Skip to content
HCN Grants Est. 2026
No. PA-25-253 · National Institutes of Health
Open

Exploratory Grants in Cancer Control (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)

Dealbreakers No cost share required Audit: not stated
Not reimbursement-only
“Grant: A financial assistance mechanism providing money, property, or both to an eligible entity to carry out an approved project or activity.” — From the announcement

At a glance

This program funds exploratory two-year R21 research on cancer control, including studies on behavior, screening, risk factors, surveillance, health care delivery, and methods or tools that could advance population-based cancer research. It accepts new and resubmission applications from a wide range of organizations, including nonprofits, universities, governments, for-profit organizations, faith-based or community-based organizations, and foreign organizations, and foreign components of U.S. organizations are allowed. The total direct-cost budget for the two-year project period may not exceed $275,000, with no more than $200,000 requested in any single year, and the number of awards depends on NIH appropriations and the quality of applications. No cost sharing is required, and the announcement is not responsive to basic cancer biology studies or studies focused on developing cancer diagnostics, therapies, imaging, or bioassays.

AI-generated summary — verify against the announcement

What it funds

  • Education
  • Health
  • Research & Discovery
  • Researchers & Scholars
  • Biomedical & Disease Research
  • Health Care Delivery, Access & Workforce
  • Public Health, Prevention & Nutrition
Official description from grants.gov

This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) encourages the submission of exploratory/developmental research grant (R21) applications that focus on different aspects of cancer control by modifying behavior, screening, and understanding etiologic factors contributing to the development of cancer, and developing ways to control cancer. The overarching goal is to provide support to promote the early and conceptual stages of research efforts on novel scientific ideas that have the potential to substantially advance population-based cancer research, such as the development of novel techniques, agents, methodologies, models, or applications that could have a major impact on a field of cancer research (epidemiologic, biomedical, behavioral, health care delivery or clinical).

Who can apply

  • City or township governments
  • County governments
  • For-profit organizations other than small businesses
  • Independent school districts
  • Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
  • Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized)
  • Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education)
  • Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education)
  • Others
  • Private institutions of higher education
  • Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
  • Public housing authorities / Indian housing authorities
  • Small businesses
  • Special district governments
  • State governments
Geographic restriction None found in the announcement — likely nationwide