Research Answers to National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Provocative Questions (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA CA 18 020

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA CA 18 020

This grant opportunity, titled "Research Answers to National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Provocative Questions (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-CA-18-020), is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant program led by the National Cancer Institute. Its goal is to fund early-stage, exploratory research projects that directly tackle specific "problems and paradoxes" in cancer research that NCI has formally identified through its Provocative Questions (PQ) initiative. Rather than covering every possible cancer research priority, the PQ framework is intentionally selective and is designed to push the field toward areas where progress has stalled, where evidence is puzzling, or where promising observations have been overlooked.

A central feature of this FOA is that applicants must build their proposal around one and only one of the designated Provocative Questions from the current PQ list, which in this funding cycle includes 12 updated questions. The expectation is not to submit a broad cancer research plan, but to craft a focused project aimed at resolving the particular gap in knowledge posed by that chosen question. NCI frames these questions as catalysts for creativity and rigor: some originate from older findings that were intriguing but never followed up adequately, others are based on newer results that appear contradictory or hard to explain, and still others concern problems long considered too difficult but now potentially solvable because of modern tools, data resources, or experimental strategies.

The mechanism for this opportunity is an R21, which typically supports exploratory or developmental research that may be high-risk/high-reward and is often used to generate feasibility data, test novel ideas, or open up new lines of investigation. As indicated by "Clinical Trial Optional," projects may involve a clinical trial if appropriate for the selected PQ, but a clinical trial is not required. The emphasis is on answering the PQ with a well-justified approach, whether that involves basic science, translational work, computational methods, population research, or carefully designed clinical investigation.

The FOA encourages researchers to use cross-cutting approaches and to draw from multiple disciplines when that strengthens the science behind the selected Provocative Question. Interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary projects are explicitly welcomed, as long as the project remains tightly aligned with the single PQ being addressed. In practice, this means teams might combine, for example, molecular biology with bioinformatics, engineering with imaging, immunology with genomics, or clinical data with mechanistic lab studies, provided the integration is in service of answering the specific question NCI is asking.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S. and non-U.S. organizations. Eligible applicants include state, county, city/township, and 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; other Native American tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and other entities. The FOA also highlights additional eligible groups such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), 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, non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations), Indian/Native American tribal governments that are not federally recognized, and U.S. territories or possessions. This wide eligibility reflects the intent to draw novel ideas from across the research ecosystem, including institutions and communities that may bring distinctive expertise, populations, or perspectives.

Key administrative details include an award ceiling of $200,000 (as listed in the source data) and an original closing date of October 30, 2018, with the FOA created on March 9, 2018. The program is associated with multiple CFDA numbers (93.393, 93.394, 93.395, 93.396, and 93.399), which correspond to different NIH/NCI assistance listings related to cancer research and training activities. Overall, the opportunity is designed to spark targeted, question-driven research that addresses stubborn or neglected cancer research challenges, with the expectation that even smaller, exploratory R21 projects can unlock insights that shift thinking and accelerate progress in areas that have not received sufficient attention.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Research Answers to National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Provocative Questions (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)" 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, 93.399.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2018-03-09.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-10-30. (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.

Apply for RFA CA 18 020

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: