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

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 21 294

The National Institutes of Health funding opportunity PAR-21-294, titled "Molecular Imaging of Inflammation in Cancer (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)," supports R01 research projects aimed at improving how cancer-related inflammation is studied inside living systems. 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. A major driver behind the program is the view that a lot of existing work on inflammation in cancer still relies heavily on in vitro and ex vivo approaches, which can miss the dynamic, real-time interactions that happen in intact organisms. By pushing imaging technologies that can capture molecular and cellular events as they unfold, the FOA is meant to generate more realistic and mechanistic insights into how inflammation shapes cancer initiation, progression, and responses to therapy.

The FOA places special emphasis on the development and use of current and emerging molecular imaging probes and integrated imaging strategies that offer precise temporal resolution and molecular or cellular specificity. In practice, this means proposals are expected to use or build imaging approaches capable of identifying and characterizing inflammatory cell physiology within cancers, tracking molecular signaling changes over time, and observing how inflammatory features shift in response to treatment. The overall scientific payoff NIH is seeking is a clearer, in vivo picture of cancer-inflammation interactions, including the ability to map where inflammatory cells are, what they are doing, and how their behavior changes during disease progression or therapeutic intervention.

A defining feature of this announcement is its expectation of strong cross-field collaboration. NIH is explicitly encouraging teams that bring together cancer basic science researchers and imaging scientists, with the idea that tight integration between these disciplines is what will produce meaningful, interpretable imaging readouts of inflammation biology. Rather than imaging being treated as a stand-alone technical exercise, the FOA is oriented toward imaging that is biologically anchored and capable of answering fundamental questions about inflammatory mechanisms in cancer. These collaborative projects are expected to accelerate both technology development and biological understanding, ultimately advancing the broader field of cancer inflammation research.

This is an NIH discretionary grant opportunity using the R01 mechanism, and it is designated "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," meaning applicants should not propose studies that meet NIH's definition of a clinical trial. The funding activity category is listed under Education and Health, and the relevant CFDA numbers are 93.394, 93.395, and 93.396. The opportunity was created on 2021-07-22, and the original closing date provided is 2025-01-07. The listing does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards in the provided source data.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of 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. The FOA also 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), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible agencies of the federal government, and U.S. territories or possessions.

At the same time, the foreign eligibility rules are specific. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities or foreign institutions are not eligible to apply as the primary applicant organization, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. However, "foreign components" as defined under the NIH Grants Policy Statement are allowed, meaning a U.S. applicant can include certain types of foreign involvement when it meets NIH policy requirements and is appropriately justified within the project structure.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Molecular Imaging of Inflammation in Cancer (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.394, 93.395, 93.396.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2021-07-22.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-01-07. (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.

Apply for PAR 21 294

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: