Research Projects to Enhance Applicability of Mammalian Models for Translational Research (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR 23 281

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 23 281

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is offering an NIH R01 funding opportunity (PAR-23-281) focused on making mammalian cancer and tumor models more useful and trustworthy for translational research. The core idea is not to fund another typical mechanistic biology project, but to support practical, evidence-driven work that shows whether commonly used mammalian models (and model derivatives such as transplantation models or models derived from mammalian or human tissues or cells) actually reflect human cancer biology well enough to answer clinically important questions. NCI is looking for projects that improve confidence in how these models predict patient-relevant outcomes, reduce known gaps between preclinical findings and clinical reality, and generate more reliable information that can ultimately benefit patients.

The emphasis is on improving the applicability, rigor, and real-world relevance of mammalian oncology models. Proposed projects can take many forms, but they should be geared toward demonstrating and documenting model performance for translational purposes. Examples of the kinds of work encouraged include: showing concrete ways to overcome known translational deficiencies in existing models; defining new uses for mammalian models (or specific genetic backgrounds and engineered systems) to tackle translational problems that have not been well addressed; improving and spreading standard practices for model selection, experimental design, and interpretation in translational settings; developing and testing methods to validate, benchmark, or "credential" models for specific clinical questions; and even directly challenging entrenched practices around how models are used when people try to draw conclusions relevant to patients. In other words, the goal is to raise the bar on how models are evaluated and used, so that results from mammalian studies are more reproducible, more interpretable, and more predictive when moving toward human application.

This is an R01 grant mechanism, and the opportunity is explicitly labeled "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," meaning the funded work should not include clinical trials. The activity sits in the NIH/NCI health-related research space (CFDA numbers 93.393, 93.394, 93.395, 93.396), and it is categorized in the listing as Education and Health, reflecting the broader NIH framing even though the projects themselves are research-focused.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S. organizations and some non-U.S. entities. Eligible applicants listed include state, county, and city/township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. The NOFO also calls out additional eligible applicant categories such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, U.S. territories or possessions, regional organizations, Indian/Native American tribal governments other than federally recognized, and foreign (non-U.S.) organizations.

Key administrative details provided include that the sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health (with the program led by NCI), the funding instrument is a grant, and the original closing date is listed as 2026-09-07. An award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided data, suggesting applicants should consult the full NOFO text for budget expectations, project period norms, and any institute-specific guidance. The opportunity was created on 2023-08-18. Overall, the NOFO is designed for teams that can bring strong translational judgment, rigorous validation strategies, and practical model-improvement approaches to the problem of making mammalian cancer models more predictive and more credible as tools that inform patient-oriented research decisions.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Research Projects to Enhance Applicability of Mammalian Models for Translational Research (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.393, 93.394, 93.395, 93.396.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-08-18.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-09-07. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for PAR 23 281

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