Secondary Analysis and Integration of Existing Data to Elucidate Cancer Risk and Related Outcomes (R21 Clinical Trials Not Allowed) | PAR 23 255

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 23 255

This funding opportunity (PAR-23-255) is a National Institutes of Health grant led by the National Cancer Institute that supports research using secondary analysis and integration of existing data to answer important questions about cancer risk and cancer-related outcomes. The central idea is to get more scientific value out of data that already exist by applying new questions, better analytic approaches, or creative data linkages. Projects funded under this announcement are meant to clarify factors that influence cancer risk, improve risk prediction or risk reduction strategies, and deepen understanding of outcomes such as survival, recurrence, or response to treatment, without collecting new primary trial data.

The award mechanism is an R21, which is typically used for exploratory or developmental work. In practical terms, this encourages proposals that are innovative and potentially high-impact, even if they are earlier-stage or are testing a new analytic direction. Clinical trials are not allowed under this NOFO, meaning applicants should not propose prospective interventional studies that assign participants to an intervention to evaluate health outcomes. Instead, the work should rely on re-analysis of existing datasets or integration of existing resources, such as linking datasets, harmonizing variables across studies, or applying advanced statistical or computational techniques to data that have already been collected for research, clinical, administrative, or public health purposes.

The types of data specifically highlighted are broad and reflect the modern cancer research ecosystem. The NOFO emphasizes analyses using clinical data, environmental exposure data, cancer surveillance and registry data, health services and utilization data, vital statistics, behavioral and lifestyle information, and genomic and molecular profiling data. Strong applications will generally show that the applicant understands the strengths and limitations of the chosen data sources (for example, missingness, measurement differences across datasets, selection bias, confounding, or changes in coding practices over time) and will propose credible strategies to address them. The program also encourages novel combinations of datasets, which can include integrating clinical records with tumor registry data, linking exposure or geographic context data to individual-level outcomes, or combining molecular profiles with epidemiologic and health services information to better explain disparities, treatment responses, or prognosis.

A key feature of this opportunity is its emphasis on innovation in how existing data are used. Applications can be competitive if they propose entirely new research aims that are feasible with existing data, introduce new or advanced analytic methods (such as improved causal inference approaches, risk modeling, machine learning that is appropriately validated, or methods for harmonizing multi-study data), or create integrated analytic resources by thoughtfully combining multiple datasets. The overall objective is not simply to run standard analyses on a single dataset, but to use existing resources in a way that meaningfully advances understanding of cancer etiology, progression, or outcomes and that addresses significant scientific questions in cancer research.

From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary grant program within NIH, with activity categories listed as education and health and CFDA numbers 93.121, 93.393, and 93.866. The award ceiling is listed as 275,000. The opportunity was created on 2023-08-01, and the original closing date is 2026-09-07. The listing does not specify the expected number of awards in the provided text, suggesting applicants should consult the full NOFO for details on budget structure, project period, application due dates across cycles (if multiple), and review criteria.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of organizations that commonly participate in NIH funding. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; 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 and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. The NOFO also explicitly notes additional eligible applicant categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities, and U.S. territories or possessions. This wide eligibility reflects the program goal of enabling many sectors to contribute to high-value cancer research using existing data resources.

Overall, the opportunity is aimed at researchers and organizations that can demonstrate access to relevant existing datasets (or a clear path to obtaining them), a strong analytic plan, and a compelling cancer-focused scientific question that can be answered through secondary analysis and/or data integration. Competitive proposals will typically articulate why the existing data are well-suited to the aims, what methodological or integrative innovation will be applied, and how the results could meaningfully inform cancer prevention, risk stratification, clinical decision-making, survivorship, or understanding of treatment outcomes, while staying clearly within the boundary of non-interventional, non-clinical-trial research.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Secondary Analysis and Integration of Existing Data to Elucidate Cancer Risk and Related Outcomes (R21 Clinical Trials Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.121, 93.393, 93.866.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-08-01.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-09-07. (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 $275,000.00 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.

Apply for PAR 23 255

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