Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA CA 16 015
Apply for RFA CA 16 015
- The Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "U.S.-Russia Bilateral Collaborative Research Partnerships on Cancer (R21)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.393, 93.394, 93.395, 93.396.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 04, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 04, 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 $100,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- 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).
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Opportunity Summary:
The U.S.-Russia Bilateral Collaborative Research Partnerships on Cancer (R21) grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-CA-16-015) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) program under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services designed to build and strengthen joint cancer research collaborations between investigators based in the United States and researchers in Russia. The central goal is to spur new, shared projects that can move ideas quickly in early-stage directions by pairing complementary expertise, datasets, technologies, patient populations, or research infrastructure across the two countries. The scientific scope is broad and intentionally cross-cutting, covering basic, translational, and clinical cancer research, while also encouraging contributions from the physical sciences, chemical sciences, and engineering where they meaningfully advance cancer-related questions.
On the science side, the program supports collaborative work across major parts of the cancer continuum, including cancer biology (mechanisms of tumor initiation and progression), prevention (risk reduction strategies and interventions), early detection (screening approaches and biomarker development), diagnosis (tools and methods to classify disease and guide care), and treatment (therapeutic strategies and clinical approaches). It also explicitly welcomes interdisciplinary research areas such as nanotechnology applications in cancer (for example, nanoscale imaging, targeted delivery, or diagnostic platforms) and radiation epidemiology (studies of cancer risk and outcomes associated with radiation exposure, including population-based or cohort-driven investigations). The inclusion of these areas signals that proposals are expected to take advantage of bilateral strengths, whether that means unique technical capabilities, specialized engineering approaches, or distinctive epidemiological resources.
This opportunity uses the NIH R21 mechanism, which is typically aimed at exploratory or developmental projects that can generate proof-of-concept data, test novel hypotheses, or establish the feasibility of new methods or collaborations. The listed award ceiling is $100,000, and the opportunity anticipated making around 10 awards, indicating a relatively selective competition focused on high-impact, well-justified collaborative concepts. The funding instrument type is a grant, and it is categorized under education and health within the government listings, with CFDA numbers 93.393, 93.394, 93.395, and 93.396, reflecting NIH/NCI program alignment across multiple related assistance listings.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of organizations that can serve as applicants, such as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (both with and without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, and a range of government entities (state, county, city or township, special district governments), as well as federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations, and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. The opportunity also notes an “Others†category with additional eligibility details referenced in the full announcement, which typically means NIH may allow additional applicant types under specified conditions. While many entity types can apply, the defining feature of a competitive application would be a credible, well-structured partnership between U.S.-based and Russian researchers with clear roles, integrated aims, and a plan showing how the collaboration adds value beyond what either side could do alone.
Key administrative details indicate the opportunity was created on August 4, 2016, with an original closing date of November 4, 2016. In practical terms, that places the announcement in a specific historical funding cycle, but the summary elements remain useful as a model for what NIH sought: bilateral cancer research collaborations with strong scientific rationale, clear translational potential where applicable, and a thoughtful integration of expertise across disciplines such as biology, medicine, engineering, chemistry, and population science.
FAQs: U.S.-Russia Bilateral Collaborative Research Partnerships on Cancer (R21) (RFA-CA-16-015)
What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "U.S.-Russia Bilateral Collaborative Research Partnerships on Cancer (R21)" and carries Funding Opportunity Number (FON) RFA-CA-16-015.
Which agency runs this program?
This is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) program under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
What is the main purpose of the program?
The central goal is to build and strengthen joint cancer research collaborations between investigators based in the United States and researchers in Russia, with an emphasis on launching new shared projects that can move ideas quickly in early-stage directions.
What kind of collaboration is this opportunity trying to create?
The program is designed for true bilateral collaboration, pairing U.S. and Russian teams so they can combine complementary expertise, datasets, technologies, patient populations, or research infrastructure in ways that add value beyond what either side could do alone.
What research areas are supported?
The scientific scope is broad and cross-cutting, spanning basic, translational, and clinical cancer research. It also encourages contributions from the physical sciences, chemical sciences, and engineering when those approaches meaningfully advance cancer-related questions.
Which parts of the cancer continuum does the program cover?
The opportunity supports collaborative work across major parts of the cancer continuum, including cancer biology, prevention, early detection, diagnosis, and treatment.
What does "cancer biology" mean in the context of this opportunity?
In this summary, cancer biology includes research on mechanisms of tumor initiation and progression.
What kinds of prevention research are included?
Prevention research is described as work focused on risk reduction strategies and interventions.
What kinds of early detection projects fit this opportunity?
Early detection includes screening approaches and biomarker development.
What types of diagnosis research are within scope?
Diagnosis research includes tools and methods used to classify disease and guide care.
What types of treatment research are within scope?
Treatment research includes therapeutic strategies and clinical approaches.
Are interdisciplinary approaches encouraged?
Yes. The announcement explicitly welcomes interdisciplinary research, including contributions from engineering, chemistry, and the physical sciences where they advance cancer-related questions.
Is nanotechnology research eligible under this program?
Yes. Nanotechnology applications in cancer are explicitly welcomed, including examples such as nanoscale imaging, targeted delivery, and diagnostic platforms.
Is radiation epidemiology included in the scope?
Yes. Radiation epidemiology is explicitly included, described as studies of cancer risk and outcomes associated with radiation exposure, including population-based or cohort-driven investigations.
What funding mechanism does the opportunity use?
This opportunity uses the NIH R21 mechanism, which is typically intended for exploratory or developmental research.
What kinds of projects are a good fit for an R21 in this program?
R21 projects are generally expected to be exploratory or developmental, such as generating proof-of-concept data, testing novel hypotheses, or establishing the feasibility of new methods or collaborations.
What is the maximum award amount listed in the summary?
The listed award ceiling is $100,000.
How many awards were anticipated?
The summary indicates the opportunity anticipated making around 10 awards.
What type of funding instrument is this?
The funding instrument type is a grant.
How is this opportunity categorized in government listings?
It is categorized under education and health in the government listings.
Which CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?
The associated CFDA numbers listed are 93.393, 93.394, 93.395, and 93.396.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many organization types, such as institutions of higher education (public/state-controlled and private), nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, and various government entities.
Are small businesses eligible?
Yes. Small businesses are listed as eligible applicants.
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. For-profit organizations are eligible, including a category for for-profit organizations other than small businesses.
Are nonprofit organizations eligible?
Yes. Nonprofit organizations are eligible both with and without 501(c)(3) status.
Are universities and colleges eligible?
Yes. Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are listed as eligible.
Are government entities eligible?
Yes. Eligibility includes state governments, county governments, city or township governments, and special district governments.
Are tribal governments or tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations are listed as eligible.
Are public housing authorities eligible?
Yes. Public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities are included in the eligible applicant types.
What does the "Others" eligibility category mean?
The summary notes an "Others" category with additional eligibility details referenced in the full announcement, which typically indicates NIH may allow additional applicant types under specified conditions.
What is the defining feature of a competitive application, based on this summary?
The defining feature is a credible, well-structured partnership between U.S.-based and Russian researchers, with clear roles, integrated aims, and a plan showing how the collaboration creates value beyond what either side could accomplish alone.
Why does the announcement emphasize complementary resources like datasets, technologies, or patient populations?
The emphasis signals that projects should leverage strengths available in one country that meaningfully strengthen the work in the other, such as distinctive datasets, specialized technologies, unique patient populations, or research infrastructure.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on August 4, 2016.
What was the original closing date?
The original closing date listed is November 4, 2016.
What does the timeline imply about the opportunity?
The dates place the announcement in a specific historical funding cycle. The summary still provides a clear picture of what NIH sought: bilateral cancer research collaborations with strong scientific rationale, translational potential where applicable, and thoughtful integration across disciplines.
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| Research Centers for Population-based Research to Optimize Cancer Screening (PROSPR) Initiative (UM1) Apply for RFA CA 16 016 Funding Number: RFA CA 16 016 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $2,500,000 |
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| PDX Development and Trial Centers (PDTCs) (U54) Apply for RFA CA 17 003 Funding Number: RFA CA 17 003 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $800,000 |
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| Consortium for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) Translational Studies on the Tumor Microenvironment (U01) Apply for RFA CA 17 015 Funding Number: RFA CA 17 015 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $350,000 |
| Resource Center for the Consortium for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) Translational Studies (U24) Apply for RFA CA 17 016 Funding Number: RFA CA 17 016 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $350,000 |
| Coordinating Center for Canine Immunotherapy Trials and Correlative Studies (U24) Apply for RFA CA 17 002 Funding Number: RFA CA 17 002 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $350,000 |
| Canine Immunotherapy Trials and Correlative Studies (U01) Apply for RFA CA 17 001 Funding Number: RFA CA 17 001 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $350,000 |
| Administrative Supplements to Promote Research Collaborations on Fusion Oncoproteins as Drivers of Childhood Cancer (Admin Supp) Apply for PA 17 138 Funding Number: PA 17 138 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $135,000 |
| Data Management and Coordinating Center (DMCC) for the Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) Collaborative Research Centers (CRC) (U24) Apply for RFA NS 17 022 Funding Number: RFA NS 17 022 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $750,000 |
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