Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA CA 21 014
This National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity (RFA-CA-21-014) is a discretionary cooperative agreement program intended to support early-stage, exploratory development work that improves how cancer researchers model human immunity within the tumor microenvironment. Although the title references "informatics technologies for cancer research and management" and uses a U01 label in the heading, the core scientific thrust described in the text is the advancement of immuno-oncology cancer model systems that more faithfully reproduce human immune biology, with the explicit aim of making preclinical immuno-oncology studies more predictive of what will happen in people. The mechanism is described as using the R33 Exploratory/Developmental Grants Phase II activity code, and the "clinical trial optional" phrasing indicates that applicants may propose a clinical trial if it is appropriate to the project, but it is not required.
The research focus is narrowly defined: proposed projects must center on recapitulating the human immune system in the proposed cancer model by using human cells or human tissues to regenerate and/or reproduce human immune components. This can be done in either in vivo or in vitro settings, but the standard is high. The resulting model needs to match or exceed the level of human immune-system representation that has been achieved in established murine (mouse) models developed using HFT (as referenced in the opportunity). In other words, it is not enough to improve a generic model; the expectation is that the model meaningfully captures human immune lineage presence and behavior in a way that is competitive with, or better than, leading humanized mouse approaches associated with HFT-derived methods.
The solicitation also draws a clear boundary around what is considered responsive. Models that rely only on genetically manipulating an immune system without introducing human immune lineage cells are explicitly not responsive. That means approaches that tweak mouse immune genes, or otherwise engineer non-human immune systems, are not what this program is looking for unless they include the introduction of human immune cells or tissues to rebuild key aspects of the human immune compartment. The intent is to push beyond purely engineered or proxy immune systems and toward models that incorporate real human immune components interacting with tumors in ways that better reflect patient biology.
From a program structure standpoint, this is a cooperative agreement, which generally implies more active involvement from the NIH program staff than a standard grant. Applicants should expect that milestones, coordination, data sharing expectations, and project steering input may be more structured than in typical investigator-initiated awards, consistent with the cooperative agreement format.
In terms of who can apply, eligibility is broad and spans many organization types. 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; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits both with and without 501(c)(3) status (outside of higher education institutions); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) as well as small businesses; and other categories. The announcement also highlights additional eligible applicant types such as 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 and community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities/foreign organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions. This breadth suggests NIH is encouraging participation from a wide range of institutions, including those that are underrepresented or that serve historically under-resourced communities, as well as international contributors where appropriate.
Key administrative details provided include the sponsoring agency (NIH), the original closing date listed as November 17, 2021, and a stated award ceiling of $300,000. The CFDA program numbers associated with the opportunity are 93.393, 93.394, 93.395, 93.396, and 93.399, reflecting alignment with multiple NIH/NCI assistance listings. The opportunity record shows a creation date of December 2, 2020. While the number of expected awards is not filled in within the provided text, the ceiling amount indicates the program is geared toward focused, developmental work rather than large, multi-million-dollar centers.
Overall, the opportunity is best understood as targeted support for building and refining human-immune-recapitulating cancer models, specifically to strengthen immuno-oncology research by improving the biological realism of tumor-immune interactions. The practical outcome NIH is pushing toward is a new or improved generation of models that can better predict immunotherapy responses and mechanisms in humans, reducing the gap between preclinical results and clinical outcomes by ensuring that the immune component of the model is truly human-derived rather than only genetically approximated.Apply for RFA CA 21 014
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Early-Stage Development of Informatics Technologies for Cancer Research and Management (U01 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, 93.394, 93.395, 93.396, 93.399.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2020-12-02.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-11-17. (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 $300,000.00 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.
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FAQs: NIH RFA-CA-21-014 (Cooperative Agreement for Human Immune-Recapitulating Cancer Models)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity (RFA-CA-21-014) described as a discretionary cooperative agreement program supporting early-stage, exploratory development work to improve how cancer researchers model human immunity within the tumor microenvironment.
What is the main scientific goal of the program?
The core goal is to advance immuno-oncology cancer model systems that more faithfully reproduce human immune biology, so that preclinical immuno-oncology studies are more predictive of what will happen in people.
The heading references U01 and informatics. Is this primarily an informatics opportunity?
Although the title references "informatics technologies for cancer research and management" and uses a U01 label in the heading, the scientific thrust described is focused on developing cancer model systems that recapitulate the human immune system within the tumor microenvironment.
What funding mechanism or activity code is being used?
The mechanism is described as using the R33 Exploratory/Developmental Grants Phase II activity code.
Are clinical trials required?
No. The opportunity is described as "clinical trial optional," meaning applicants may propose a clinical trial if appropriate to the project, but a clinical trial is not required.
What kinds of projects are considered responsive to this solicitation?
Projects must center on recapitulating the human immune system in the proposed cancer model by using human cells or human tissues to regenerate and/or reproduce human immune components.
Does the model have to use human cells or tissues?
Yes. The research focus is narrowly defined around using human cells or human tissues to regenerate and/or reproduce human immune components in the cancer model.
Can the proposed model be in vivo or in vitro?
Yes. The solicitation allows for either in vivo or in vitro settings, but the expectation for representing human immunity is described as high.
What performance or realism standard is NIH expecting for the immune component of the model?
The resulting model is expected to match or exceed the level of human immune-system representation achieved in established murine (mouse) models developed using HFT (as referenced in the opportunity). In practical terms, the model needs to meaningfully capture human immune lineage presence and behavior at a level competitive with, or better than, leading humanized mouse approaches tied to HFT-derived methods.
What does NIH mean by "recapitulating the human immune system" in this context?
Based on the description provided, it means incorporating real human immune components (via human cells or tissues) so that immune lineages and behaviors interacting with tumors better reflect human biology rather than being approximated only through genetic engineering of non-human systems.
Are models that only genetically manipulate an immune system considered responsive?
No. Models that rely only on genetically manipulating an immune system without introducing human immune lineage cells are explicitly described as not responsive.
If a project engineers mouse immune genes, can it still be responsive?
Not by itself. Approaches that tweak mouse immune genes or otherwise engineer non-human immune systems are not what this program is looking for unless they include the introduction of human immune cells or tissues to rebuild key aspects of the human immune compartment.
Why is NIH emphasizing human-derived immune components?
The intent is to push beyond proxy or purely engineered immune systems and toward models where real human immune components interact with tumors in ways that better reflect patient biology, helping reduce the gap between preclinical results and clinical outcomes.
What type of award is this (and what does that imply)?
This is a cooperative agreement. That generally implies more active involvement from NIH program staff than a standard grant, with expectations that milestones, coordination, data sharing, and project steering input may be more structured than in typical investigator-initiated awards.
Who is the sponsoring agency?
The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Which organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad. 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; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (outside higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses; and other categories.
Are minority-serving institutions and community-based organizations included in eligibility?
Yes. The announcement highlights additional eligible applicant types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, Hispanic-serving Institutions, HBCUs, TCCUs, faith-based and community-based organizations, and regional organizations.
Can non-U.S. (foreign) organizations apply?
Yes. The eligible applicant types listed include non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities/foreign organizations.
Are U.S. territories or possessions included as eligible applicants?
Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are listed among the eligible applicant categories.
Are federal agencies eligible to apply?
Yes. Eligible federal agencies are highlighted as an eligible applicant type.
What is the closing date listed for this opportunity?
The original closing date listed is November 17, 2021.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The stated award ceiling is $300,000.
Does the opportunity state how many awards NIH expects to make?
No. The provided text notes that the number of expected awards is not filled in within the opportunity record.
What are the CFDA program numbers associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA program numbers listed are 93.393, 93.394, 93.395, 93.396, and 93.399.
When was the opportunity record created?
The opportunity record shows a creation date of December 2, 2020.
What kind of work is NIH trying to enable with a $300,000 ceiling?
Based on the description, the ceiling indicates the program is geared toward focused, developmental work that advances model realism and capability, rather than large multi-million-dollar center-scale efforts.
What practical outcome is NIH aiming for?
The program is pushing toward a new or improved generation of models that better predict immunotherapy responses and mechanisms in humans by ensuring the immune component of the model is truly human-derived rather than only genetically approximated.
What is the tumor microenvironment angle in this opportunity?
The opportunity is explicitly aimed at improving how researchers model human immunity within the tumor microenvironment, emphasizing tumor-immune interactions that are more biologically realistic and relevant to patient outcomes.
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