Mechanistic links between diet, lipid metabolism, and tumor growth and progression (UH2 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR 25 118

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 25 118

The NIH funding opportunity PAR 25-118, titled "Mechanistic links between diet, lipid metabolism, and tumor growth and progression (UH2 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)," supports basic and mechanistic research aimed at explaining how diet influences cancer through changes in lipid biology. The central idea is to fund studies that move beyond correlations between diet and cancer outcomes and instead pin down the molecular and biochemical pathways that connect dietary inputs to lipid metabolism, and in turn to tumor growth, tumor progression, and related cancer biology. This program is positioned to bring together fields that have often operated separately, especially nutrition science and molecular metabolism, by putting lipids at the center of the connection between what is consumed and what tumors do.

The NOFO emphasizes fundamental investigations that identify and define mechanisms, meaning applicants are expected to propose hypothesis-driven work that can explain causal links and specific biological steps. A major motivation for this initiative is that lipid metabolism is highly complex: lipids include many structurally diverse molecules, their pathways are interwoven with energy balance and signaling, and their measurement and manipulation can be technically challenging. Because of those challenges, the announcement also encourages research and tool development that can help the broader community study lipid biochemistry in cancer more effectively, such as improved analytical methods, model systems, experimental approaches, or other enabling technologies that make it easier to interrogate lipid pathways rigorously.

The award mechanism is a cooperative agreement (UH2), which typically indicates substantial programmatic involvement from NIH staff compared with a standard research project grant. At the same time, the opportunity is explicitly "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," so the proposed work must not be a clinical trial as defined by NIH policy. In practical terms, the science can involve mechanistic studies relevant to humans, but it cannot be designed as an interventional clinical trial that prospectively assigns human participants to an intervention to evaluate health-related outcomes.

To lower the barrier to entry for investigators who are newer to this emerging intersection of diet, lipid metabolism, and cancer biology, the NOFO places a strict limit on unpublished preliminary data: applicants may include only one figure, and that figure may be no more than one-half page. This is intended to reduce the expectation of extensive unpublished supporting data and to encourage strong conceptual proposals, including from qualified researchers who may be pivoting into the field.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and government entities, such as state, county, city, 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; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. The announcement also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant categories, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), 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, and U.S. territories or possessions.

Foreign organizations are not eligible to apply as applicant institutions, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. However, foreign components are allowed when they meet NIH policy definitions, meaning a U.S. applicant may include certain foreign elements in the project when well-justified and consistent with NIH rules.

The opportunity is administered by the National Institutes of Health and is listed under CFDA numbers 93.393, 93.394, 93.395, 93.396, and 93.399, reflecting NIH program areas that commonly include cancer-related research activities. The original closing date provided for this opportunity is 2025-10-23, and the NOFO was created on 2024-10-30. Award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided source information.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Mechanistic links between diet, lipid metabolism, and tumor growth and progression (UH2 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): 93.393, 93.394, 93.395, 93.396, 93.399.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-10-30.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-10-23. (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 25 118

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