Basic Research in Cancer Health Disparities (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR 24 277

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 24 277

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is soliciting applications under the funding opportunity titled "Basic Research in Cancer Health Disparities (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" (PAR-24-277). This is a discretionary grant program using the NIH R01 research project grant mechanism, and it focuses specifically on basic, mechanistic work that helps explain why cancer incidence, progression, and outcomes differ across populations. The central aim is to move beyond documenting disparities and instead identify the underlying biological and genetic contributors that may drive unequal cancer burdens, with the expectation that stronger mechanistic understanding can ultimately inform better prevention strategies, diagnostics, and interventions (even though this particular opportunity does not support clinical trials).

The research emphasis is on innovative basic science that interrogates the biological and genetic bases of cancer health disparities. The NOFO highlights several priority types of projects. First, it encourages mechanistic studies of biological factors linked to disparities, including foundational cancer biology and biologically informed cancer prevention strategies. This can include work that examines molecular pathways, tumor biology, host factors, immune responses, metabolism, ancestry-linked genetic variation, gene-environment interactions, or other biological mechanisms that plausibly contribute to differences in cancer risk or outcomes across groups. Second, it supports the development and testing of new methodologies and experimental models that make disparities-focused basic research more feasible and rigorous. Examples in this space often include improved patient-derived models, advanced analytic approaches, or laboratory methods that better capture population diversity or heterogeneity relevant to disparities. Third, the NOFO explicitly allows and values secondary data analyses, meaning investigators can use existing datasets, biospecimen resources, or previously collected data to pursue new mechanistic questions, provided the work remains aligned with basic, biological/genetic drivers of disparities rather than interventional clinical testing.

A major programmatic goal is capacity-building for the field. NIH states that this NOFO is designed to help grow a nationwide cohort of scientists with deep basic research expertise in cancer health disparities. In practice, that means proposals that expand the community's ability to conduct this work are aligned with the intent of the program, especially when they increase or improve resources and tools that enable mechanistic studies across diverse populations. The NOFO specifically mentions expanding resources such as biospecimens, patient-derived models, and methods. This emphasis signals that, beyond producing findings from a single project, applicants are encouraged to think about how their approach strengthens the broader research ecosystem for disparities-focused basic science, for example by building or enhancing model systems, improving access to diverse specimens, or refining techniques that can be adopted by other laboratories.

Eligibility is broad and includes many standard NIH applicant types, spanning governmental entities (state, county, city/township, special districts), federally recognized tribal governments, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, and tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments. Academic institutions are eligible, including public/state-controlled and private institutions of higher education, as are independent school districts in the listed eligibility set. The NOFO also allows nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education in those specific categories), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses. In addition, the NOFO calls out a range of other eligible applicants, reflecting a strong interest in inclusive participation and capacity across diverse institution types. These include Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations). The inclusion of these categories is consistent with the NOFO's broader goal of building a robust and geographically and institutionally diverse community of researchers working on biological mechanisms of cancer disparities.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity falls under the Health and Education activity areas and is associated with CFDA number 93.393. The original application closing date listed is 2024-11-05, and the opportunity was created on 2024-09-05. The notice does not specify an award ceiling or expected number of awards in the provided source text, so applicants would typically look to the full NIH posting and the associated institute/center funding plans for details about budget expectations, project period norms, and anticipated paylines or award volumes.

In short, PAR-24-277 is aimed at researchers who want to do rigorous basic science that explains cancer disparities at a biological and genetic level, develop better models and methods to study those mechanisms, or extract new mechanistic insights from existing data. It is intentionally structured to strengthen the national research workforce and infrastructure for disparities-focused basic cancer research, while clearly excluding clinical trials under this particular R01 announcement.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Basic Research in Cancer Health Disparities (R01 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): 93.393.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-09-05.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-11-05. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• 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.

Apply for PAR 24 277

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