Secondary Analysis and Integration of Existing Data to Elucidate Cancer Risk and Related Outcomes (R21 Clinical Trials Not Allowed)
🏛 National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH11)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 16, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for researchers conducting secondary analysis and integration of existing cancer-related data. Applicants must be independent researchers with a doctoral degree (MD, PhD, or equivalent) and institutional affiliation. Research institutions, universities, and some nonprofit organizations with research capacity can apply.
The award is open to domestic institutions. It does not support clinical trials, primary data collection, or confirmatory studies.
Eligible activities include secondary analysis of large datasets, data integration projects, and epidemiological research. Work must elucidate cancer risk factors, mechanisms, or related health outcomes. International collaboration is permitted as long as the lead institution is domestic.
Research must use existing data sources only. No new human subjects recruitment or primary data collection is allowed.
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Program description
Through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) along with other participating Institutes encourages submission of applications proposing to conduct secondary data analysis and integration of existing datasets and database resources, with the ultimate aim to elucidate cancer risk and related outcomes (e.g., risk prediction or reduction, survival, or response to treatment, etc.). The goal of this initiative is to address key scientific questions relevant to cancer by supporting the analysis of existing clinical, environmental, surveillance, health services, vital statistics, behavioral, lifestyle, genomic, and molecular profiles data. Applicants are encouraged to leverage and perform innovative analyses of the existing data. Applications may include new research aims that are being addressed with existing data, new or advanced methods of analyses, or novel combinations and integration of datasets that allow the exploration of important scientific questions in cancer research.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- SF-424 (R&R)
- Project Narrative (Specific Aims, Research Strategy, Data Management)
- Budget and Budget Narrative
- Biographical Sketches (2-page format)
- Facilities and Resources
- Letters of Data Access or Data Use Agreements
- Institutional Support Letters
- NIH Format Page Limitations
Program contact
- 👤 National Institutes of Health
- 📧 grantsinfo@nih.gov
- 📞 301-402-2541
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.121 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
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$443,702,768
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$32,310,944
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$31,252,186
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$29,535,192
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$23,987,187
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$23,513,241
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$18,362,716
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$16,829,492
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$15,991,067
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$14,460,130
Top States by Funding
- WA 2 awards $451.6M
- CA 14 awards $145.2M
- MI 4 awards $75.8M
- PA 4 awards $68.3M
- MA 5 awards $39.0M
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 is eligible to apply for this R21 grant?
Researchers with doctoral degrees (MD, PhD, or equivalent) and institutional affiliation. Graduate students need faculty sponsorship.
Can I conduct a clinical trial under this grant?
No. Clinical trials are explicitly not allowed. This funding is for secondary analysis of existing data only.
What types of data can I use for this project?
Existing datasets, databases, and previously collected data sources. You cannot collect new primary data.
How competitive is this funding?
R21 awards are moderately competitive. Strong preliminary analysis of existing data and clear innovation in methodology improve competitiveness.
What is the typical funding range?
R21 awards typically support smaller-scope projects with lower budgets than R01 grants. Expect shorter project periods (usually 2 years).
💡 Tips for applicants
- Start with a strong dataset. Identify existing, high-quality data sources before writing. Show preliminary descriptive analysis.
- Focus on innovation in analysis or integration methods. Demonstrate why your analytical approach is novel or important for cancer research.
- Clearly justify why secondary analysis is the right approach. Explain what new insights your work will uncover from existing data.
- Address data access early. Document letters of data use agreements or data access approval from relevant sources.
- Keep scope realistic for the 2-year R21 timeline. Avoid overly ambitious projects that require primary data collection or lengthy follow-up periods.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Proposing primary data collection or clinical trials, which are explicitly ineligible. Submitting projects that are purely descriptive without methodological innovation or clear cancer risk insights. Lacking documented access to proposed datasets before application submission.
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