Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 28 022
The Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPOREs) in Human Cancers for Years 2027, 2028, and 2029 (P50 Clinical Trial Required) funding opportunity (PAR-28-022) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) center grant program led by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). It supports large, coordinated, organ-focused cancer research centers that are built specifically to move promising scientific discoveries toward real-world clinical impact. The core purpose is to fund state-of-the-art, investigator-initiated translational research that can materially improve cancer prevention, early detection, diagnosis, and treatment for a single organ site (for example, lung, breast, pancreas) or a highly related group of cancers. While the research can involve cutting-edge laboratory and computational methods, the defining requirement is that the work is translational and anchored in human biology, with a clear path to testing and application in people.
A key feature of this SPORE NOFO is its explicit translational expectation: supported projects must be based on human biology research and use approaches such as cellular, molecular, structural, biochemical, and/or genetic experimental methods. In practical terms, that means applications are expected to demonstrate a strong connection to human tumors, human tissues, clinically annotated biospecimens, patient-derived models, or other human-relevant systems, rather than relying solely on basic mechanistic work in non-human systems. The program also requires that SPORE projects reach a translational human endpoint within the grant’s project period. This emphasis is meant to ensure that each funded SPORE is not just generating knowledge, but is actively driving that knowledge into clinical evaluation, clinical decision-making, or patient-facing interventions within the timeframe of the award.
The opportunity uses the P50 Research Center Grant mechanism and is labeled “Clinical Trial Required,” signaling that clinical trial activity is expected as part of the overall SPORE effort. In SPORE terms, this typically aligns with conducting and supporting hypothesis-driven clinical studies that directly test translational concepts emerging from the program’s research. The NOFO is described as a re-issuance of PAR-23-284, meaning it continues an established SPORE funding framework while updating the competition for the 2027-2029 cycle. Depending on the specific cancer area and scientific content proposed, applications may also be jointly funded with the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), which is particularly relevant for cancers and conditions within NIDCR’s mission space (for example, head and neck or oral cancers when aligned with dental and craniofacial relevance).
Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations and includes many types of domestic entities: public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (including both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) nonprofits), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, and various government entities (state, county, city/township, special district governments, independent school districts), as well as eligible Native American tribal governments and tribal organizations, and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. At the same time, the NOFO is very clear about restrictions on foreign participation. Non-U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply, non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as defined by NIH policy) are not allowed. In other words, the applicant organization and the supported components of the SPORE must be domestic, and the work funded under the award cannot be routed through foreign components under NIH’s foreign component rules.
Administratively, this is a discretionary grant opportunity in the health funding category, associated with CFDA numbers 93.121 and 93.395. The sponsoring agency is NIH, with NCI leading the program. The listing indicates an expected 10 awards and provides an original closing date of 2029-09-25 for this opportunity. The award ceiling is not specified in the provided summary, which is common in NIH notices where budget guidance is often defined in the full NOFO rather than as a single hard cap in the synopsis. Overall, the program is designed for mature, team-based translational cancer research enterprises that can integrate discovery science, human biology, and clinical testing into a cohesive, organ-focused center capable of delivering measurable clinical and public health advances within the funding period.Apply for PAR 28 022
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPOREs) in Human Cancers for Years 2027, 2028, and 2029 (P50 Clinical Trial Required)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.121, 93.395.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-10-14.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2029-09-25.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- 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.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the SPOREs in Human Cancers funding opportunity (PAR-28-022)?
PAR-28-022 is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity for the Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPOREs) in Human Cancers for Years 2027, 2028, and 2029. It supports large, coordinated, organ-focused cancer research centers designed to move promising discoveries toward real-world clinical impact.
Which NIH institute leads this SPORE program?
The program is led by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) under NIH.
What grant mechanism is used for this opportunity?
This opportunity uses the P50 Research Center Grant mechanism.
What does "Clinical Trial Required" mean for this SPORE NOFO?
The opportunity is labeled "Clinical Trial Required," indicating that clinical trial activity is expected as part of the overall SPORE effort. In the SPORE context, this typically aligns with conducting and supporting hypothesis-driven clinical studies that directly test translational concepts emerging from the program's research.
What is the overall goal of an NCI SPORE center under this NOFO?
The core goal is to fund state-of-the-art, investigator-initiated translational research that can materially improve cancer prevention, early detection, diagnosis, and treatment for a single organ site (such as lung, breast, or pancreas) or a highly related group of cancers.
Is this funding intended for basic research or translational research?
This SPORE NOFO is explicitly focused on translational research. While cutting-edge laboratory and computational methods may be used, the defining expectation is that the work is translational, anchored in human biology, and has a clear path to testing and application in people.
What does the NOFO mean by being "anchored in human biology"?
Applications are expected to demonstrate a strong connection to human tumors, human tissues, clinically annotated biospecimens, patient-derived models, or other human-relevant systems. The program emphasizes approaches based on human biology research rather than relying solely on basic mechanistic work in non-human systems.
What types of experimental approaches are expected in supported projects?
Supported projects are expected to be based on human biology research and may use approaches such as cellular, molecular, structural, biochemical, and/or genetic experimental methods.
Is there a required translational milestone during the award period?
Yes. The program requires that SPORE projects reach a translational human endpoint within the grant's project period. This is intended to ensure the work actively drives knowledge into clinical evaluation, clinical decision-making, or patient-facing interventions within the timeframe of the award.
Do SPORE applications need to focus on a single cancer type?
The program is designed around a single organ site (for example, lung, breast, or pancreas) or a highly related group of cancers.
Is this NOFO new or a continuation of an earlier SPORE announcement?
This NOFO is described as a re-issuance of PAR-23-284, meaning it continues an established SPORE funding framework while updating the competition for the 2027-2029 cycle.
Can this opportunity involve joint funding with another NIH institute?
Yes. Depending on the cancer area and the scientific content proposed, applications may also be jointly funded with the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), particularly for cancers and conditions aligned with NIDCR's mission space (for example, head and neck or oral cancers when aligned with dental and craniofacial relevance).
Who is eligible to apply (in general terms)?
Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations and includes public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (including both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) nonprofits), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, and various government entities.
Are state and local government entities eligible to apply?
Yes. The eligible entities listed include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, and independent school districts.
Are Tribal governments or Tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Eligible applicants include eligible Native American tribal governments and tribal organizations.
Are public housing authorities eligible applicants?
Yes. The eligible applicant types include public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities.
Are foreign organizations eligible to apply?
No. Non-U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply under this NOFO.
Can a U.S. organization include a non-U.S. component in the application?
No. Non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible under this NOFO.
Are foreign components allowed under NIH policy for this SPORE award?
No. Foreign components (as defined by NIH policy) are not allowed. The applicant organization and the supported components of the SPORE must be domestic, and the work funded under the award cannot be routed through foreign components under NIH's foreign component rules.
How many awards are expected to be made?
The listing indicates an expected 10 awards.
What is the closing date shown for this opportunity?
The listing provides an original closing date of 2029-09-25.
What funding category is associated with this opportunity?
This is a discretionary grant opportunity in the health funding category.
What CFDA numbers are associated with this SPORE opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA numbers 93.121 and 93.395.
Is there a stated maximum award amount (award ceiling) in the provided summary?
No. The award ceiling is not specified in the provided summary. The summary notes that this is common for NIH notices where budget guidance is often defined in the full NOFO rather than as a single hard cap in the synopsis.
What kind of research enterprise is this program designed to support?
The program is designed for mature, team-based translational cancer research enterprises that integrate discovery science, human biology, and clinical testing into a cohesive, organ-focused center capable of delivering measurable clinical and public health advances within the funding period.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Health
Previous opportunity: DRL Promoting Sovereignty and Rule of Law in Europe
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for PAR 28 022
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (PAR 28 022) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Neural Ensembles & Used Substances (NExUS) Collaboratory: Building a Multimodal Inventory of Cell Ensembles Encoding the Effects of Addictive Substances (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA DA 28 013 Funding Number: RFA DA 28 013 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Single Source for the Continuation of the Physiology of the Weight Reduced State (POWERS) Study (U01- Clinical Trials Required) Apply for RFA DK 27 122 Funding Number: RFA DK 27 122 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Palliative Care Research Across the Lifespan: Leveraging the Palliative Care Consortium (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 27 090 Funding Number: PAR 27 090 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Centers for AIDS Research (CFAR) and Developmental Centers for AIDS Research (D-CFAR) (P30 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 28 090 Funding Number: PAR 28 090 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Implementation Science to Advance HIV Prevention, Treatment, and Care (R61/R33 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA AI 27 018 Funding Number: RFA AI 27 018 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Carcinogen Hazard Assessment Monographs Program (CHAMP) (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA CA 28 013 Funding Number: RFA CA 28 013 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $700,000 |
| Centers for Structural Biology of HIV and Other Infectious Diseases (U54 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA AI 28 031 Funding Number: RFA AI 28 031 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $3,500,000 |
| Limited Competition: Biospecimen Banks to support NCI National Clinical Trials Network Biospecimen Banks (NCTN Biobanks) and the NCI Early-Phase and Experimental Clinical Trials Biospecimen Bank (EET Biobank) (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA CA 28 004 Funding Number: RFA CA 28 004 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Specialized Alcohol Research Centers (P50 Clinical trial Optional) Apply for RFA AA 28 001 Funding Number: RFA AA 28 001 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $1,150,000 |
| NIH Research Program Projects (Parent P01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PA 27 061 Funding Number: PA 27 061 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| HEAL Initiative: Whole Joint Health Program (R61/R33 Clinical Trial Required) Apply for PAR 27 045 Funding Number: PAR 27 045 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NLM Institutional Grants for Research Training in Biomedical Informatics, Data Science, and AI (T15 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA LM 28 001 Funding Number: RFA LM 28 001 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $775,000 |
| Collaborative Program Grant for Interdisciplinary Teams (RM1 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 27 003 Funding Number: PAR 27 003 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Pilot Projects to Enhance the Human Virome Program (R03 Clinical Trials Not Allowed) Apply for RFA RM 27 024 Funding Number: RFA RM 27 024 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Early-Onset Cancers: Investigating Etiology, Mechanisms, and Early Detection Strategies (RP1 Clinical Trials Optional) Apply for PAR 28 014 Funding Number: PAR 28 014 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Cellular Senescence Network (SenNet): SenNet Data Coordination and Integration Center (SenNet DCIC) (UM1 Clinical Trials Not Allowed) Apply for RFA RM 27 025 Funding Number: RFA RM 27 025 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Accelerating Research and Development of Next Generation Vaccines against Malaria - a Model for Mosquito-Borne Diseases (R61/R33 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA AI 28 024 Funding Number: RFA AI 28 024 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "PAR 28 022", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.