Cancer Research Education Grants Program - Research Experiences (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR 21 067

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the name of this grant opportunity?

This opportunity is the Cancer Research Education Grants Program - Research Experiences (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed).

2) What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number (FOA) is PAR-21-067.

3) Which federal agency runs this program?

The program is run by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and is specifically aligned with the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

4) What type of NIH program is this?

It sits under the NIH Research Education Program (R25), which supports structured educational activities intended to strengthen and expand the nation’s biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research workforce.

5) What is the main purpose of this opportunity?

The main purpose is workforce development for cancer-related research fields by funding well-designed education programs that build cancer research skills and help participants move into, or advance within, research-related careers.

6) What does "Research Experiences" mean in this context?

In this announcement, "research experiences" emphasizes hands-on, mentored, thoughtfully organized opportunities that immerse participants in cancer-focused research environments, rather than being purely classroom-based instruction.

7) What cancer-related areas does the program aim to support?

The opportunity targets workforce development in areas tied directly to cancer, including: causes of cancer, diagnosis methods, prevention strategies, treatment approaches, rehabilitation after cancer, ongoing care of cancer patients, and support for patients’ families.

8) What kinds of program characteristics are expected to be competitive?

Competitive applications are expected to be innovative and state-of-the-art. Based on the description, that generally means programs reflecting current scientific methods and emerging technologies, incorporating modern research practices, and providing meaningful, supervised research engagement.

9) Is this grant intended to replace existing training programs?

No. The stated intent is for the educational and training experiences to complement existing training pipelines and address gaps in the preparation of future researchers and research-informed professionals.

10) Are clinical trials allowed under this FOA?

No. A key restriction is that clinical trials are not allowed under this funding opportunity.

11) What does "Clinical Trial Not Allowed" mean for proposed activities?

It means applicants should not propose conducting NIH-defined clinical trials as part of the grant-supported work. The program may still focus on clinical and translational cancer topics in an educational sense, and may offer many kinds of research experiences, but it cannot include running a clinical trial within the scope of the award.

12) Who is eligible to apply (in general terms)?

Eligibility is broad for U.S.-based organizations and governmental entities that meet NIH eligibility rules, including many kinds of government bodies, educational institutions, nonprofits, for-profits, and small businesses.

13) What types of government entities are listed as eligible applicants?

Eligible government entities listed include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, and independent school districts.

14) Are colleges and universities eligible?

Yes. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education.

15) Are nonprofits eligible to apply?

Yes. Nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status are listed as eligible when they are not an institution of higher education.

16) Are for-profit organizations eligible?

Yes. For-profit organizations other than small businesses are listed as eligible, and small businesses are also listed as eligible.

17) Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?

Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments are listed as eligible, and tribal organizations that are not federally recognized are also listed as eligible.

18) Are public housing authorities eligible?

Yes. Public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities are included in the eligibility list.

19) Are minority-serving institutions or institutions focused on broadening participation specifically mentioned?

Yes. The announcement explicitly calls out categories including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs).

20) Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?

Yes. Faith-based or community-based organizations are explicitly mentioned among eligible applicant categories.

21) Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?

Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are explicitly listed as eligible.

22) Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible to apply as the main applicant?

No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply.

23) Can a U.S. organization apply if part of the project would occur at a non-domestic component of that U.S. organization?

No. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply.

24) Are any foreign activities allowed at all?

Yes, with an important distinction: foreign components (as NIH defines them in the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are allowed. This means the applicant must be a domestic eligible organization, but certain well-justified foreign collaborations or components can be included if proposed appropriately under NIH policy.

25) What category is this program listed under?

The program is categorized under Education and Health in the provided information.

26) What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?

The CFDA number listed is 93.398.

27) What is the funding instrument type?

The funding instrument type is a grant.

28) What was the original closing date shown in the record?

The opportunity record shows an original closing date of 2021-08-26.

29) What is the opportunity creation date shown in the record?

The record shows a creation date of 2020-11-17.

30) Is the award ceiling listed in the provided information?

No. The award ceiling is not specified in the provided excerpt.

31) Is the expected number of awards listed in the provided information?

No. The expected number of awards is not specified in the provided excerpt.

32) Where should applicants look for details like budget guidance, project period limits, and allowable costs?

Because the award ceiling and expected number of awards are not included in the excerpt, applicants would typically need to consult the full FOA text and any associated NIH budget guidance to understand anticipated funding levels, project period limits, and allowable costs for proposed education and research experience activities.