Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 16 226
Apply for PAR 16 226
- The HHS-NIH11 in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "The Role of Mobile Genetic Elements in Cancer (R21)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.396, 93.866,.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 05, 2016 and posted on May 05, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 07, 2019. (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 $200,000.00 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 (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The funding opportunity "The Role of Mobile Genetic Elements in Cancer (R21)" (PAR-16-226) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) research grant announcement issued under HHS (Agency: HHS-NIH11). Its core purpose is to stimulate exploratory, early-stage research that digs into how mobile genetic elements are turned on, kept quiet, and otherwise regulated in cancer, and what their activity actually does to tumors as they form and change over time. The FOA is centered on mobile genetic elements that behave like retroelements, including both long terminal repeat (LTR) elements and non-LTR elements, and it encourages studies that connect basic mechanisms to cancer-relevant outcomes rather than treating retroelement expression as just a biomarker or curiosity.
A major scientific motivation behind the announcement is that many cancers show evidence of retroelement activity, but the field still lacks clear causal and mechanistic explanations for how that activity shapes tumor biology. The FOA highlights long interspersed element-1 (LINE-1, also called L1) as a prominent example. LINE-1 is known to be active in a range of cancers, and somatic insertions have been observed, yet it remains uncertain whether these new insertions meaningfully contribute to cancer cell diversity (tumor heterogeneity) or produce adaptive traits that help cancer cells grow, survive stress, evade immune pressure, metastasize, or persist through treatment. In other words, the opportunity is aimed at moving beyond detection of LINE-1 activity and toward understanding what regulates it in transformed cells and whether it creates functional consequences during cancer evolution or therapy response.
The FOA also calls attention to human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) as another important class of mobile genetic elements with unclear roles in cancer. HERV expression signatures have been reported across tumor types, but how HERV-derived transcripts or proteins influence cancer processes, signaling pathways, immune recognition, genomic stability, or tumor microenvironment dynamics is not well understood. This announcement invites proposals that tackle those unknowns with mechanistic clarity, particularly in the context of transformation (how normal cells become cancerous) and subsequent tumor progression.
Research proposed under this FOA is expected to focus on mechanisms that regulate retroelement expression and activity in cancer settings and to assess downstream impacts. That includes, in practical terms, studies that can explain what cellular factors, epigenetic states, transcriptional programs, or stress conditions allow these elements to become active in tumors, and how that activity affects tumor heterogeneity, clonal evolution, and responses to therapy. The emphasis on heterogeneity and evolution reflects a view of cancer as a changing population of cells, where mobile element activity could potentially generate new mutations, alter gene regulation, provoke innate immune pathways, or create variability that selection can act on during treatment.
Administratively, this is a discretionary grant opportunity using the NIH R21 mechanism, which is commonly used for exploratory or high-risk/high-reward projects that can establish feasibility and generate key proof-of-concept data. The listed award ceiling is $200,000, and the announcement was created and posted on May 5, 2016. The original and current closing date shown in the source data is September 7, 2019, indicating the specific submission window referenced there has passed, though the summary still captures the scientific scope and intent of the FOA as written.
Eligibility is broad and includes multiple categories of domestic organizations. Eligible applicants listed include state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status, excluding higher education institutions where specified); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses, along with other entities as allowed under the FOA's additional eligibility language. The funding activity category is identified as Education and Health, and the CFDA numbers associated with the opportunity are 93.396 and 93.866.
In short, the announcement is designed to push the cancer research community toward a more rigorous understanding of mobile genetic elements as active players in tumor biology. It seeks mechanistic studies that explain how LINE-1, HERVs, and related retroelements are controlled or unleashed in cancer cells, and it prioritizes work that tests whether their activation and insertional activity contribute to tumor diversity, evolutionary adaptation, and treatment outcomes rather than remaining correlative observations.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the official title and number of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "The Role of Mobile Genetic Elements in Cancer (R21)" and the funding opportunity announcement (FOA) number is PAR-16-226.
Which agency is offering this grant?
This is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) research grant announcement issued under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The agency identifier listed is HHS-NIH11.
What is the main purpose of this FOA?
The core purpose is to stimulate exploratory, early-stage research that investigates how mobile genetic elements are activated, silenced, and otherwise regulated in cancer, and what their activity does to tumors as they form and change over time. The FOA is designed to move the field toward causal and mechanistic understanding, not just observation.
What types of mobile genetic elements are in scope?
The FOA centers on mobile genetic elements that behave like retroelements, including both long terminal repeat (LTR) elements and non-LTR elements.
Does the FOA specifically highlight any example retroelement?
Yes. The FOA highlights long interspersed element-1 (LINE-1, also called L1) as a prominent example of a retroelement that is known to be active in a range of cancers, with somatic insertions observed.
What key scientific gap is this FOA trying to address regarding LINE-1?
While LINE-1 activity and somatic insertions have been detected in cancers, the FOA emphasizes that the field still lacks clear causal and mechanistic explanations for whether these new insertions and other LINE-1-related activity meaningfully contribute to tumor biology. In particular, it remains uncertain whether LINE-1 activity contributes to tumor heterogeneity or produces adaptive traits that influence growth, survival under stress, immune evasion, metastasis, or persistence through treatment.
Is this FOA interested in retroelement expression as a biomarker?
The FOA encourages studies that connect basic mechanisms to cancer-relevant outcomes rather than treating retroelement expression as only a biomarker or a correlative observation.
What role does tumor heterogeneity and evolution play in the FOA's focus?
A central theme is cancer as a changing population of cells. The FOA prioritizes work that tests whether mobile element activation and insertional activity contribute to tumor heterogeneity, clonal evolution, and responses to therapy, rather than remaining descriptive findings.
What downstream impacts of retroelement activity does the FOA suggest may be important?
Within the FOA's described rationale, retroelement activity could potentially generate new mutations, alter gene regulation, provoke innate immune pathways, or create cellular variability that selection can act on during treatment. The FOA is focused on rigorously assessing whether these kinds of consequences occur and matter in cancer settings.
Are human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) included in the scope?
Yes. The FOA calls attention to human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) as another important class of mobile genetic elements with reported expression signatures across tumor types but unclear mechanistic roles in cancer.
What kinds of unknowns about HERVs does the FOA invite applicants to address?
The FOA highlights that it is not well understood how HERV-derived transcripts or proteins influence cancer processes, signaling pathways, immune recognition, genomic stability, or tumor microenvironment dynamics. It invites proposals that address these unknowns with mechanistic clarity, especially in the context of transformation (how normal cells become cancerous) and subsequent tumor progression.
What kinds of research approaches are implied as a fit for this FOA?
Based on the described expectations, projects should focus on mechanisms regulating retroelement expression and activity in cancer and assess downstream effects. This includes studies examining cellular factors, epigenetic states, transcriptional programs, or stress conditions that allow retroelements to become active in tumors, and how that activity affects heterogeneity, clonal evolution, and therapy response.
What grant mechanism is used for this funding opportunity?
This FOA uses the NIH R21 mechanism, which is commonly used for exploratory and potentially high-risk/high-reward projects intended to establish feasibility and generate proof-of-concept data.
What is the award ceiling listed for this FOA?
The listed award ceiling is $200,000.
When was this FOA created and posted?
The announcement was created and posted on May 5, 2016.
Is the submission deadline still open?
The source data lists an original and current closing date of September 7, 2019. Based on that information, the specific submission window referenced has passed, even though the summary still describes the scientific scope and intent of the FOA as written.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as broad and includes multiple categories of domestic organizations. Eligible applicants listed include:
- State, county, and local governments
- Special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- Nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status, excluding higher education institutions where specified)
- For-profit organizations other than small businesses
- Small businesses
- Other entities as allowed under the FOA's additional eligibility language
What is the funding activity category for this opportunity?
The funding activity category is identified as Education and Health.
Which CFDA numbers are associated with this FOA?
The CFDA numbers associated with this opportunity are 93.396 and 93.866.
What is the overall takeaway of what this FOA is trying to accomplish scientifically?
The FOA is meant to push cancer research toward a more rigorous understanding of mobile genetic elements as active participants in tumor biology. It prioritizes mechanistic studies explaining how elements like LINE-1 and HERVs are controlled or unleashed in cancer cells, and whether their activation and insertional activity contribute to tumor diversity, evolutionary adaptation, and treatment outcomes rather than remaining correlative observations.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Education, Health
Next opportunity: NIDA Research Education Program for Clinical Researchers and Clinicians (R25)
Previous opportunity: Leadership Training for People of Color Living with HIV
USGrants.org Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for PAR 16 226
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (PAR 16 226) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| NIDA Research Education Program for Clinical Researchers and Clinicians (R25) Apply for PAR 16 224 Funding Number: PAR 16 224 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $350,000 |
| The Role of Mobile Genetic Elements in Cancer (R01) Apply for PAR 16 227 Funding Number: PAR 16 227 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Metabolic Reprogramming to Improve Immunotherapy (R21) Apply for PAR 16 229 Funding Number: PAR 16 229 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Non-healing Ulcerative Wounds in Aging (R01) Apply for PA 16 230 Funding Number: PA 16 230 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Metabolic Reprogramming to Improve Immunotherapy (R01) Apply for PAR 16 228 Funding Number: PAR 16 228 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Clinical Sequencing Evidence-Generating Research (CSER2) - Clinical Sites with Enhanced Diversity (U01) Apply for RFA HG 16 011 Funding Number: RFA HG 16 011 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $2,500,000 |
| Clinical Sequencing Evidence-Generating Research (CSER2) - Clinical Sites (U01) Apply for RFA HG 16 010 Funding Number: RFA HG 16 010 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| Neural Regulation of Cancer (R01) Apply for PAR 16 245 Funding Number: PAR 16 245 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Neural Regulation of Cancer (R21) Apply for PAR 16 246 Funding Number: PAR 16 246 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Prescription Drug Abuse (R01) Apply for PA 16 233 Funding Number: PA 16 233 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Gene Fusions in Pediatric Sarcomas (R01) Apply for PA 16 251 Funding Number: PA 16 251 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Innovative Approaches to Studying Cancer Communication in the New Media Environment (R01) Apply for PAR 16 249 Funding Number: PAR 16 249 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Gene Fusions in Pediatric Sarcomas (R21) Apply for PA 16 252 Funding Number: PA 16 252 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Innovative Approaches to Studying Cancer Communication in the New Media Environment (R21) Apply for PAR 16 248 Funding Number: PAR 16 248 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Accelerating the Pace of Drug Abuse Research Using Existing Data (R01) Apply for PAR 16 234 Funding Number: PAR 16 234 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Building Evidence: Effective Palliative/End of Life Care Interventions (R01) Apply for PAR 16 250 Funding Number: PAR 16 250 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Predicting Behavioral Responses to Population-Level Cancer Control Strategies (R21) Apply for PAR 16 257 Funding Number: PAR 16 257 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Cancer-related Behavioral Research through Integrating Existing Data (R21) Apply for PAR 16 255 Funding Number: PAR 16 255 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Cancer-related Behavioral Research through Integrating Existing Data (R01) Apply for PAR 16 256 Funding Number: PAR 16 256 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Methodology and Measurement in the Behavioral and Social Sciences (R01) Apply for PAR 16 260 Funding Number: PAR 16 260 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Subscribe to Leads
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "PAR 16 226", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.