Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA CA 21 026
The National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health, released this discretionary grant funding opportunity called the Program on the Origins of Gastroesophageal Cancers (R01, Clinical Trial Optional), Funding Opportunity Number RFA-CA-21-026 (CFDA 93.396). The goal is to fund research that explains how gastroesophageal cancers begin, focusing especially on the very earliest cellular events that occur before a tumor can be seen under a microscope or before clear pre-cancerous tissue changes (neoplasia) are detectable. In practical terms, NCI is looking for projects that can move the field beyond studying established tumors and instead map the first steps of cellular transformation that eventually lead to cancer in the stomach and the gastroesophageal junction.
Scientifically, the program is designed to build on several areas that have advanced quickly in recent years: molecular classification systems for gastroesophageal cancers, deeper knowledge of cancer genomics, and major progress in stem cell biology and related experimental models. Applications are expected to use these kinds of modern tools and frameworks to define how these cancers initially evolve at the cellular level. A central emphasis is on understanding the mechanisms and key effectors that drive the emergence, proliferation, and expansion of tumor-initiating cells and their descendants, essentially tracing how a small population of cells gains the capacity to start and sustain cancer development. The FOA highlights gastric adenocarcinomas and gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinomas as the main cancer types of interest.
Structurally, NCI envisioned this effort as a coordinated program rather than a set of disconnected projects. The plan was to support up to six large R01 research grants through this FOA, alongside a separate Coordinating Center award funded under a companion announcement (RFA-CA-21-027). The intent behind the Coordinating Center is typically to help align the research efforts across the funded projects, encourage sharing of approaches or data where appropriate, and keep the overall program moving toward integrated, program-level insights about cancer origins rather than isolated findings.
From an administrative standpoint, the funding instrument is an NIH research project grant (R01), and clinical trials are optional, meaning applicants can propose studies that involve clinical trial components if justified, but they are not required to do so. The original closing date listed for this opportunity was 2021-10-08, and the FOA record shows it was created on 2021-06-25. The opportunity category is listed under Education and Health, consistent with NIH biomedical research funding. The award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided source fields, though the narrative description states the program would include up to six R01 awards plus the separate Coordinating Center award.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S. and non-U.S. organizations. Standard 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; other Native American tribal organizations; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (outside of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The FOA also explicitly calls out a wide range of additional eligible applicant categories, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, tribal governments that are not federally recognized, and non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations). This broad eligibility aligns with NCI goals of encouraging diverse institutional participation and enabling specialized expertise, cohorts, or resources that may exist outside traditional U.S. academic settings.
Overall, this FOA is best understood as a targeted NCI initiative to push gastroesophageal cancer research upstream to the earliest origin biology, using genomics-informed and stem cell-enabled approaches to identify how tumor-initiating cells arise and expand, with the long-term implication that defining these first events could eventually improve early detection strategies, risk stratification, and prevention or interception approaches for gastric and gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinomas.Apply for RFA CA 21 026
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Program on the Origins of Gastroesophageal Cancers (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.396.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2021-06-25.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-10-08. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is a National Cancer Institute (NCI) discretionary grant funding opportunity titled the Program on the Origins of Gastroesophageal Cancers (R01, Clinical Trial Optional). The Funding Opportunity Number (FOA) is RFA-CA-21-026 and the CFDA listing is 93.396.
Which federal agency is sponsoring this opportunity?
The opportunity is sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), which is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What is the main goal of the program?
The program aims to fund research that explains how gastroesophageal cancers begin, with a strong focus on the earliest cellular events that happen before a tumor is visible under a microscope or before clear pre-cancerous tissue changes (neoplasia) can be detected.
What types of cancers are the primary focus?
The FOA highlights gastric adenocarcinomas and gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinomas as the main cancer types of interest.
What does NCI mean by studying the "origins" of gastroesophageal cancers?
In this FOA, "origins" refers to mapping the first steps of cellular transformation that eventually lead to cancer, rather than focusing primarily on established, fully developed tumors. The emphasis is on very early biology that precedes traditional clinical or histologic detection.
What stage of disease development is this FOA trying to investigate?
The FOA is centered on the very earliest cellular events that occur before a tumor can be seen microscopically and before detectable neoplasia is present, effectively pushing research "upstream" of conventional pre-cancer and cancer endpoints.
What kinds of scientific approaches does the program expect applicants to use?
Applications are expected to build on areas that have advanced quickly, including molecular classification systems for gastroesophageal cancers, cancer genomics, and progress in stem cell biology and related experimental models. The intent is to use modern tools and frameworks to define how these cancers initially evolve at the cellular level.
What biological mechanisms are especially emphasized?
A central emphasis is on understanding the mechanisms and key effectors that drive the emergence, proliferation, and expansion of tumor-initiating cells and their descendants. This includes tracing how a small population of cells gains the ability to start and sustain cancer development.
Is this opportunity intended to fund isolated projects, or a coordinated effort?
NCI envisioned this as a coordinated program rather than a set of disconnected projects. The structure is meant to encourage program-level insights about cancer origins, rather than only producing isolated findings.
How many research awards did NCI plan to support under this FOA?
The narrative description indicates that NCI planned to support up to six large R01 research grants through this FOA, alongside a separate Coordinating Center award supported under a companion announcement.
What is the Coordinating Center and how is it funded?
A separate Coordinating Center award was planned to support alignment and coordination across the funded research projects. It is funded under a companion announcement, RFA-CA-21-027.
What is the role or intent of the Coordinating Center?
The Coordinating Center is intended to help align research efforts across funded projects, encourage sharing of approaches or data where appropriate, and keep the overall program moving toward integrated, program-level understanding of gastroesophageal cancer origins.
What grant mechanism is being used for this opportunity?
The funding instrument is an NIH Research Project Grant (R01).
Are clinical trials required?
No. Clinical trials are optional. Applicants may propose studies that include clinical trial components if justified, but clinical trials are not required for this FOA.
What is the FOA number and identifier information?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-CA-21-026, and the CFDA listing provided is 93.396.
When was the FOA created?
The FOA record shows it was created on 2021-06-25.
What was the listed closing date for this opportunity?
The original closing date listed for this opportunity was 2021-10-08.
What is the opportunity category?
The opportunity category is listed under Education and Health, consistent with NIH biomedical research funding.
Is the award ceiling specified in the provided information?
No. The provided source fields do not specify an award ceiling.
Is the expected number of awards specified?
The provided source fields do not specify the expected number of awards. However, the narrative description states the program would include up to six R01 awards, plus a separate Coordinating Center award under the companion announcement.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many types 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; other Native American tribal organizations; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (outside higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses.
Are minority-serving institutions specifically included in eligibility?
Yes. The FOA explicitly calls out Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) as eligible applicant categories.
Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. Faith-based or community-based organizations are explicitly listed among the eligible applicant categories.
Are U.S. territories and possessions eligible to apply?
Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are included in the explicitly listed eligible applicant categories.
Are non-federally recognized tribal governments eligible?
Yes. Tribal governments that are not federally recognized are explicitly included among eligible applicant categories.
Are foreign (non-U.S.) organizations eligible?
Yes. Non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) are explicitly included in the eligibility description.
Are federal agencies eligible applicants?
Yes. Eligible federal agencies are explicitly listed among the eligible applicant categories.
Why is NCI prioritizing "upstream" research for gastroesophageal cancers?
The FOA is designed to move the field beyond studying established tumors by defining the earliest events that lead to cancer initiation. The long-term implication described is that identifying these first events could inform better early detection, risk stratification, and prevention or interception approaches for gastric and gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinomas.
What is the expected scientific impact of funded work?
Based on the description, funded work is expected to clarify how tumor-initiating cells arise and expand in the stomach and gastroesophageal junction, using genomics-informed and stem cell-enabled approaches. The broader aim is to generate integrated insights into cancer origins that could ultimately support earlier detection and prevention-oriented strategies.
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Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (RFA CA 21 026) also looked into and applied for these:
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| Coordinating Center for the Program on the Origins of Gastroesophageal Cancers (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA CA 21 027 Funding Number: RFA CA 21 027 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Exploratory Studies to Investigate the Mechanisms of Interrelationship between Sleep and Substance Use Disorders (R61/R33 Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required) Apply for RFA DA 22 029 Funding Number: RFA DA 22 029 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Understanding Oral Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Infection, Acquisition, and Persistence in People Living with HIV (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA DE 22 003 Funding Number: RFA DE 22 003 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| HEAL Initiative: Novel Targets for Opioid Use Disorders and Opioid Overdose (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA DA 22 031 Funding Number: RFA DA 22 031 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $400,000 |
| HEAL Initiative: Novel Targets for Opioid Use Disorders and Opioid Overdose (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA DA 22 032 Funding Number: RFA DA 22 032 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Metabolic Dysregulation and Cancer Risk Program, Research Grants: a Transdisciplinary Approach to Obesity-Associated Research (U01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA CA 21 021 Funding Number: RFA CA 21 021 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $850,000 |
| Growing Great Ideas: Research Education Course in Product Development and Entrepreneurship for Life Science Researchers (UE5 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA DA 22 020 Funding Number: RFA DA 22 020 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $320,000 |
| Coordinating Center for the Metabolic Dysregulation and Cancer Risk Program: A Transdisciplinary Approach to Obesity-Associated Cancer Research (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA CA 21 022 Funding Number: RFA CA 21 022 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $550,000 |
| Innate Immune Memory Impacting HIV Acquisition and/or Control (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA AI 21 041 Funding Number: RFA AI 21 041 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Exploiting in Vivo or in Situ Imaging Approaches to Understand HIV-relevant Processes In The Context of Substance Use Disorders (R61/R33 Clinical Trials Optional) Apply for RFA DA 23 001 Funding Number: RFA DA 23 001 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Technology Development for Single-Molecule Protein Sequencing (R43/R44 Clinical Trial not allowed) Apply for PAR 21 247 Funding Number: PAR 21 247 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Cancer Prevention-Interception Targeted Agent Discovery Program (CAP-IT) Data and Resource Coordination Center (CAP-IT DRCC) (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA CA 21 039 Funding Number: RFA CA 21 039 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Cancer Prevention-Interception Targeted Agent Discovery Program (CAP-IT) Centers (U54 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA CA 21 038 Funding Number: RFA CA 21 038 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Effectiveness of School-Based Health Centers to Advance Health Equity (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 21 287 Funding Number: PAR 21 287 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Integration of Imaging and Fluid-Based Tumor Monitoring in Cancer Therapy (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 21 290 Funding Number: PAR 21 290 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Stromal Reprogramming Consortium Coordinating and Data Management Center (PSRC CDMC) (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA CA 21 042 Funding Number: RFA CA 21 042 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $600,000 |
| Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) Stromal Reprogramming Consortium (PSRC) (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA CA 21 041 Funding Number: RFA CA 21 041 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $600,000 |
| NCI Research Specialist (Laboratory-based Scientist) Award (R50 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 21 285 Funding Number: PAR 21 285 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Coordinating Center for the HIV/AIDS and Substance Use Cohorts Program (U24 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA DA 22 033 Funding Number: RFA DA 22 033 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Molecular Imaging of Inflammation in Cancer (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 21 294 Funding Number: PAR 21 294 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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