Coordinating Center for the Program on the Origins of Gastroesophageal Cancers (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA CA 21 027

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA CA 21 027

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is soliciting applications for a single Coordinating Center under a U24 cooperative agreement to support a broader research effort called the Program on the Origins of Gastroesophageal Cancers. The overall purpose of this program is to push understanding of how gastroesophageal cancers begin, focusing specifically on gastric adenocarcinoma and gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma. Rather than concentrating on later-stage tumors or established disease, the program is designed to map the earliest cellular and molecular events that lead to malignant transformation, ideally identifying changes that occur even before anything is visible under standard histology and before recognizable neoplasia appears.

Scientifically, the initiative builds on several areas that have advanced rapidly in recent years: modern molecular classification systems for gastroesophageal cancers, deeper knowledge of the genomics of these tumors, and major progress in stem cell research and related model systems. Within that context, the program aims to clarify how tumor-initiating cells arise and how they proliferate and expand, along with the downstream progeny that ultimately form cancers. A key theme is dissecting the mechanisms and biological effectors that drive initiation, expansion, and early evolution at the cellular level, with the expectation that this will create unusually detailed insight into the earliest steps of transformation.

Structurally, this FOA funds the coordinating infrastructure, not the main discovery science projects themselves. The program is expected to include up to six large R01 research projects (supported through a separate companion announcement, RFA-CA-21-026) plus one Coordinating Center award supported by this announcement (RFA-CA-21-027). The Coordinating Center is therefore meant to serve as the operational hub for the consortium, helping the overall program function as an integrated effort rather than a set of disconnected projects. As a cooperative agreement (U24), the award mechanism implies substantial NIH involvement and collaboration during the period of performance compared to a typical independent research grant.

The announcement specifies that clinical trials are not allowed under this FOA, signaling that the Coordinating Center should not propose or run clinical intervention studies as part of its activities. Instead, the center would be expected to focus on coordination functions typical of a multi-site research program, such as organizing communication and meetings, aligning consortium-wide practices, facilitating data and resource sharing, supporting common standards where needed, and generally ensuring that the separate R01 projects can work together efficiently toward shared program goals.

Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations. Eligible applicants include many categories of government entities (state, county, city/township, special districts), public and private institutions of higher education, independent school districts, federally recognized tribal governments and certain tribal organizations, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses. The FOA also highlights a range of institution types as other eligible applicants, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions, Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions.

Foreign organizations and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. However, foreign components are allowed as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, meaning limited, well-justified international involvement can be included under NIH rules even though the lead applicant must be domestic. The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH), specifically NCI, and the opportunity is listed under CFDA 93.396. The funding opportunity number is RFA-CA-21-027, it was created on June 25, 2021, and the original closing date was October 8, 2021.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Coordinating Center for the Program on the Origins of Gastroesophageal Cancers (U24 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): 93.396.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2021-06-25.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-10-08. (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 RFA CA 21 027

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