Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA CA 19 034
The grant opportunity "Feasibility and Planning Studies for Development of Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPOREs) to Investigate Cancer Health Disparities (P20 Clinical Trial Optional)" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-CA-19-034) is a National Institutes of Health program that supports early-stage, capacity-building work to create strong, competitive translational research programs focused on cancer health disparities. The central purpose is to fund feasibility and planning efforts that position an institution or partnership to later apply for a full SPORE award, with cancer health disparities serving as a cross-cutting, organizing theme across the developing program. In practical terms, the P20 mechanism is meant to help teams assemble the scientific foundation, shared infrastructure, and collaborative networks needed for a future, larger SPORE-style center program rather than simply funding isolated individual projects.
A key requirement is that proposed work must be translational and rooted in human biology, with a clearly defined translational "human endpoint." That means the studies should connect mechanistic insights to outcomes that matter in people, such as improving prevention strategies, enhancing early detection approaches, refining diagnostic methods, or advancing treatments. The cancers addressed must be those that disproportionately affect specific racial and ethnic minority populations, and the research must be designed to contribute to reducing those disparities. While clinical trials are optional under this announcement, the translational expectation still requires applicants to keep the work anchored to human relevance and a plausible pathway to patient or population impact.
Program structure is another major focus. Each P20 application must include at least two well-developed translational research projects, not just concept sketches. In addition, applicants are expected to make meaningful progress toward building the types of enabling infrastructure that a full SPORE would require. This includes developing specialized shared resource core facilities (for example, resources that can support biospecimen processing, molecular profiling, biostatistics, community-engaged research operations, or data management), strengthening or creating improved research model systems that are appropriate for disparities-focused questions, and establishing collaborative research activities. Collaboration is not treated as an add-on; the FOA explicitly emphasizes partnership and interaction with other institutions, other P20 awardees, and/or existing SPORE grantees to accelerate program maturation and align developing programs with SPORE expectations.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is a discretionary grant under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health. It falls under the health and education activity categories and references CFDA numbers 93.393, 93.394, and 93.395. Eligible applicants include a broad range of organizations: state, county, and city or township governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in those categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other entities as described in the FOA's additional eligibility information. The original posting date was March 13, 2019, with an original closing date of October 18, 2020. The award ceiling listed is $800,000, and the program anticipated making about 8 awards.
Overall, this FOA is best understood as a planning and feasibility bridge to a full SPORE: it funds a focused set of translational projects and the deliberate build-out of shared resources and collaborations, all centered on cancers that disproportionately burden racial and ethnic minority populations and on research that can credibly move toward real-world improvements in prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment.Apply for RFA CA 19 034
- The Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Feasibility and Planning Studies for Development of Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPOREs) to Investigate Cancer Health Disparities (P20 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.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 13, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 18, 2020. (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 $800,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 8 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, 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 (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Feasibility and Planning Studies for Development of Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPOREs) to Investigate Cancer Health Disparities (P20 Clinical Trial Optional)."
2. What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-CA-19-034.
3. Which federal agency is offering this grant?
This is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) opportunity under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
4. What type of grant is this?
It is a discretionary grant.
5. What is the main purpose of this P20 opportunity?
The central purpose is to fund feasibility and planning efforts that build early-stage capacity for a strong, competitive translational research program focused on cancer health disparities, positioning an institution or partnership to later apply for a full SPORE award.
6. How should applicants think about the P20 mechanism in practice?
The P20 mechanism is intended to support teams as they assemble the scientific foundation, shared infrastructure, and collaborative networks needed for a future SPORE-style center program, rather than simply funding isolated, stand-alone individual projects.
7. What is the cross-cutting scientific theme required by this FOA?
Cancer health disparities must serve as a cross-cutting, organizing theme across the developing program.
8. What kind of research is required (basic, clinical, translational)?
Proposed work must be translational and rooted in human biology, with a clearly defined translational human endpoint.
9. What does "translational" mean in the context of this FOA?
It means the studies should connect mechanistic insights to outcomes that matter in people, with a pathway toward improving prevention, early detection, diagnosis, or treatment.
10. What is meant by a translational "human endpoint"?
A translational human endpoint is a clearly defined point of connection to human relevance and outcomes that matter in people, such as improved prevention strategies, enhanced early detection approaches, refined diagnostic methods, or advances in treatments.
11. Are clinical trials required under this announcement?
No. Clinical trials are optional under this funding opportunity.
12. If clinical trials are optional, what is still expected?
Even without clinical trials, the translational expectation remains: proposed work must stay anchored to human relevance and a plausible pathway to patient or population impact.
13. What cancers should the proposed program focus on?
The cancers addressed must be those that disproportionately affect specific racial and ethnic minority populations.
14. How must the research relate to disparities?
The research must be designed to contribute to reducing cancer health disparities affecting racial and ethnic minority populations.
15. How many research projects must be included in an application?
Each P20 application must include at least two well-developed translational research projects.
16. Can the projects be early ideas or concept sketches?
No. The FOA specifies that applications must include at least two well-developed translational research projects, not just concept sketches.
17. Beyond projects, what program elements are expected?
Applicants are expected to make meaningful progress toward building enabling infrastructure aligned with what a full SPORE would require, including shared resource core facilities, improved research model systems appropriate for disparities-focused questions, and collaborative research activities.
18. What are examples of specialized shared resource core facilities mentioned?
Examples include resources supporting biospecimen processing, molecular profiling, biostatistics, community-engaged research operations, and data management.
19. What does the FOA say about research model systems?
Applicants are expected to strengthen or create improved research model systems that are appropriate for disparities-focused questions.
20. How important is collaboration under this opportunity?
Collaboration is a major emphasis and is not treated as an add-on. The FOA highlights partnership and interaction with other institutions, other P20 awardees, and/or existing SPORE grantees to accelerate program development and align with SPORE expectations.
21. Who can apply (what organizations are eligible)?
Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in those nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other entities as described in the FOA's additional eligibility information.
22. What activity categories does this opportunity fall under?
The opportunity falls under health and education activity categories.
23. What CFDA numbers are referenced for this opportunity?
The opportunity references CFDA numbers 93.393, 93.394, and 93.395.
24. When was this opportunity originally posted?
The original posting date was March 13, 2019.
25. What was the original closing date?
The original closing date was October 18, 2020.
26. What is the award ceiling listed for this FOA?
The award ceiling listed is $800,000.
27. How many awards were anticipated?
The program anticipated making about 8 awards.
28. What is the overall "big picture" goal of this FOA?
This FOA functions as a feasibility and planning bridge to a full SPORE. It funds a focused set of translational projects plus deliberate build-out of shared resources and collaborations, centered on cancers that disproportionately burden racial and ethnic minority populations and on work that can credibly move toward real-world improvements in prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment.
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| Revision Applications to Support the Application of Informatics Technology for Cancer Research (U01 Clinical Trials Optional) Apply for RFA CA 19 061 Funding Number: RFA CA 19 061 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Revision Applications to Support the Application of Informatics Technology for Cancer Research (U24 Clinical Trials Optional) Apply for RFA CA 19 063 Funding Number: RFA CA 19 063 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $100,000 |
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| Single Cell Opioid Responses in the Context of HIV (SCORCH) Program: Data Coordination, Analysis, and Scientific Outreach (UM1 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA DA 20 027 Funding Number: RFA DA 20 027 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Limited Competition: Biospecimen Banks to support NCI National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN)(U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA CA 20 002 Funding Number: RFA CA 20 002 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $3,000,000 |
| Communication and Decision Making for Individuals with Inherited Cancer Syndromes (U01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA CA 20 006 Funding Number: RFA CA 20 006 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $600,000 |
| Innovative Molecular and Cellular Analysis Technologies for Basic and Clinical Cancer Research (R21 Clinical Trials Not Allowed) Apply for RFA CA 20 017 Funding Number: RFA CA 20 017 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Advanced Development and Validation of Emerging Biospecimen Science Technologies for Basic and Clinical Cancer Research (R33 Clinical Trials Not Allowed) Apply for RFA CA 20 020 Funding Number: RFA CA 20 020 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Innovative Biospecimen Science Technologies for Basic and Clinical Cancer Research (R21 Clinical Trials Not Allowed) Apply for RFA CA 20 019 Funding Number: RFA CA 20 019 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Advanced Development and Validation of Emerging Molecular and Cellular Analysis Technologies for Basic and Clinical Cancer Research (R33 Clinical Trials Not Allowed) Apply for RFA CA 20 018 Funding Number: RFA CA 20 018 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Development of Innovative Informatics Methods and Algorithms for Cancer Research and Management (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA CA 20 007 Funding Number: RFA CA 20 007 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Advanced Development of Informatics Technologies for Cancer Research and Management (U24 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA CA 20 009 Funding Number: RFA CA 20 009 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $600,000 |
| Sustained Support for Informatics Technologies for Cancer Research and Management (U24 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA CA 20 010 Funding Number: RFA CA 20 010 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Revision Applications to Support the Application of Informatics Technology for Cancer Research (R01 Clinical Trials Optional) Apply for RFA CA 20 011 Funding Number: RFA CA 20 011 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Revision Applications to Support the Application of Informatics Technology for Cancer Research (U01 Clinical Trials Optional) Apply for RFA CA 20 012 Funding Number: RFA CA 20 012 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Revision Applications to Support the Application of Informatics Technology for Cancer Research (U24 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA CA 20 013 Funding Number: RFA CA 20 013 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $100,000 |
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