Forecast to Publish a Funding Opportunity Announcement for Cancer Epidemiology Cohorts: Building the Next Generation of Research Cohorts (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
🏛 National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH11)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 15, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for research institutions, universities, and medical centers seeking to establish or expand cancer epidemiology research cohorts. Applicant institutions must have the infrastructure, expertise, and commitment to conduct longitudinal epidemiological studies tracking cancer outcomes and risk factors across large, diverse populations. The grant supports U01 cooperative agreement mechanisms but does not permit clinical trial activities as the primary focus. Eligible applicants typically include NIH-funded institutions, academic medical centers, and research organizations with demonstrated capacity for long-term cohort management, data collection, and analysis. Geographic scope is United States-based institutions. This funding supports the development of next-generation research infrastructure to advance understanding of cancer etiology, prevention, and control through prospective population studies.
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Key dates
- Jun 16, 2025 Applications open
- Nov 5, 2025 Application deadline
- Jul 1, 2026 Award announced
- Jul 1, 2026 Project start
Program description
Through this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) solicits applications to “Cancer Epidemiology Cohorts: Building the Next Generation of Research Cohorts” NOFO. This funding opportunity announcement supports the establishment of the next generation of cancer epidemiology cohorts to address specific knowledge gaps in cancer etiology and survivorship. The goal of this NOFO is to lay the foundational resources and research that will enable future prospective studies capable of identifying the environmental, molecular, genetic, lifestyle, clinical, and other drivers of cancer risk and outcomes.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (R&R) application form
- Project Narrative (Research Strategy section detailing cohort design, rationale, and scientific aims)
- Budget and Budget Justification (typically requiring detailed year-by-year projections for 5+ years)
- Biographical Sketches of key personnel (PI and co-investigators in NIH format)
- Institutional Support Letter and Letters of Institutional Commitment
- Letters of Support from collaborating institutions or organizations
- Data Management and Sharing Plan
- Human Subjects Protection documentation (IRB approval or exemption status)
- Facilities and Resources description
- References cited in the application
Program contact
- 👤 Naoko Ishibe Simonds, Sc.D. and Lisa Gallicchio, Ph.D. National Cancer Institute (NCI)
- 📧 naoko.simonds@nih.gov
- 📞 240-276-6967
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.399 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
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$22,629,848
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$20,187,190
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$19,625,661
-
$19,227,026
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$18,138,327
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$17,827,646
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$17,614,587
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$16,535,118
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$16,126,587
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$14,347,054
Top States by Funding
- NY 7 awards $57.6M
- SC 3 awards $46.6M
- DE 3 awards $43.2M
- IL 3 awards $38.4M
- WI 3 awards $37.9M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
FAQ
What types of organizations can apply for this grant?
Eligible applicants typically include research universities, academic medical centers, NIH-funded institutions, and organizations with established research infrastructure and capacity for long-term cohort studies. Your institution should have demonstrated expertise in epidemiological research and cohort management.
Are clinical trials allowed under this grant?
No. This funding opportunity specifically excludes clinical trials as the primary research focus. The emphasis is on observational epidemiology and cohort study infrastructure development.
What research activities does this grant support?
The grant supports establishment, maintenance, and expansion of cancer epidemiology cohorts, including participant recruitment, biospecimen collection, longitudinal follow-up, data management systems, and analysis infrastructure for studying cancer risk factors and outcomes.
How competitive is this funding?
This is a highly competitive federal research grant. Strong applications typically include clear cohort design, novel research questions, interdisciplinary teams, and demonstrated institutional commitment with strong preliminary data.
What is the typical funding range?
U01 cooperative agreements for cohort-building typically range from $500,000 to $2,000,000+ in annual funding, depending on cohort size and scope, with support typically available for 5+ years. Consult the official FOA for specific budget caps and requirements.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Start by carefully reviewing the final Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) when released, as it will specify cohort requirements, cancer types of interest, and required study design elements. Don't rely solely on this forecast announcement.
- Build a strong multidisciplinary team that includes cancer epidemiologists, biostatisticians, data management specialists, and subject matter experts in your target cancer type(s). NIH values collaborative, experienced teams.
- Demonstrate institutional commitment through letters of support, pledged cost-share resources, and evidence of existing infrastructure for participant recruitment and long-term follow-up. Cohort studies require sustained institutional investment.
- Develop a clear, compelling research agenda showing how your cohort will address gaps in cancer epidemiology and generate high-impact findings. Generic cohort proposals are less competitive than those with specific, novel scientific aims.
- Plan for health equity and diversity from the outset. NIH increasingly prioritizes cohorts that represent diverse populations and address cancer disparities. Include strategies for recruitment and retention of underrepresented groups.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications often fail because they lack a clear, specific research agenda beyond simply building a cohort. Reviewers want to understand what novel cancer epidemiology questions will be answered and why existing cohorts are insufficient. Additionally, many proposals underestimate the logistical and financial resources required for long-term participant follow-up and biospecimen management, or fail to demonstrate realistic participant recruitment and retention strategies for the proposed cohort size and composition.
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