Mechanisms that Impact Cancer Risk after Bariatric Surgery (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Investigating how bariatric surgery affects cancer risk, supporting novel studies, exploring unknown mechanisms with the aim of finding proof of concept.
Funder: National Institutes of Health
Due Dates: June 16, 2025 (New) | July 16, 2025 (Renewal/Resubmission/Revision) | October 16, 2025 (New) | November 16, 2025 (Renewal/Resubmission/Revision) | February 16, 2026 (New) | March 16, 2026 (Renewal/Resubmission/Revision) | June 16, 2026 (New) | July 16, 2026 (Renewal/Resubmission/Revision) | October 16, 2026 (New) | November 16, 2026 (Renewal/Resubmission/Revision) | February 16, 2027 (New) | March 16, 2027 (Renewal/Resubmission/Revision) | June 16, 2027 (New) | July 16, 2027 (Renewal/Resubmission/Revision) | October 16, 2027 (New) | November 16, 2027 (Renewal/Resubmission/Revision)
Funding Amounts: Up to $275,000 direct costs over 2 years; no more than $200,000 in any single year; project period max 2 years.
Summary: Supports proof-of-concept studies investigating the mechanisms by which bariatric surgery impacts cancer risk, emphasizing novel, exploratory research.
Key Information: Clinical trials are not allowed; preliminary data must not already exist; unpublished data are not permitted.
Description
This NIH funding opportunity, administered by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), supports investigator-initiated, exploratory/developmental (R21) research projects that address the biological mechanisms by which bariatric surgery influences cancer risk. The program aims to attract researchers from bariatric surgery and related fields to focus on cancer outcomes, rather than short-term endpoints like weight loss or diabetes improvement.
The intent is to fund proof-of-concept studies that are truly exploratory—feasibility must not already be established in the literature or with preliminary data. The opportunity is not intended for projects that are primarily epidemiological or that focus solely on in vitro studies. Applications that include cross-disciplinary collaborations, especially those bridging bariatric surgery and cancer research, are encouraged.
