Funder: National Institutes of Health
Due Dates: November 16, 2026 (Resubmission) | February 16, 2027 (New) | March 16, 2027 (Resubmission) | June 16, 2027 (New) | July 16, 2027 (Resubmission) | October 16, 2027 (New) | November 16, 2027 (Final resubmission deadline)
Funding Amounts: Up to $275,000 in direct costs over two years, with no more than $200,000 in any year
Summary: Supports exploratory basic research into biological and genetic mechanisms contributing to cancer health disparities.
Key Information: Clinical trials are not allowed; projects must mechanistically connect race/ethnicity and/or social determinants with cancer biology.
Description
The National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of NIH, supports pilot and feasibility studies examining biological and genetic contributors to cancer health disparities through this R21 opportunity. Supported work includes mechanistic investigations, development and testing of methodologies and models, and secondary data analyses. The program seeks exploratory, novel projects that break new ground or extend discoveries toward new directions, potentially leading to future in-depth mechanistic studies.
Research interests span cancer prevention and early detection, cancer initiation and progression, symptom management during cancer and treatment, and technology development. The program also aims to expand expertise and research resources, including biospecimens and patient-derived models. Immediate clinical translation is not required. Long-term projects and limited-scope studies using established approaches within well-established fields are not suited to this mechanism.
