Cancer Research Education Grants Program - Research Experiences (R25) | PAR 18 478

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 18 478

The Cancer Research Education Grants Program - Research Experiences (R25) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) designed to strengthen the research workforce by supporting structured research education activities. Its central purpose is to build and improve educational programs that complement and enhance existing training pathways so the United States can meet ongoing biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research needs. This particular R25 announcement emphasizes hands-on research experiences as the main educational strategy, meaning applicants are expected to create or expand programs where participants gain meaningful exposure to real research environments, methods, and mentorship tied to cancer-focused questions.

The program encourages applications that are creative, innovative, and up to date with current scientific approaches, with content aligned to NCI's mission. Proposed activities should relate directly to cancer research and cancer care priorities, such as understanding the causes of cancer, improving diagnosis, advancing prevention strategies, developing or refining treatments, supporting rehabilitation after cancer, and improving long-term and continuing care for cancer patients as well as support for families of cancer patients. In practical terms, competitive proposals typically frame a clear educational need, define the target learner group, describe a structured set of research experiences and supporting didactic or career-development elements, and explain how the program will produce a stronger, more capable pipeline of cancer researchers and related professionals.

This opportunity is offered as a discretionary grant under an education and health funding activity category (CFDA 93.398). The published award ceiling is $300,000, indicating the maximum budget level anticipated per award under the announcement. The funding opportunity number is PAR 18 478, and the original closing date listed in the source information was 2020-11-18, which is important to note because it suggests the specific posting may be historical; applicants would typically confirm whether the announcement is still active, reissued, or replaced by a newer FOA before preparing an application.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and government entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township 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; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other organizations that meet NIH eligibility rules. The announcement also explicitly highlights 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, regional organizations, certain tribal governments other than federally recognized, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions.

Restrictions apply to non-U.S. applicants and non-U.S. institutional components. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply either. However, foreign components are allowed if they meet the NIH Grants Policy Statement definition and requirements, meaning a U.S. applicant organization may be able to include certain foreign elements in the project when clearly justified and compliant with NIH policy, even though the lead applicant organization must be domestic.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cancer Research Education Grants Program - Research Experiences (R25)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.398.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-12-05.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-11-18. (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 $300,000.00 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 18 478

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