Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA CA 20 004
This grant opportunity, titled "Research Answers to National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Provocative Questions (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-CA-20-004), is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) initiative run through the National Cancer Institute (NCI) that funds research projects aimed at tackling a defined set of high-impact, underexplored problems in cancer research. The central idea is that certain cancer questions remain stubbornly unanswered not because they are unimportant, but because they have been overlooked, considered too difficult, or have fallen between the cracks of traditional research programs. NCI's Provocative Questions (PQ) Initiative tries to correct that by explicitly naming the problems as questions and inviting investigators to build focused research projects that directly address them.
A key feature of this FOA is that applicants must anchor their proposal to one specific Provocative Question from the current list of 12 PQs issued under this cycle. In other words, the research is not meant to be broad or loosely connected to general cancer priorities; it needs to be clearly aligned with the scientific problem framed by the chosen PQ. The PQs themselves are described as a mix of (1) older observations that were intriguing but never fully investigated, (2) newer findings that are paradoxical or confusing and highlight major gaps in current understanding, and (3) problems that were historically viewed as intractable but may now be solvable thanks to modern methods, new technologies, or innovative study designs.
The award uses the NIH R01 mechanism, meaning it is intended for substantial, hypothesis-driven (or strongly rationale-driven) research projects that can produce meaningful advances in knowledge. The FOA is labeled "Clinical Trial Optional," which signals that clinical trials are allowed if they are scientifically appropriate for answering the selected PQ, but they are not required. Applicants can propose basic, translational, clinical, population, behavioral, computational, or other research approaches as long as the work is tightly connected to the specific PQ being targeted.
Another emphasis is on encouraging projects that borrow tools and thinking from multiple fields when that helps solve the PQ. The FOA explicitly notes that multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches are welcomed, provided they are in service of the specific question rather than adding complexity for its own sake. This reflects NCI's intent to stimulate creative problem-solving, including combining perspectives across biology, medicine, engineering, data science, epidemiology, behavioral science, and other relevant disciplines.
In terms of who can apply, eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and several categories beyond the usual academic applicants. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local 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 (including those other than federally recognized tribal governments); public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. The FOA also highlights additional eligible groups such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), 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, U.S. territories or possessions, and non-U.S. (foreign) organizations, indicating a strong openness to diverse institutional participation and settings.
The opportunity falls under NIH's discretionary grant funding and is aligned with health and education-related federal assistance categories, listing CFDA numbers 93.393, 93.394, 93.395, 93.396, and 93.399. The original closing date shown is November 17, 2020, and while the award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided text, the overall structure is consistent with NIH FOAs where final funding levels depend on appropriations, proposal quality, and program priorities within the defined PQ framework.
Overall, this FOA is best understood as a targeted R01 competition where NCI is trying to steer strong investigator-initiated science toward a small set of carefully chosen cancer research puzzles. The program is designed to reward proposals that are sharply focused on one provocative question, scientifically rigorous, and creative enough to unlock progress in areas where conventional approaches have not been sufficient.Apply for RFA CA 20 004
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Research Answers to National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Provocative Questions (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)" 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, 93.399.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2020-01-16.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-11-17. (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.
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