Basic Research in Cancer Health Disparities (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
🏛 National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH11)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Sep 4, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for researchers studying how and why cancer health disparities occur. Eligible applicants include universities, research institutes, hospitals, and nonprofit research organizations. Individual researchers with faculty positions or advanced degrees can apply. International institutions may be eligible with NIH approval. Activities supported include basic science research, mechanistic studies, and epidemiological investigations into cancer disparities. Clinical trials are not allowed under this funding mechanism.
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Program description
This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) encourages grant applications from investigators interested in conducting basic, mechanistic research into the biological/genetic causes of cancer health disparities. These research project grants will support innovative studies designed to investigate biological/genetic bases of cancer health disparities, such as (1) mechanistic studies of biological factors associated with cancer health disparities, including those related to basic research in cancer biology or cancer prevention strategies, (2) the development and testing of new methodologies and models, and (3) secondary data analyses. This NOFO is also designed to aid and facilitate the growth of a nationwide cohort of scientists with a high level of basic research expertise in cancer health disparities research who can expand available resources and tools, such as biospecimens, patient derived models, and methods that are necessary to conduct basic research in cancer health disparities.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- City / Municipal Government
- County Government
- Hospital
- Nonprofits
- Private University
- Public Authority
- Public K-12 School
- Public University
- Small Business (SBA-defined)
- Special District
- State Government
- Tribal Nation
- Tribal Organization
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- NIH Application Form (SF-424 R&R)
- Research Strategy (Introduction, Specific Aims, Research Design, Data Analysis)
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Biographical Sketches (key personnel)
- Institutional Review Board approval or exemption documentation
- References and Supporting Documents
Program contact
- 👤 National Institutes of Health
- 📧 grantsinfo@nih.gov
- 📞 301-402-2541
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.393 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
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$213,206,023
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$56,669,166
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$56,551,552
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$48,640,472
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$47,009,863
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$42,878,192
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$37,448,862
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$29,324,004
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$26,395,336
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$24,427,436
Top States by Funding
- MA 11 awards $398.0M
- CA 10 awards $263.1M
- MN 4 awards $106.8M
- NY 7 awards $100.9M
- TN 7 awards $97.7M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.393). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $754,945,159 | |
| 2025 | $834,514,512 | |
| 2026 est. | $520,096,276 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this R21 grant?
Faculty researchers, postdocs, and investigators at research institutions. Your institution must have a Federal Wide Assurance (FWA) for human subjects research if applicable.
What type of research is funded?
Basic research exploring cancer health disparities. Clinical trials are explicitly not allowed.
What is a typical R21 grant timeline?
Budget periods of 2-3 years total, with flexibility to reorganize activities. Expect review within 4-6 months of submission.
How competitive is this funding?
R21 grants are moderately competitive. Focus on novel, high-impact approaches to understanding disparities. Fundable projects show clear innovation.
What is the typical funding range?
R21 grants typically fund $200,000–$500,000 over the entire project period, though exact amounts vary by study design.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Clearly define which cancer types and populations experience the disparities you're studying. Vague generalization weakens applications.
- Use preliminary data to demonstrate feasibility. Strong pilot results increase competitiveness significantly.
- Address health equity directly. Explain how your research addresses root causes, not just describes differences.
- Align with NIH strategic priorities on cancer disparities. Review NCI and NIMHD guidance before writing.
- Build partnerships with community organizations or researchers from underrepresented groups. Collaboration strengthens applications.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Proposing a clinical trial when the mechanism explicitly forbids it. Describing disparities without explaining mechanistic or biological reasons behind them. Weak preliminary data or no preliminary data suggesting feasibility of the proposed approach.
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