Grants8 | The most comprehensive grants search on the web

Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

This grant, PAR-25-119, from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and National Institutes of Health (NIH), aims to fund fundamental mechanistic investigations into the connections between diet, lipid metabolism, and tumor growth and progression. The primary objective is to identify and define the molecular mechanisms through which lipids link diet with cancer biology, bridging the fields of nutrition and molecular metabolism, and stimulating research and tool development in this complex area. This is a SECTOR-SPECIFIC grant focused on cancer research, nutrition, and metabolism. The target recipients are diverse U.S.-based organizations, including higher education institutions, nonprofits, for-profit businesses, and various government entities. The grant does not allow clinical trials. It is a recurring funding opportunity, being a reissue of a previous announcement, with multiple application cycles per year. This opportunity is ideal for research teams looking to conduct basic science research in the intersection of diet, metabolism, and cancer.

Financial Structure

This grant provides funding through a Cooperative Agreement (U01), which signifies substantial Federal scientific or programmatic involvement from NIH staff after the award. Budget Details: * Maximum Award Amount: Applications may request up to $500,000 per year in direct costs. The overall project budget should reflect the actual needs of the proposed work. * Currency: United States Dollar (USD). * Cost Sharing: Cost sharing or matching funds are not required. * Eligible Costs: Costs must align with the actual needs of the project and adhere to the NIH Grants Policy Statement. Pre-award costs may be allowable as described in NIH policy. * Financial Reporting: Recipients are required to submit annual Research Performance Progress Reports (RPPRs) and financial statements (Federal Financial Report - FFR). A final RPPR, invention statement, and expenditure data are required for closeout.

Eligibility Requirements

To apply for this grant, your organization must be based in the United States. Foreign organizations are explicitly not eligible, although U.S. organizations may include foreign components in their projects. Eligible Organization Types: * Higher Education Institutions: Public/State Controlled and Private * Nonprofits: Both 501(c)(3) IRS status and other types * For-Profit Organizations: Including Small Businesses and other For-Profit Organizations * Local Governments: State, County, City/Township, Special District Governments, and Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Federally Recognized and Other than Federally Recognized) * Federal Governments: Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government, U.S. Territory or Possession * Other: Independent School Districts, Public Housing Authorities/Indian Housing Authorities, Native American Tribal Organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Faith-based or Community-based Organizations, Regional Organizations Key Qualifications & Exclusions: * Clinical Trials are NOT allowed. Applications proposing clinical trials will be considered non-responsive. * Applications must propose fundamental, mechanistic investigations and include appropriate expertise in nutrition. Applications lacking these will be non-responsive. * Applicant organizations may submit more than one application, provided each is scientifically distinct. * Cost sharing is NOT required. Required Registrations (can take 6+ weeks): * System for Award Management (SAM) with an active registration (renewed annually) and Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). * eRA Commons registration for the organization, with a designated Signing Official (SO) and Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI). * Grants.gov registration (requires active SAM registration). * All PD(s)/PI(s) must also have an eRA Commons account.

Application Process

Application Deadlines and Submission

Next Application Due Date: February 14, 2025, by 5:00 PM local time of the applicant organization.
Next Application Due Date after that: October 23, 2025, by 5:00 PM local time of the applicant organization.
Letter of Intent Due Date: 30 days prior to the respective application due date. While not required or binding, it helps NCI estimate workload.
Expiration Date of NOFO: October 24, 2025 (no applications accepted after this date).
Submission Method: Applications must be submitted electronically via NIH ASSIST, Grants.gov Workspace, or an institutional system-to-system (S2S) solution. Paper applications are not accepted.

Application Materials and Process

Applicants must follow instructions in the NIH 'How to Apply - Application Guide' supplemented by specific instructions in this NOFO.
Required Documentation includes: SF424(R&R) forms (Cover, Project/Performance Site Locations, Other Project Information, Senior/Key Person Profile), R&R or Modular Budget, PHS 398 Cover Page Supplement, PHS 398 Research Plan (addressing Significance, Innovation, Approach, Resource Sharing Plan, and Data Management and Sharing Plan), and PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information (if applicable).
Appendix materials are limited; no publications or other materials beyond blank questionnaires/surveys are allowed.

Project Implementation and Reporting

Project Period: Applications may request a maximum project period of five years.
Reporting: Annual Research Performance Progress Reports (RPPRs) are required. Additional information on project milestones and methodology may be requested semi-annually.
Post-Award Requirements: Awardees are expected to actively participate in NCI-organized working groups, collaborate with other recipients, share data and expertise, and present results at a virtual annual meeting open to the scientific community. Data, models, software, and tools developed should be made publicly available in a timely manner.

Evaluation Criteria

Applications will be assessed based on their scientific and technical merit through NIH's peer review system. Reviewers will assign an Overall Impact Score reflecting the project's likelihood to exert a sustained, powerful influence on the research field. Key Scored Review Criteria: * Importance of the Research (Significance and Innovation): How well the proposed studies link dietary variables to tumor growth/progression, and demonstrate a causal effect on lipid metabolism-mediated tumor processes. * Rigor and Feasibility (Approach): Clarity in detailing diet composition, explanation of how the approach will identify/further understanding of cellular/molecular mechanisms, and how models reflect systemic, stromal, and microenvironmental factors. * Expertise and Resources (Investigator(s) and Environment): The transdisciplinary nature of the NOFO strongly encourages the inclusion of significant co-Investigators and/or the use of a multi-PD/PI option, bringing formal training and expertise in both nutrition sciences and cancer research. Reviewers also consider the appropriate use of diverse scientific environments and resources. Specific Points of Interest for Evaluation: * Studies that examine high-fat or ketogenic diets are of particular interest due to their dichotomous effects. * Mechanistic studies of dietary manipulations perturbing cancer cell metabolism without causing weight gain or overnutrition are also highly relevant. * Applications examining how these topics contribute to health disparities are welcomed and encouraged. * Clinical translation is not required for this funding opportunity.

Compliance & Special Requirements

Regulatory and Ethical Compliance

All awards are subject to NIH Grants Policy Statement and relevant federal regulations, including 2 CFR Part 200 (Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards).
Recipients must comply with all applicable nondiscrimination laws (e.g., submitting Assurance of Compliance, HHS-690).
Data Management and Sharing Plan: All applicants, regardless of direct costs requested, must address a Data Management and Sharing Plan consistent with the 2023 NIH Policy for Data Management and Sharing.
Ethical Standards: For studies involving human subjects, recipient institutions must ensure protocols are reviewed by their Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Independent Ethics Committee (IEC).

Unique Program Aspects & Expectations

Cooperative Agreement (U01): This funding mechanism involves substantial NIH programmatic involvement. NIH staff will assist, guide, coordinate, and participate in project activities, distinguishing it from traditional grants. While the recipient retains primary responsibility, there's a strong partnership element.
Transdisciplinary Collaboration: The NOFO strongly encourages the inclusion of co-Investigators or multiple PD/PIs with expertise in both nutrition sciences and cancer research to facilitate an integrated approach.
Collaboration & Data Sharing: Awardees are expected to actively collaborate, share data and expertise, participate in NCI-organized working groups, and present results at an annual virtual meeting.
Intellectual Property: Recipients retain primary custody and rights to data and software developed under the award, subject to Government rights of access.
Risk Management: NIH reviews the applicant's federal award history in SAM.gov to ensure sound business practices. Awards may be terminated for non-compliance with performance requirements.
Non-Responsive Projects: Applications will not be reviewed if they do not propose fundamental, mechanistic investigations, lack appropriate nutrition expertise, or involve clinical trials.

Grant Details