Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 26 134
Apply for PAR 26 134
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "The Metastasis Research Network (MetNet): MetNet Research Projects (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.396.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-02-04.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2028-11-22.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, 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, Small businesses, Others.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Metastasis Research Network (MetNet): MetNet Research Projects (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) is a National Cancer Institute (NCI) funding opportunity designed to support focused, stand-alone research projects that plug directly into NCI's broader MetNet effort. MetNet itself is organized around U54 Research Centers and is built on the idea that metastasis cannot be fully understood by looking at isolated tumor cells or single pathways alone. Instead, the Network prioritizes systems-level approaches that treat metastasis as a whole-body, multi-organ, multi-scale process involving complex interactions among tumor cells, host tissues, immune responses, circulation, and distant organ microenvironments. The intent of this NOFO is to bring in additional, discrete U01 projects that address important unmet needs, research gaps, or timely opportunities in metastasis science, and that can integrate with and complement the ongoing work already happening across the MetNet U54 Centers.
This opportunity uses the U01 cooperative agreement mechanism, which typically means the award is not just a standard research grant but involves substantial programmatic involvement from NIH/NCI staff. In practical terms, applicants should expect a more collaborative structure than a typical investigator-initiated grant, with coordination, sharing, and alignment with Network priorities being central to the project. The projects are expected to be clearly defined entities (not broad center-style programs) and to contribute to the larger MetNet objective of developing a cohesive, integrated understanding of metastatic progression. While the NOFO summary provided does not list specific scientific topics, it emphasizes systems-level strategies, which commonly include integrative experimental and computational work, multi-omics and longitudinal profiling, cross-organ modeling, network-based analyses, and approaches that connect mechanistic biology to organism-level outcomes. Importantly, this announcement is explicitly labeled "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," so applications cannot propose clinical trial activities under NIH's definition, even if the research is clinically relevant or uses human-derived samples.
Eligibility is broad and includes many common applicant types across the public, private, and nonprofit landscape. Eligible applicants include federal recognized tribal governments and tribal organizations, state and local governments, public and private institutions of higher education, independent school districts, special district governments, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)), for-profit organizations (including those other than small businesses), small businesses, and other organizations as permitted under NIH rules. The funding instrument is classified as discretionary, the activity category is health, and the CFDA/assistance listing number associated with the program is 93.396. The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health, specifically NCI.
International participation is permitted, but there is a major compliance constraint that applicants need to take seriously. Non-U.S. (foreign) organizations may apply directly, and U.S. organizations may include non-U.S. components as part of their projects. Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed. However, NIH policy effective May 1, 2025, restricts awards that involve foreign subawards or subcontracts. Under this NOFO, applications that include foreign subawards/subcontracts will be considered noncompliant and will not be reviewed for funding. This does not completely rule out international collaboration, but it does mean collaborations must be structured in allowed ways, such as unfunded collaborations, foreign components (when permissible under NIH definitions and structure), paying foreign consultants, or purchasing specialized equipment/supplies from foreign vendors, rather than issuing a funded subaward/subcontract to a foreign institution.
Key administrative details included in the source information are the Funding Opportunity Number PAR-26-134 and an original closing date of November 22, 2028, indicating that the announcement is expected to remain open over multiple receipt cycles until that date (applicants still need to confirm the specific due dates and cycles in the full NOFO text). The listed award ceiling is $500,000, which typically signals a maximum direct-cost or total-cost threshold depending on the program's budgeting rules (the NOFO itself should be checked to confirm exactly how the cap is applied). The expected number of awards is not specified in the excerpt provided. The NOFO creation date is February 4, 2026.
Overall, the opportunity is aimed at investigators or teams who can propose a well-scoped metastasis research project that fits into a coordinated national Network, advances systems-level understanding of metastatic disease, and is designed with integration, data sharing, and complementarity to existing MetNet Center work in mind, all while staying within NIH's clinical trial restrictions and the post-2025 limitations on foreign subawards/subcontracts.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Metastasis Research Network (MetNet): MetNet Research Projects (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) funding opportunity?
This is a National Cancer Institute (NCI) funding opportunity that supports focused, stand-alone U01 research projects designed to plug directly into NCI's broader MetNet effort. The projects are intended to address unmet needs, research gaps, or timely opportunities in metastasis science, and to integrate with and complement ongoing work across MetNet U54 Research Centers.
Which NIH institute is sponsoring this program?
The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH), specifically the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this announcement?
The Funding Opportunity Number is PAR-26-134.
What mechanism is used, and what does a U01 cooperative agreement imply?
The opportunity uses the U01 cooperative agreement mechanism. This typically means the award involves substantial programmatic involvement from NIH/NCI staff and is more collaborative than a standard investigator-initiated grant. Coordination, sharing, and alignment with MetNet priorities are central expectations.
How is a MetNet U01 project expected to relate to the larger MetNet Network?
A MetNet U01 project is expected to be a clearly defined, discrete research effort (not a broad center-style program) that contributes to MetNet's larger goal of developing a cohesive, integrated understanding of metastatic progression. Projects should integrate with and complement work already happening in MetNet U54 Centers.
What scientific approach is emphasized by this opportunity?
The opportunity emphasizes systems-level approaches to metastasis, treating it as a whole-body, multi-organ, multi-scale process. It highlights complex interactions among tumor cells, host tissues, immune responses, circulation, and distant organ microenvironments. While specific topic areas are not listed in the provided summary, the description points toward integrative experimental and computational work, multi-omics and longitudinal profiling, cross-organ modeling, network-based analyses, and approaches connecting mechanistic biology to organism-level outcomes.
Are clinical trials allowed under this announcement?
No. The announcement is explicitly labeled "Clinical Trial Not Allowed." Applications cannot propose clinical trial activities under the NIH definition of a clinical trial, even if the work is clinically relevant or uses human-derived samples.
If my research uses human-derived samples, does that automatically make it a clinical trial?
The provided information states that clinical trials are not allowed, even if research is clinically relevant or uses human-derived samples. Whether a specific study meets the NIH definition of a clinical trial is not detailed in the excerpt, so applicants should ensure that proposed activities do not fall under NIH's clinical trial definition.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes: federal recognized tribal governments and tribal organizations; state and local governments; public and private institutions of higher education; independent school districts; special district governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits (501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)); for-profit organizations (including those other than small businesses); small businesses; and other organizations as permitted under NIH rules.
Are for-profit companies eligible, including those that are not small businesses?
Yes. For-profit organizations are listed as eligible, including those other than small businesses.
Can small businesses apply?
Yes. Small businesses are explicitly included in the eligibility list.
Can tribal governments and tribal organizations apply?
Yes. Federal recognized tribal governments and tribal organizations are listed as eligible applicants.
Can international (non-U.S.) organizations apply directly?
Yes. Non-U.S. (foreign) organizations may apply directly, and U.S. organizations may include non-U.S. components as part of their projects, consistent with NIH policy and definitions.
Are foreign components allowed?
Yes. Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed under this opportunity (as described in the provided information).
Are foreign subawards or foreign subcontracts allowed?
No. NIH policy effective May 1, 2025 restricts awards that involve foreign subawards or subcontracts. Under this NOFO, applications that include foreign subawards/subcontracts are considered noncompliant and will not be reviewed for funding.
Does the restriction on foreign subawards completely prevent international collaboration?
No. The provided information notes that international collaboration can still occur, but it must be structured in allowed ways. Examples mentioned include unfunded collaborations, permissible foreign components (as defined and structured under NIH rules), paying foreign consultants, or purchasing specialized equipment/supplies from foreign vendors rather than issuing a funded subaward/subcontract to a foreign institution.
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this program?
The CFDA/Assistance Listing number associated with the program is 93.396.
How is this opportunity classified in terms of activity area and instrument type?
The activity category is health, and the funding instrument is classified as discretionary (based on the provided information).
What is the award ceiling for this opportunity?
The listed award ceiling is $500,000. The provided information notes that this typically signals a maximum direct-cost or total-cost threshold depending on the program's budgeting rules, and applicants should check the full NOFO to confirm how the cap is applied.
How many awards will be made?
The expected number of awards is not specified in the provided excerpt.
When was this NOFO created?
The NOFO creation date is February 4, 2026.
What is the closing date for this funding opportunity?
The original closing date listed is November 22, 2028, suggesting the announcement may remain open across multiple receipt cycles until that date. The provided information also notes that applicants should confirm the specific due dates and cycles in the full NOFO text.
Is this a single deadline opportunity or does it run on multiple receipt cycles?
The provided information indicates it is expected to remain open over multiple receipt cycles until November 22, 2028, but applicants are advised to confirm specific due dates and cycles in the full NOFO.
What kinds of projects are a good fit for this opportunity?
Good-fit projects are well-scoped, stand-alone metastasis research projects that address important unmet needs, research gaps, or timely opportunities in metastasis science and are designed to integrate with the MetNet Network. Projects should align with systems-level perspectives and be built with coordination, sharing, and complementarity to existing MetNet U54 Center work in mind.
Should applicants expect network coordination and data sharing expectations?
Yes. The description emphasizes a collaborative structure, coordination, sharing, alignment with Network priorities, and integration with ongoing MetNet work.
How is MetNet described in terms of the science of metastasis?
MetNet is described as prioritizing systems-level approaches because metastasis cannot be fully understood by focusing only on isolated tumor cells or single pathways. It treats metastasis as a whole-body process involving multiple organs and scales, shaped by interactions among tumor cells, host tissues, immune responses, circulation, and distant organ microenvironments.
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