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.Apply for RFA CA 17 033
- 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name and number of this NIH funding opportunity?
This opportunity is NIH Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) RFA-CA-17-033, titled "Feasibility and Planning Studies for Development of Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPOREs) to Investigate Cancer Health Disparities (P20)."
Which NIH institute is associated with this FOA?
The opportunity is issued by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and is cancer-focused through the National Cancer Institute (NCI), as indicated by the cancer-related CFDA program numbers listed for NIH/NCI assistance.
What is the main purpose of this P20 grant?
The central purpose is to help organizations lay the groundwork for a strong, translational cancer research program focused on understanding and addressing cancer health disparities. It is intended to support planning and feasibility work that positions an applicant to later submit a competitive full SPORE application with cancer health disparities as an integrating theme.
Is this award intended to fund a full SPORE right away?
No. The announcement describes this as a stepping-stone mechanism. It is meant to fund early-stage feasibility and planning activities rather than operate like a full-scale SPORE award immediately.
What does "feasibility and planning" mean in the context of this FOA?
In practical terms, feasibility and planning refers to the early work needed to move from ideas or isolated projects into a coordinated translational research program. This includes assembling and refining a cohesive program concept, building credible preliminary evidence, and developing the organizational structure expected of a SPORE.
What kind of research emphasis does the FOA place on proposed work?
The FOA emphasizes translational research programs, meaning the proposed program should intentionally connect discovery to practical impact. Examples described include moving findings toward clinical applications, improving detection or treatment approaches, or shaping interventions aimed at reducing unequal cancer burdens across populations.
How should cancer health disparities be reflected in the proposed program?
Cancer health disparities are described as an integrating, cross-cutting theme. The expectation is that the work will be unified as a program addressing disparities, rather than a collection of independent studies.
What outcome is expected by the end of the P20 period?
By the end of the P20 project period, the applicant is expected to be positioned to submit a competitive SPORE application centered on cancer health disparities, with a cohesive translational strategy and appropriate program structure.
What is the maximum award amount listed for this opportunity?
The source information lists an award ceiling of $800,000, indicating the maximum anticipated amount per award under this announcement.
When was this funding opportunity created, and what was the original closing date?
The opportunity was created on October 13, 2017, and the original closing date was January 18, 2018. This indicates it was a time-limited call from that period rather than a continuously open program.
What is the funding instrument and broad activity category?
The funding instrument is a discretionary grant. It is listed under the broader activity category of Education and Health.
Which CFDA numbers are associated with this FOA?
The FOA is associated with CFDA numbers 93.393, 93.394, and 93.395, which correspond to NIH/NCI cancer-related assistance programs.
Who is eligible to apply for this opportunity?
Eligibility is broad and includes governmental, academic, nonprofit, and private-sector organizations. The provided examples include state, county, city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; and a range of nonprofit and for-profit entities.
Are nonprofits eligible, and do they need 501(c)(3) status?
Nonprofits are eligible both with and without 501(c)(3) status, as long as they are not institutions of higher education (as stated in the source eligibility examples).
Are for-profit organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The eligibility examples include for-profit organizations other than small businesses, as well as small businesses.
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Eligibility examples include federally recognized Native American tribal governments, as well as tribal organizations that are not federally recognized.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?
Yes. The FOA description notes eligibility includes U.S. territories or possessions.
Are minority-serving institutions and community-based organizations included in eligibility?
Yes. The FOA explicitly calls out additional eligible applicant types often involved in disparity-focused research and community engagement, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISI institutions, Hispanic-serving institutions, HBCUs, TCCUs, and faith-based or community-based organizations, among others.
Can a non-U.S. (foreign) organization apply as the main applicant?
No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and non-domestic institutions are explicitly not eligible to apply as the applicant organization.
Can a U.S. organization apply if it has a non-U.S. component?
Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also stated as not eligible to apply as the applicant. However, the FOA notes that a U.S.-based applicant may include "foreign components" (as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement) when scientifically justified and consistent with NIH policy.
What does the FOA mean by allowing "foreign components"?
Based on the description provided, it means the primary applicant organization must be domestic, but certain foreign elements may be included in the project when allowed under NIH policy and scientifically justified. The FOA advises consulting the full funding opportunity text for complete eligibility and policy details.
Why does the FOA have such broad eligibility?
The eligibility design aligns with the cancer health disparities focus by inviting applications from organizations that may be closely connected to populations experiencing disproportionate cancer burden, barriers to care, or unequal outcomes, including institutions and community-based organizations positioned to engage affected communities.
What is the "SPORE" that this P20 is preparing applicants for?
SPORE stands for Specialized Programs of Research Excellence. This P20 is intended to support planning and feasibility work so an organization can later compete for a full SPORE grant with cancer health disparities as an integrating, cross-cutting theme.
How is a strong application concept described in the FOA summary?
The FOA summary emphasizes a cohesive translational program with clear direction, credible preliminary evidence, and an organizational structure appropriate for a SPORE, rather than a set of separate, unrelated studies.
Where should applicants look for the definitive rules on eligibility and foreign involvement?
The description advises readers to consult the full funding opportunity text and to follow the NIH Grants Policy Statement definitions and requirements for topics such as "foreign components."
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