Cancer Center Support Grants (CCSGs) for NCI-designated Cancer Centers (P30 Clinical Trial Optional)
🏛 National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH11)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 16, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for institutions designated or aspiring to be NCI-designated Cancer Centers. Organizations must hold nonprofit status and be engaged in comprehensive cancer research and clinical care. The program supports research infrastructure and shared resources at leading cancer research institutions.
Eligible applicants include academic medical centers, independent cancer research institutions, and comprehensive medical centers. Geographic scope is nationwide, with no regional restrictions. Activities funded include research infrastructure, animal facilities, tissue banks, and shared scientific/administrative resources that enable cancer research programs.
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Program description
This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) invites applications for P30 Cancer Center Support Grants (CCSGs) to support NCI-Designated Cancer Centers. CCSGs support three types of Cancer Centers: 1) Comprehensive Cancer Centers, which demonstrate reasonable depth and breadth of research activities in each of three major areas: basic laboratory; clinical; and prevention, control and population-based research, and which have substantial transdisciplinary research that bridges these scientific areas; and 2) Clinical Cancer Centers, which are primarily focused on basic laboratory; clinical; and prevention, cancer control, and population-based research; or some combination of these areas, and 3) Basic Cancer Centers, which focus on basic laboratory research. The purpose of all types of NCI-Designated Cancer Centers is to capitalize on all institutional cancer research capabilities, integrating meritorious research into a single transdisciplinary research enterprise across all institutional boundaries. Cancer Centers supported through this NOFO are expected to serve as major sources of discovery of the nature of cancer and of development of more effective approaches to prevention, diagnosis, and therapy; to contribute significantly to the development of Shared Resources that support research; to collaborate and coordinate their research efforts with other NCI-funded programs and investigators; and to disseminate research findings for the benefit of the community.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- NIH R&R Form (SF424)
- Project Narrative (Cancer Center Support Plan)
- Research Program Descriptions
- Institutional Commitment Letters
- Budget and Justification (Multi-year)
- Biosketches of Key Leadership
- Facilities and Equipment Documentation
- Cancer Center Organization Chart
- Letters of Support from Research Program Leaders
Program contact
- 👤 National Institutes of Health
- 📧 ncicenters-r@mail.nih.gov
- 📞 301-402-2541
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.397 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
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$263,969,536
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$235,803,541
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$221,888,292
-
$203,145,019
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$163,189,642
-
$148,203,722
-
$130,529,611
-
$127,756,828
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$127,128,807
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$122,762,660
Top States by Funding
- CA 13 awards $902.3M
- NY 6 awards $623.7M
- MA 5 awards $450.5M
- PA 6 awards $445.6M
- TX 7 awards $435.0M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.397). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $608,105,052 | |
| 2025 | $607,075,632 | |
| 2026 est. | $338,673,000 |
FAQ
Who can apply for a Cancer Center Support Grant?
NCI-designated Cancer Centers and institutions with the scientific infrastructure and track record for NCI designation can apply. Your institution must demonstrate a strong commitment to cancer research across multiple disciplines.
What is the typical funding range?
Awards vary widely based on center size and research activity. Support typically ranges from several hundred thousand to several million dollars annually, depending on the center's scope and national ranking.
What activities are supported?
The grant funds shared research resources, core facilities, animal resources, tissue banks, and administrative infrastructure. It supports the scientific environment that enables individual research projects rather than funding specific studies.
What is the deadline and how competitive is this grant?
Fixed deadlines occur on a set schedule. This is highly competitive; only NCI-designated centers receive awards. Plan 6-12 months for preparation if seeking new or renewed designation.
What documents will I need to submit?
Expect to provide institutional biosketches for leadership, detailed descriptions of research programs, letters of institutional commitment, financial documentation, and evidence of research infrastructure and facilities.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Start by confirming your institution's current or planned NCI Cancer Center designation status with your cancer center director before investing grant effort.
- Document all shared research resources, core facilities, and support services your institution provides to cancer researchers in detail.
- Emphasize institutional commitment through letters from your governing board, leadership, and key research program leaders.
- Build a strong track record of cancer research funding and publications across your institution's research portfolio prior to application.
- Engage your institutional grants and compliance office early to ensure all regulatory requirements and institutional policies are met.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applicants underestimate infrastructure and shared resource costs, leading to inadequate budgets. Centers lack clear documentation of existing research facilities and support services. Institutions apply without confirmed NCI designation status or realistic pathway to designation.
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