Feasibility and Planning Studies for Development of Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPOREs) to Investigate Cancer Health Disparities (P20) | RFA CA 17 033

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA CA 17 033

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) released this discretionary grant opportunity, RFA-CA-17-033, titled "Feasibility and Planning Studies for Development of Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPOREs) to Investigate Cancer Health Disparities (P20)." The central purpose of the announcement is to help organizations build the groundwork for strong, translational cancer research programs specifically aimed at understanding and addressing cancer health disparities. In practical terms, this is not meant to function like a full-scale SPORE award right away; instead, it funds the early-stage work that helps an institution assemble, refine, and validate a cohesive program that can later compete for a full Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE) grant with cancer health disparities as an integrating, cross-cutting theme.

This P20 mechanism is focused on feasibility and planning activities. That generally means supporting the steps needed to move from ideas and isolated projects into a coordinated translational research program with clear direction, credible preliminary evidence, and the kind of organizational structure expected of a SPORE. The FOA emphasizes translational research programs, which typically implies an intentional link between discoveries and practical impact, such as moving findings toward clinical applications, improving detection or treatment approaches, or shaping interventions that can reduce unequal cancer burdens across populations. The expectation is that, by the end of the P20 period, the applicant will be positioned to submit a competitive SPORE application that is not just a set of independent studies, but a unified program addressing cancer health disparities in a way that cuts across the proposed research.

The funding instrument is a grant under the broader activity category of Education and Health, and it is associated with CFDA numbers 93.393, 93.394, and 93.395, which correspond to NIH/NCI cancer-related assistance programs. The source information lists an award ceiling of $800,000, signaling the maximum amount anticipated per award under this announcement. The opportunity was created on October 13, 2017, with an original closing date of January 18, 2018, which places it as a time-limited call from that period rather than an open-ended, continuously accepting program.

Eligibility is intentionally broad and includes a mix of governmental, academic, nonprofit, and private-sector organizations. Examples named in the source data include state, county, city or township governments, special district governments, and independent school districts, along with public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education. It also includes federally recognized Native American tribal governments, tribal organizations that are not federally recognized, public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses, plus a general "other" category. The FOA also calls out additional eligible applicant types that often play key roles in disparity-focused research and community engagement, 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, regional organizations, and eligible agencies of the federal government, as well as U.S. territories or possessions. Collectively, this eligibility design aligns with the disparity focus by inviting applications from institutions and organizations that may be closely connected to populations experiencing disproportionate cancer incidence, mortality, barriers to care, or unequal outcomes.

At the same time, the announcement draws clear boundaries around foreign participation. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and non-domestic (non-U.S.) institutions are explicitly not eligible to apply as the applicant organization, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. However, the FOA allows "foreign components" as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, meaning a U.S.-based applicant may include certain foreign elements in the project when scientifically justified and consistent with NIH policy, even though the primary applicant organization must be domestic. The FOA advises readers to consult the funding opportunity text for the full eligibility and policy details.

Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a stepping-stone award: it supports the planning, feasibility work, and program-building needed to develop a rigorous, translational cancer health disparities research program that is structured and mature enough to contend for a full SPORE. The NIH is essentially investing in the early formation of these programs so that institutions can assemble the right collaborations, define a coherent translational strategy, and build a competitive platform for a subsequent SPORE application centered on reducing and understanding cancer health disparities.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Feasibility and Planning Studies for Development of Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPOREs) to Investigate Cancer Health Disparities (P20)" 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.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-10-13.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-01-18. (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 $800,000.00 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 17 033

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