124 Funding Number: PA 08 124 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Epidemiology Of Drug Abuse (R21) Apply for PA 08 125 Funding Number: PA 08 125 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Epidemiology Of Drug Abuse (R03) Apply for PA 08 126 Funding Number: PA 08 126 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Enhancing Tumoricidal Activity of Natural Killer (NK) Cells by Dietary Components for Cancer Prevention (R01) Apply for PA 08 131 Funding Number: PA 08 131 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Enhancing Tumoricidal Activity of Natural Killer (NK) Cells by Dietary Components for Cancer Prevention (R21) Apply for PA 08 132 Funding Number: PA 08 132 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Prescription Drug Misuse (R01) Apply for PA 08 127 Funding Number: PA 08 127 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Prescription Drug Misuse (R21) Apply for PA 08 128 Funding Number: PA 08 128 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Prescription Drug Misuse (R03) Apply for PA 08 129 Funding Number: PA 08 129 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Exploratory/Developmental Grant for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Studies of Humans (R21) Apply for PAR 08 135 Funding Number: PAR 08 135 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Correlative Studies with Specimens from Multi Site Trials (R21) Apply for PA 08 133 Funding Number: PA 08 133 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Correlative Studies with Specimens from Multi Site Trials (R01) Apply for PA 08 134 Funding Number: PA 08 134 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Mitochondria in Cancer Epidemiology, Detection, Diagnosis and Prognosis (R01) Apply for PA 08 143 Funding Number: PA 08 143 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Mitochondria in Cancer Epidemiology, Detection, Diagnosis and Prognosis (R21) Apply for PA 08 144 Funding Number: PA 08 144 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Science Education Drug Abuse Partnership Award R25 Apply for PAR 08 145 Funding Number: PAR 08 145 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Biomarkers of Infection Associated Cancers (R01) Apply for PA 08 156 Funding Number: PA 08 156 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Biomarkers of Infection Associated Cancers (R21) Apply for PA 08 157 Funding Number: PA 08 157 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Transdisciplinary Research on Fatigue and Fatigability in Aging (R01) Apply for PA 08 161 Funding Number: PA 08 161 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Transdisciplinary Research on Fatigue and Fatigability in Aging (R21) Apply for PA 08 162 Funding Number: PA 08 162 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Stem Cells and Cancer (R21) Apply for PA 08 165 Funding Number: PA 08 165 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
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