Research Opportunities in Cancer Epidemiology Cohort Studies (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Can you apply?
This grant is for research institutions and individual researchers seeking to fund cancer epidemiology studies using existing cohorts. Applicants must hold a research or clinical doctorate degree and have institutional affiliation. The scope is national, supporting cohort-based epidemiological research that advances cancer prevention and control knowledge. Clinical trials are not allowed under this award mechanism.
Eligible institutions include universities, medical centers, nonprofit research organizations, and government agencies. Researchers must demonstrate capacity to conduct rigorous epidemiological work. International collaboration is permitted if the principal investigator is U.S.-based. All projects must use established cohort data or propose new cohort development with clear scientific justification.
Program description
Through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) encourages grant applications to support research in cancer epidemiology cohort studies that address specific knowledge gaps in cancer etiology and survivorship. Applications should include hypothesis-based research, support for cohort infrastructure and/or maintenance, continued follow-up, and sharing of data and biospecimen resources as appropriate.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (R&R)
- Research Plan (including specific aims, background, significance, preliminary studies)
- Detailed Budget and Justification
- NIH Biographical Sketch (CV in NIH format)
- Current and Pending Support
- Institutional Support Letter
- Letters of Collaboration (if multi-site)
- Data Use Agreement or Cohort Access Documentation
Program contact
- 👤 National Institutes of Health
- 📧 ncidccpsegrpnofos@mail.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
-
$213,206,023
-
$56,551,552
-
$48,640,472
-
$47,009,863
-
$42,878,192
-
$37,448,862
-
$29,324,004
-
$26,395,336
-
$24,427,436
-
$23,149,727
Top States by Funding
- MA 10 awards $373.4M
- CA 10 awards $259.2M
- MN 4 awards $106.9M
- NY 7 awards $99.4M
- 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 be a principal investigator on this grant?
You must hold a doctoral degree (MD, PhD, DVM, DO, or equivalent) and work at an eligible institution. Postdocs and graduate students cannot serve as PI.
Can my project include a clinical trial?
No. This mechanism explicitly excludes clinical trials. Focus on observational cohort studies instead.
What is the typical funding range and project duration?
U01 grants typically fund $100K-$500K annually for 3-5 years. Check the current RFP for exact amounts.
How competitive is this grant?
NIH R01-level grants are highly competitive. Strong preliminary data and clear innovation are essential. Success rates vary by institute but are typically 15-25%.
What's the difference between using existing cohorts versus proposing a new one?
Existing cohorts allow faster execution but must demonstrate novel scientific questions. New cohorts require strong justification and feasibility plans.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Start with a clear, focused research question addressing cancer epidemiology gaps. Vague hypotheses weaken competitiveness.
- Show detailed knowledge of your cohort data. Reviewers expect specifics about sample size, follow-up rates, and data quality.
- Include preliminary findings or pilot work demonstrating feasibility. Published papers from the cohort strengthen applications.
- Propose rigorous statistical methods and appropriate sample size calculations. Weak methodology is a common rejection reason.
- Address potential limitations upfront. Acknowledge missing data, selection bias, or confounding and explain mitigation strategies.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Proposals lacking clear cancer epidemiology hypotheses or those that are too broad. Applications with insufficient preliminary data or cohort-specific documentation. Including clinical trial components when the mechanism explicitly prohibits them.
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