NCI Clinical and Translational Exploratory/Developmental Studies (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 20 292

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 20 292

The NCI Clinical and Translational Exploratory/Developmental Studies (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) opportunity (PAR-20-292) is a National Institutes of Health grant program designed to jump-start early-stage, high-impact cancer research projects that are still in the exploratory or developmental phase. Its main purpose is to help investigators generate initial evidence, proof-of-concept data, or enabling tools that can move an idea forward toward larger-scale studies, including eventual clinical translation. The scope is intentionally broad within cancer research, covering work related to cancer diagnosis, treatment, imaging, symptom and toxicity management, and prevention, with an emphasis on projects that can meaningfully accelerate the development of new interventions or approaches.

A central theme of this FOA is supporting research that sits at the intersection of clinical and translational science. That includes correlative studies tied to clinical trials (for example, biomarker discovery/validation efforts, pharmacodynamic assays, immune monitoring, or imaging correlates that help explain why a treatment works or fails), as well as research that directly enables novel cancer therapeutic development, preventive agent development, symptom/toxicity interventions, and radiotherapy development. It also highlights mechanism-driven combinations, meaning combinations of therapies or modalities that are justified by biology and aimed at a clear mechanistic hypothesis rather than trial-and-error pairing. In addition, the announcement explicitly welcomes innovative preclinical studies, particularly those using newer clinically relevant models (such as improved patient-derived systems or other translationally faithful platforms) and advanced imaging technologies, when these efforts are geared toward producing knowledge or tools that could reasonably support first-in-human clinical trials.

Because this is an R21, it is structured for early, conceptual, and potentially higher-risk projects. The program is intended for studies that may not yet have the extensive preliminary data expected for larger NIH mechanisms, but that are scientifically compelling and could produce outsized impact if successful. In practical terms, the R21 format is meant to fund work like feasibility testing, development of a novel method or platform, early validation of a target or biomarker, initial testing of a therapeutic concept in a translational model, or foundational correlative work that strengthens or de-risks a clinical development path. The "clinical trial optional" designation means applications may propose a clinical trial if appropriate, but a clinical trial is not required, and many responsive projects will be preclinical or clinical-correlative rather than interventional.

Funding details in the source information indicate an award ceiling of $200,000. The opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant within NIH health-related funding activity areas (CFDA numbers listed include 93.393, 93.394, 93.395, 93.396, and 93.399, which correspond to NIH/NCI-related programs). The listing shows an original closing date of 2022-07-20 and a creation date of 2020-08-24, which is useful context for timing, although applicants typically need to confirm current submission windows and any reissues or updates to the FOA on the NIH notice and funding pages.

Eligibility is broad and includes a wide range of U.S. and non-U.S. organizations. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status (outside higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. The FOA also explicitly calls out additional eligible applicant categories such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), faith-based or community-based organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and non-domestic (foreign) entities.

Overall, this opportunity is aimed at researchers with bold, translationally grounded cancer ideas that need focused early funding to prove feasibility, develop a novel tool or model, generate key correlative insights connected to clinical trials, or produce the enabling evidence required to justify a next-step clinical effort. The expectation is not necessarily a finished product, but a strong, testable concept and a clear path to future impact in cancer research and, ultimately, patient care.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NCI Clinical and Translational Exploratory/Developmental Studies (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)" 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, 93.396, 93.399.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2020-08-24.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-07-20. (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 $200,000.00 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.

Apply for PAR 20 292

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