Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 18 880
The NCI Outstanding Investigator Award (OIA), offered under the R35 mechanism and labeled "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," is a National Cancer Institute funding opportunity designed to provide long-term, stable support to highly accomplished cancer researchers. Rather than focusing on a narrowly defined project with short time horizons, this award is meant to back an established investigator with a strong track record of productivity and impact, giving them the freedom to pursue ambitious ideas in any area of cancer research. The central purpose is to enable exceptional science by reducing the constant pressure of frequent grant renewals and encouraging investigators to take well-justified scientific risks, explore new directions, and invest time in developing novel methods or capabilities that could significantly accelerate progress.
A defining feature of this opportunity is its emphasis on investigator excellence and the potential for unusually high-impact research. NCI is looking for proposals that either break new ground or extend prior discoveries into genuinely new directions or applications that could plausibly lead to major advances. The research scope is broad and can span biomedical, behavioral, or clinical cancer research, but the FOA explicitly indicates that clinical trials are not allowed under this announcement. In practical terms, that means the work proposed should not involve conducting a clinical trial as defined by NIH policy, even if the research is clinically relevant. The award is intended to support programs of research that can be more adventurous and creative than typical project-based grants, with an expectation that extended funding stability will help investigators undertake projects with "unusual potential" for breakthroughs.
Institutional nomination is another key component. Applications are submitted by an institution on behalf of an established Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI), reflecting the program's intent to recognize and support investigators who have already demonstrated sustained, outstanding contributions to cancer research. This structure signals that NCI is investing in the investigator's overall research trajectory and leadership rather than only a single, tightly bounded set of aims. The longer-term support model is meant to allow the investigator to adapt as discoveries emerge, pivot when warranted by new data, and pursue promising leads without needing to fit every step into a traditional, rigid grant framework.
Eligibility for applicant organizations is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township, and 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; tribal organizations other than federally recognized governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), excluding higher education institutions in those categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The FOA also highlights a wide range of other eligible organization types, such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), along with faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions. At the same time, it draws a clear boundary around non-U.S. applicants: non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible. However, foreign components, as defined in NIH Grants Policy, are allowed, meaning a U.S.-based applicant organization can include certain foreign elements within the project under NIH rules.
Administrative details in the source information indicate this is a discretionary grant opportunity from the National Institutes of Health under the health-related assistance listing associated with cancer research (CFDA 93.393). The funding opportunity number is PAR-18-880, and the original closing date listed is 2018-11-02, with a creation date of 2018-07-30. The award ceiling is shown as $600,000. While the expected number of awards is not specified in the provided data, the overall framing makes clear that this mechanism is intended for a smaller number of highly competitive, investigator-centered awards aimed at enabling high-impact, forward-looking cancer research without supporting clinical trials.Apply for PAR 18 880
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NCI Outstanding Investigator Award (R35 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 2018-07-30.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-11-02. (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 $600,000.00 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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FAQs: NCI Outstanding Investigator Award (OIA) (R35, Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
What is the NCI Outstanding Investigator Award (OIA)?
The NCI Outstanding Investigator Award (OIA) is a National Cancer Institute (NCI) funding opportunity offered under the NIH R35 mechanism. It is designed to provide long-term, stable support to highly accomplished cancer researchers by investing in an investigator's overall research program rather than a narrowly defined, short-term project.
What is the main goal of this award?
The central purpose is to enable exceptional, high-impact cancer research by reducing the pressure of frequent grant renewals and giving established investigators flexibility to pursue ambitious ideas, take well-justified scientific risks, explore new directions, and build new methods or capabilities that could accelerate progress.
Is this funding focused on a single project or a broader program of research?
It is intended to support a broader program of research centered on an outstanding investigator. The award emphasizes an investigator's excellence, productivity, and potential for unusually high-impact research, rather than requiring a tightly bounded set of aims for a single project.
What kind of research areas are in scope?
The scope is broad and can include biomedical, behavioral, or clinical cancer research. The opportunity is meant to support research that breaks new ground or extends prior discoveries into genuinely new directions or applications that could plausibly lead to major advances.
Are clinical trials allowed under this funding opportunity?
No. The funding opportunity is labeled "Clinical Trial Not Allowed." The proposed work should not involve conducting a clinical trial as defined by NIH policy, even if the research is clinically relevant.
What does "Clinical Trial Not Allowed" mean in practical terms?
It means the application should not propose conducting a clinical trial (as NIH defines it). The research may still be related to clinical problems or patient-relevant questions, but it cannot include running a clinical trial under this announcement.
Who is this award intended for?
This opportunity is intended for established, highly accomplished cancer researchers with a strong track record of productivity and impact. NCI is investing in the investigator's overall research trajectory and leadership, not just a single experiment or short-term plan.
How does the OIA support more innovative or risk-taking research?
By providing longer-term stability and reducing the need for frequent renewals, the award is structured to encourage investigators to pursue creative, more adventurous research programs, pivot based on new data, explore promising leads, and take well-justified scientific risks with "unusual potential" for breakthroughs.
Does the application have to be submitted by the investigator directly?
No. A key feature is institutional nomination. Applications are submitted by an institution on behalf of an established Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI).
What is the role of the institution in this opportunity?
The institution submits the application and nominates the PD/PI, reflecting that the program is designed to recognize and support investigators who have already demonstrated sustained, outstanding contributions to cancer research.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include a wide range of U.S.-based entities, such as state/county/city/township/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; tribal organizations other than federally recognized governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits (501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), excluding higher education institutions in those nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses.
Are minority-serving institutions and community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. The eligible organization types highlighted include, among others, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs). The information also notes eligibility for faith-based or community-based organizations and regional organizations.
Can federal agencies apply?
Yes. Eligible applicants include eligible federal agencies, as indicated in the provided eligibility description.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible to apply?
Yes. The eligibility description includes U.S. territories or possessions.
Are non-U.S. (foreign) institutions eligible to apply?
No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply under this opportunity.
Can a U.S.-based organization include non-U.S. components?
Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible. However, foreign components (as defined in NIH Grants Policy) are allowed, meaning a U.S.-based applicant organization may include certain foreign elements within the project under NIH rules.
What is the funding opportunity number for this announcement?
The funding opportunity number provided is PAR-18-880.
Which NIH institute is offering this opportunity?
This is offered by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), which is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What type of grant is this (mechanism)?
The opportunity uses the R35 mechanism and is described as an investigator-centered award intended to provide longer-term support for an established investigator's program of cancer research.
What is the award ceiling listed in the provided information?
The award ceiling shown in the provided information is $600,000.
How many awards will be made?
The expected number of awards is not specified in the provided data.
What is the assistance listing/CFDA associated with this opportunity?
The assistance listing referenced in the provided information is CFDA 93.393, associated with cancer research.
What are the key dates mentioned for this opportunity?
The provided administrative details list a creation date of 2018-07-30 and an original closing date of 2018-11-02.
What kind of support model does this award provide compared to typical grants?
Compared to more traditional project-based grants with short time horizons, this award emphasizes longer-term stability. That stability is meant to help the investigator adapt as discoveries emerge, pivot when warranted by new data, and pursue promising leads without needing to fit each step into a rigid project framework.
What does NCI emphasize when evaluating the type of science this award should enable?
The provided description emphasizes unusually high-impact research, investigator excellence, and proposals that either break new ground or extend prior discoveries into truly new directions or applications that could plausibly lead to major advances.
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| Short-term Mentored Career Enhancement Awards in Mobile and Wireless Health Technology and Data Analytics: Cross-Training at the intersection of Behavioral and Social Sciences and STEM Disciplines (K18 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 18 881 Funding Number: PAR 18 881 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Short-term Mentored Career Enhancement Awards in Mobile and Wireless Health Technology and Data Analytics: Cross-Training at the intersection of Behavioral and Social Sciences and STEM Disciplines (K18 Independent Clinical Trial Required) Apply for PAR 18 882 Funding Number: PAR 18 882 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NCI Research Specialist (Core-based Scientist) Award (R50 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 18 887 Funding Number: PAR 18 887 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NCI Research Specialist (Laboratory-based Scientist) Award (R50 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 18 888 Funding Number: PAR 18 888 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Physical Activity and Weight Control Interventions Among Cancer Survivors: Effects on Biomarkers of Prognosis and Survival (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 18 892 Funding Number: PAR 18 892 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Physical Activity and Weight Control Interventions Among Cancer Survivors: Effects on Biomarkers of Prognosis and Survival (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 18 893 Funding Number: PAR 18 893 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NLM Research Grants in Biomedical Informatics and Data Science (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 18 896 Funding Number: PAR 18 896 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $250,000 |
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| Prevention of HPV-related Cancers in HIV-infected individuals: United States-Latin American-Caribbean Clinical Trials Network: Partnership Centers (U54 Clinical Trial Required) Apply for RFA CA 18 018 Funding Number: RFA CA 18 018 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
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| Modeling HIV Neuropathology Using Microglia from Human iPSC and Cerebral Organoids (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA DA 19 009 Funding Number: RFA DA 19 009 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Modeling HIV Neuropathology Using Microglia from Human iPSC and Cerebral Organoids (R21-Clinical Trials Not Allowed) Apply for RFA DA 19 010 Funding Number: RFA DA 19 010 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| AIDS-Science Track Award for Research Transition (R03 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PA 18 916 Funding Number: PA 18 916 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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| Communication and Decision Making for Individuals with Inherited Cancer Syndromes (U01 Clinical Trial Optional). Apply for RFA CA 19 001 Funding Number: RFA CA 19 001 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $600,000 |
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