Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 18 892
This NIH funding opportunity (PAR 18 892) supports early-stage, high-impact research using the R21 mechanism to clarify how physical activity and weight control strategies influence cancer outcomes after treatment. The central aim is to move beyond broad associations and pinpoint the specific biological and biobehavioral pathways through which exercise and/or weight management (either intentional weight loss or prevention of weight gain) may improve cancer prognosis and survival among cancer survivors. The announcement emphasizes translational, team-based work that connects behavioral interventions to measurable changes in biology that are plausibly linked to recurrence risk, progression, overall survival, and survivorship-related health.
A key priority is testing the effects of physical activity alone or combined with weight control interventions on established biomarkers of cancer prognosis. NIH signals particular interest in biomarkers supported by prior animal studies or observational human research, but it steers applicants away from a primary focus on insulin and glucose metabolism pathways. Instead, the FOA encourages investigators to examine other validated or strongly supported prognostic mechanisms, especially those measurable in tumor tissue. When feasible, the opportunity highlights the value of collecting tumor-based biomarkers from repeat biopsies (for example, pre- and post-intervention sampling) to directly evaluate whether lifestyle interventions can alter tumor biology or the tumor microenvironment in ways that matter for prognosis.
The FOA also reflects the reality that many cancer survivors will not experience a cancer recurrence yet still face elevated risks from other conditions. Because of that, applicants are encouraged to include biomarkers tied to comorbid diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, as well as biomarkers related to aging or accelerated aging processes that may emerge after cancer and its treatment. In practice, this means projects can be designed to capture a broader survivorship picture: not only cancer-specific pathways, but also pathways that may influence long-term functional status, chronic disease risk, and mortality from non-cancer causes.
Methodologically, the announcement favors experimental and intervention-based designs that can support causal inference about the effects of physical activity and weight control. Examples explicitly mentioned include randomized controlled trials and fractional factorial designs, and the FOA notes that the clinical trial component is optional. Regardless of the specific design, the expectation is that the project will directly test how the intervention changes one or more biomarkers of prognosis (and, where appropriate, comorbidity or aging biomarkers) rather than simply describing behavior change outcomes.
The opportunity is explicitly transdisciplinary. Competitive applications are expected to integrate behavioral science and intervention expertise with cancer biology and other relevant basic or clinical sciences tied to the proposed pathways. In other words, the grant is aimed at teams that can design and deliver a credible lifestyle intervention while also collecting and interpreting biological specimens and mechanistic biomarker endpoints in a way that is meaningful for oncology and survivorship.
Administratively, this is a discretionary grant opportunity from the National Institutes of Health within the health and education activity categories (CFDA 93.393 and 93.399). The listed award ceiling is $200,000. A wide range of applicant organizations are eligible, including various levels of government, public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses. The announcement also calls out additional eligible applicants such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIS institutions, Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, tribal governments and organizations (including those not federally recognized), faith-based or community-based organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and non-U.S. (foreign) entities. The original closing date shown in the source data is 2021-09-07, indicating the posted cycle in the provided record.Apply for PAR 18 892
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Physical Activity and Weight Control Interventions Among Cancer Survivors: Effects on Biomarkers of Prognosis and Survival (R21 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, 93.399.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2018-08-07.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-09-07. (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 $200,000.00 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.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
FAQs: NIH PAR 18-892 (R21) Physical Activity, Weight Control, and Cancer Outcomes
What is this funding opportunity (PAR 18-892) about?
This NIH funding opportunity supports early-stage, high-impact research that tests how physical activity and/or weight control strategies influence cancer outcomes after treatment. The emphasis is on moving past broad correlations and identifying specific biological and biobehavioral pathways that could plausibly affect recurrence risk, progression, overall survival, and survivorship-related health.
What grant mechanism does this opportunity use?
The opportunity uses the NIH R21 mechanism and is described as supporting early-stage, high-impact research.
What is the central scientific goal of projects funded under this FOA?
The central goal is to pinpoint the mechanisms (biological and biobehavioral pathways) through which exercise and/or weight management (either intentional weight loss or prevention of weight gain) may improve prognosis and survival among cancer survivors.
What kinds of interventions are in scope?
Projects can focus on physical activity alone or physical activity combined with weight control interventions. Weight control can include intentional weight loss or interventions designed to prevent weight gain.
What outcomes are projects expected to measure?
The FOA prioritizes directly testing the effects of the intervention(s) on established biomarkers of cancer prognosis. The expectation is that projects will measure whether the intervention changes one or more prognostic biomarkers (and, where appropriate, biomarkers related to comorbidity or aging) rather than focusing mainly on behavior change outcomes.
Does NIH want biomarker-focused studies?
Yes. A key priority is testing the effects of physical activity and/or weight control on established biomarkers of cancer prognosis, ideally ones with support from prior animal studies or observational human research.
Are insulin and glucose metabolism pathways a good primary focus for this FOA?
No. The announcement steers applicants away from making insulin and glucose metabolism pathways the primary focus. It encourages investigation of other validated or strongly supported prognostic mechanisms.
What types of biomarkers does NIH seem especially interested in?
NIH signals particular interest in prognostic mechanisms that are validated or strongly supported and especially those measurable in tumor tissue. The FOA highlights the value of tumor-based biomarkers where feasible.
Are tumor biopsies required?
The FOA does not state that tumor biopsies are required, but it highlights that, when feasible, collecting tumor-based biomarkers from repeat biopsies (such as pre- and post-intervention) is valuable to directly test whether lifestyle interventions can alter tumor biology or the tumor microenvironment in prognostically meaningful ways.
What does "repeat biopsies" mean in this context?
It refers to collecting tumor tissue at more than one time point, for example before and after the lifestyle intervention, to evaluate changes in tumor biology or the tumor microenvironment associated with the intervention.
Does the FOA only care about cancer recurrence and survival?
No. The FOA recognizes that many cancer survivors may not experience recurrence but may still face higher risks from other conditions. Applicants are encouraged to include biomarkers tied to comorbid diseases (such as cardiovascular disease) and biomarkers related to aging or accelerated aging processes following cancer and its treatment.
Can projects include outcomes related to comorbid disease risk?
Yes. The FOA encourages inclusion of biomarkers tied to comorbid diseases (for example, cardiovascular disease) as part of capturing a broader survivorship picture.
Can projects include biomarkers related to aging?
Yes. The FOA encourages inclusion of biomarkers related to aging or accelerated aging processes that may emerge after cancer and its treatment.
What study designs does the FOA prefer?
The announcement favors experimental and intervention-based designs that support causal inference about the effects of physical activity and weight control strategies. Examples explicitly mentioned include randomized controlled trials and fractional factorial designs.
Is a clinical trial required?
No. The FOA notes that the clinical trial component is optional, while still emphasizing intervention-based designs that can support causal inference.
If not running a clinical trial, what is still expected?
Regardless of design, the expectation is that the project will directly test how the intervention changes one or more biomarkers of prognosis (and, as appropriate, biomarkers linked to comorbidity or aging), rather than only describing behavior change outcomes.
What does NIH mean by "translational" and "team-based" work here?
It means connecting behavioral interventions (like exercise or weight management programs) to measurable changes in biology, using a team that can credibly design and deliver the intervention while also collecting and interpreting biological specimens and mechanistic biomarker endpoints relevant to oncology and survivorship.
What disciplines are expected to be involved?
Competitive applications are expected to integrate behavioral science and intervention expertise with cancer biology and other relevant basic or clinical sciences tied to the proposed pathways.
Who can apply for this NIH opportunity?
A wide range of applicant organizations are eligible, including various levels of government; public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses.
Are small businesses eligible?
Yes. Small businesses are listed as eligible applicants.
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. For-profit organizations are eligible, including those other than small businesses.
Are nonprofits required to have 501(c)(3) status?
No. The eligibility list includes nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status.
Are minority-serving and tribally affiliated institutions eligible?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly lists several categories, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and AANAPISIS institutions.
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Tribal governments and organizations are listed as eligible, including tribal entities that are not federally recognized.
Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. Faith-based or community-based organizations are explicitly listed among eligible applicants.
Can organizations in U.S. territories or possessions apply?
Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are explicitly included in the eligibility list.
Are non-U.S. (foreign) entities eligible to apply?
Yes. Non-U.S. (foreign) entities are explicitly listed as eligible applicants.
Are federal agencies eligible applicants?
Yes. Eligible federal agencies are listed among the eligible applicants.
What is the maximum award amount listed for this opportunity?
The listed award ceiling in the provided information is $200,000.
Which NIH program categories (CFDA numbers) are associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 93.393 and 93.399 within the health and education activity categories.
What is the deadline shown in the provided record?
The original closing date shown in the provided source data is 2021-09-07, indicating the posted cycle in that record.
What is the overall emphasis for a strong application, based on the description provided?
The description emphasizes high-impact, mechanistic, translational intervention research that can support causal inference; focuses on validated or strongly supported prognostic biomarkers (especially tumor-based when feasible); and brings together a transdisciplinary team capable of delivering the lifestyle intervention while also collecting and interpreting biological specimens tied to cancer prognosis, comorbidity risk, and/or aging-related processes.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Education, Health
Next opportunity: Ukraine: U.S. government Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program –Culture
Previous opportunity: Selected Topics in Transfusion Medicine (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for PAR 18 892
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (PAR 18 892) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Physical Activity and Weight Control Interventions Among Cancer Survivors: Effects on Biomarkers of Prognosis and Survival (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 18 893 Funding Number: PAR 18 893 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NLM Research Grants in Biomedical Informatics and Data Science (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 18 896 Funding Number: PAR 18 896 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Limited Competition: AIDS and Cancer Specimen Resource (ACSR)(UM1 Clinical Trials Not Allowed) Apply for RFA CA 18 012 Funding Number: RFA CA 18 012 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Advancing Translational and Clinical Probiotic/Prebiotic and Human Microbiome Research (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PA 18 902 Funding Number: PA 18 902 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NLM Information Resource Grants to Reduce Health Disparities (G08 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA LM 19 001 Funding Number: RFA LM 19 001 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Improving Smoking Cessation Interventions among People Living with HIV (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA CA 18 028 Funding Number: RFA CA 18 028 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Improving Smoking Cessation Interventions among People Living with HIV (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA CA 18 027 Funding Number: RFA CA 18 027 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Prevention of HPV-related Cancers in HIV-infected individuals: United States-Latin American-Caribbean Clinical Trials Network: Partnership Centers (U54 Clinical Trial Required) Apply for RFA CA 18 018 Funding Number: RFA CA 18 018 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| Feasibility Studies to Build Collaborative Partnerships in Cancer Research (P20 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 18 911 Funding Number: PAR 18 911 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $375,000 |
| Utilizing the PLCO Biospecimens Resource to Bridge Gaps in Cancer Etiology and Early Detection Research (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 18 913 Funding Number: PAR 18 913 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Modeling HIV Neuropathology Using Microglia from Human iPSC and Cerebral Organoids (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA DA 19 009 Funding Number: RFA DA 19 009 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Modeling HIV Neuropathology Using Microglia from Human iPSC and Cerebral Organoids (R21-Clinical Trials Not Allowed) Apply for RFA DA 19 010 Funding Number: RFA DA 19 010 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| AIDS-Science Track Award for Research Transition (R03 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PA 18 916 Funding Number: PA 18 916 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Imaging - Science Track Award for Research Transition (I/START) (R03 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 18 918 Funding Number: PAR 18 918 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Communication and Decision Making for Individuals with Inherited Cancer Syndromes (U01 Clinical Trial Optional). Apply for RFA CA 19 001 Funding Number: RFA CA 19 001 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $600,000 |
| Quantitative Imaging Tools and Methods for Cancer Response Assessment (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 18 919 Funding Number: PAR 18 919 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Cancer Prevention Clinical Trials Network (CP-CTNet): CP-CTNet Sites (UG1 Clinical Trial Required) Apply for RFA CA 18 029 Funding Number: RFA CA 18 029 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $625,000 |
| Cancer Prevention Clinical Trials Network (CP-CTNet): Data Management, Auditing, and Coordinating Center (DMACC) (U24 Clinical Trials Required) Apply for RFA CA 18 030 Funding Number: RFA CA 18 030 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| The NCI Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Fellow Transition Award (F99/K00) Apply for RFA CA 19 002 Funding Number: RFA CA 19 002 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Loyalty and Reward-Based Technologies to Increase Adherence to Substance Use Disorder Pharmacotherapies (R41/R42 - Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA DA 19 015 Funding Number: RFA DA 19 015 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "PAR 18 892", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.