Molecular Imaging of Inflammation in Cancer (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR 21 294

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the funding opportunity PAR-21-294?

PAR-21-294 is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity titled "Molecular Imaging of Inflammation in Cancer (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)." It supports R01 research projects focused on improving how cancer-related inflammation is studied inside living systems using molecular imaging approaches.

What is the main goal of this FOA?

The core goal is to advance and apply molecular imaging methods that can reveal, in vivo, the biology and timing of inflammatory processes within tumors and the tumor microenvironment. The intent is to produce a clearer, real-time, mechanistic understanding of how inflammation influences cancer initiation, progression, and responses to therapy.

What problem is the NIH trying to address with this program?

The program is driven by the view that much existing research on inflammation in cancer relies heavily on in vitro and ex vivo approaches. Those approaches may miss dynamic, real-time interactions that occur in intact organisms. This FOA emphasizes imaging approaches that can capture molecular and cellular events as they unfold in living systems.

What types of projects does the FOA support?

The FOA supports R01 research projects aimed at developing and/or applying molecular imaging methods to study cancer-related inflammation in vivo. Projects are expected to be biologically anchored and designed to answer fundamental questions about inflammatory mechanisms in cancer, rather than treating imaging as a stand-alone technical exercise.

Does this FOA support technology development, biological studies, or both?

Based on the provided description, the FOA emphasizes both: development and use of current and emerging molecular imaging probes and integrated imaging strategies, and their application to generate meaningful, interpretable readouts of inflammation biology in cancer.

What does "Molecular Imaging of Inflammation in Cancer" mean in the context of this FOA?

In this FOA, molecular imaging is used to observe and characterize inflammatory processes within tumors and the tumor microenvironment in living systems. The emphasis is on imaging that can show where inflammatory cells are, what they are doing, and how their behavior changes over time, including during disease progression and in response to therapy.

What kinds of imaging capabilities are emphasized?

The FOA highlights molecular imaging probes and integrated imaging strategies that offer precise temporal resolution and molecular or cellular specificity. In practice, proposals are expected to use or build approaches capable of tracking inflammatory cell physiology, monitoring molecular signaling changes over time, and observing how inflammatory features shift with treatment.

What does "in vivo" mean here, and why is it important?

"In vivo" refers to studying biological processes within living systems. It matters here because the FOA is focused on capturing dynamic, real-time interactions between inflammation and cancer that may not be fully represented using in vitro (outside the organism) or ex vivo (outside the organism after removal) methods.

Is the FOA focused on tumors only, or also the tumor microenvironment?

It is explicitly focused on both tumors and the tumor microenvironment, with an emphasis on understanding the biology and timing of inflammatory processes within these contexts.

What kinds of scientific insights is NIH seeking from funded projects?

NIH is seeking a clearer, in vivo picture of cancer-inflammation interactions, including mechanistic insight into how inflammation shapes cancer initiation, progression, and therapeutic responses. This includes the ability to map inflammatory cell locations, functions, and changes over time.

Is collaboration required or encouraged?

Strong cross-field collaboration is explicitly encouraged. NIH is encouraging teams that integrate cancer basic science researchers with imaging scientists to ensure imaging readouts are meaningful and interpretable in terms of inflammation biology.

Why does the FOA emphasize cross-field collaboration?

The FOA states that tight integration between cancer biology and imaging expertise is expected to produce imaging outcomes that are biologically grounded and capable of answering fundamental questions about inflammatory mechanisms in cancer, accelerating both technology development and biological understanding.

What grant mechanism is used for this opportunity?

This opportunity uses the NIH R01 mechanism.

Are clinical trials allowed under this FOA?

No. The opportunity is designated "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," meaning applicants should not propose studies that meet NIH's definition of a clinical trial.

What does "Clinical Trial Not Allowed" mean for applicants?

It means the proposed research should not meet NIH's definition of a clinical trial. Applicants should structure their projects accordingly and avoid proposing clinical trial activities under this FOA.

What is the funding activity category listed for this opportunity?

The funding activity category is listed under Education and Health.

What CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA numbers listed are 93.394, 93.395, and 93.396.

When was this funding opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on 2021-07-22.

What is the closing date for this opportunity?

The original closing date provided is 2025-01-07.

Is the award ceiling provided?

No. The provided source information does not specify an award ceiling.

Does the listing specify the expected number of awards?

No. The provided source information does not specify the expected number of awards.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes many U.S.-based organizations and governmental entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township, and 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; Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses.

Are institutions serving specific communities explicitly mentioned as eligible?

Yes. The FOA highlights additional eligible applicant categories such as 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).

Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?

Yes. Faith-based or community-based organizations are listed among highlighted eligible applicant categories.

Are regional organizations eligible?

Yes. Regional organizations are listed among highlighted eligible applicant categories.

Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?

Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are included among highlighted eligible applicant categories.

Are federal government agencies eligible to apply?

Yes. Eligible agencies of the federal government are listed among highlighted eligible applicant categories.

Can a foreign (non-U.S.) organization apply as the primary applicant?

No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities or foreign institutions are not eligible to apply as the primary applicant organization.

Can a non-domestic component of a U.S. organization apply?

No. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply as the applicant organization.

Are any types of foreign involvement allowed?

Yes. "Foreign components" as defined under the NIH Grants Policy Statement are allowed. This means a U.S. applicant can include certain foreign involvement when it meets NIH policy requirements and is appropriately justified within the project structure.

How does the FOA view the role of imaging in these projects?

The FOA positions imaging as a tool that should be integrated with cancer biology to produce biologically interpretable insights. It is oriented toward imaging that is anchored in inflammatory mechanisms and can answer fundamental questions about how inflammation operates in cancer.

What kinds of outcomes are envisioned from successful projects?

Successful projects are expected to advance imaging technologies and strategies while also improving biological understanding of cancer-related inflammation. The anticipated payoff is more realistic, mechanistic insight into cancer-inflammation interactions in living systems, including changes over time and in response to therapy.