Epidemiologic Research on Emerging Risk Factors and Liver Cancer Susceptibility (R21 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PA 18 678

Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 18 678

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity titled "Epidemiologic Research on Emerging Risk Factors and Liver Cancer Susceptibility (R21 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" (Funding Opportunity Number: PA 18 678; CFDA: 93.393) supports exploratory, hypothesis-driven epidemiologic research aimed at understanding why liver cancer develops and who is most susceptible in the United States. The focus is on etiologic research, meaning studies that investigate causes and contributing factors for liver cancer, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and other histologic subtypes. This opportunity is designed to encourage novel and innovative ideas, especially those that examine newer or "emerging" risk factors and how they interact with well-established drivers of liver cancer such as viral hepatitis.

A key theme of the announcement is the investigation of emerging biological, environmental, and social risk factors. On the biological side, this can include newer hypotheses about metabolic and inflammatory pathways, co-morbidities, biomarkers, genetics, and other host susceptibility factors that may influence liver cancer development. On the environmental side, it encourages research on exposures that may be increasing or changing over time in the U.S. population, including place-based or occupational exposures. On the social side, the opportunity explicitly recognizes that social determinants and structural conditions can shape risk through access to care, prevention, vaccination, screening, treatment, and patterns of exposure. Importantly, the grant emphasizes studying how these emerging factors may work together with established risks like hepatitis infections rather than treating risk factors as isolated contributors, which aligns with modern epidemiology that looks at complex, interacting causes.

The funding mechanism is the NIH R21, which is typically used to support early-stage, exploratory projects that can generate preliminary data, test a new approach, or open up a promising line of research. Consistent with the title, clinical trials are not allowed under this particular opportunity, so applicants need to propose research designs that are epidemiologic and etiologic in nature rather than interventional clinical trial work. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary and uses the grant funding instrument type, with an activity category listed as education and health. The listed award ceiling is $200,000, signaling that projects are expected to be relatively focused and feasibility-oriented, appropriate for an R21-style study that can establish proof-of-concept, refine measures, or demonstrate the value of a new hypothesis or analytic approach.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and governmental units. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township governments, special district governments, and independent school districts, as well as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education. It also includes Native American tribal governments that are federally recognized, public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities, and Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments. Nonprofit organizations are eligible whether or not they have 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education), and for-profit organizations are eligible as well (excluding small businesses in one category, though small businesses are also separately listed as eligible). The announcement further highlights additional eligible applicants such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions. This emphasis suggests NIH interest in encouraging participation from institutions and communities that may be well positioned to study liver cancer risk in diverse populations and settings.

There are important limits related to non-U.S. participation. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply as applicant organizations, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible. However, foreign components are allowed as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, which generally means a U.S. applicant organization may include certain foreign elements or collaborations when scientifically justified, even though the primary applicant must be U.S.-based and the project is oriented toward liver cancer development in the United States.

The opportunity was created on February 23, 2018, and the original closing date listed is May 7, 2021. The administering agency is NIH. Overall, the grant is best understood as support for creative, etiologic epidemiology that can identify and clarify newer contributors to liver cancer risk in the U.S., especially work that integrates biological, environmental, and social perspectives and examines how these factors combine with established causes like viral hepatitis to influence susceptibility and disease development.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Epidemiologic Research on Emerging Risk Factors and Liver Cancer Susceptibility (R21 - 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.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2018-02-23.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-05-07. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
• 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.

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