Grants

A grant is a funding mechanism for scientific research and it is used when:

1. No substantial programmatic involvement is anticipated between the NCI and the recipient during performance of the financially assisted activities, thus allowing the recipient significant freedom of action in carrying out the research project; and
2. There is no expectation on the part of the NCI of a specified service or end-product for use by the NCI.

NCI groups grants as:

• Research Project Grants (RPGs)
• Cancer Centers and Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE) Grants
• Career Awards and Cancer Education Grants
• Training Grants
• Other Grant Mechanisms

Research Projects Grants (RPGs)

RPGs are awards made to support discrete, specified, circumscribed projects to be performed by named investigators in areas representing their specific interest and competencies. Several types of awards are made in this category, which vary in the type of mechanism, type of applicant, total amount of support, and length of time allotted.

Other research grants include the Research Career Program and other research grants not included in Research Project Grants, Research Centers, or National Research Service Awards. The NCI Research Career Program includes all “K” awards. Other research also includes the National Clinical Trials Network, the National Community Clinical Oncology Program, Cancer Education Program (R25), resource grants (R24/U24), conference grants, and exploratory cooperative agreements (U56).

Find current NCI Funding Opportunities by Type

P01 Research Program Project Grant	Supports an integrated, multi-project research approach involving a number of independent investigators who share knowledge and common resources
R01 Research Project Grant	Support discrete, specified research projects to be performed by the named investigator(s) in an area representing his/ her specific interest and competencies
R21 Exploratory/Developmental Grant	Supports the development of pilot projects or feasibility studies to support creative, novel, high-risk/high- payoff research that may produce innovative advances in science
R33 Exploratory/ Developmental Grant—Phase II	Provides a second phase for the support of innovative, exploratory, and developmental research activities that may or may not have been initiated under the R21 mechanism
R41 Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Grant—Phase I	Fosters the transfer of new technology from a research institution setting to the commercial sector
R42 Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Grant—Phase II	Continues the cooperative efforts initiated in Phase I, with the goal of achieving commercialization of the results
R43 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Grant—Phase I	Supports research efforts by for-profit, domestic, small businesses
R44 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Grant—Phase II	Continues the cooperative efforts initiated in Phase I, with the goal of achieving commercialization of the results

Cancer Centers and Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE) Grants

The Cancer Research Centers Program contains diverse approaches to cancer research, incorporating all applicable disciplines. The Cancer Centers, SPORE Program, and other specialized centers contain a great diversity of research approaches.

For more information on SPOREs

P20 Planning Grant	Supports planning for new programs, expansion or modification of existing resources, and feasibility studies of new approaches
P30 Cancer Center Support Grant	Provides support primarily for the research infrastructure of an active and unified cancer center
P50 Specialized Center Grant	Supports any part of the full range of research and development, from very basic to clinical

Career Awards and Cancer Education Grants

NCI provides multiple career awards and cancer education grants to help train the next generation of cancer researchers. Find more information in Training.

K01 Mentored Research Scientist Development Award	Provides research scientists with a sponsored research experience that will help the applicant gain expertise in a new research area or demonstrably enhance the applicant’s scientific career
K07 Academic Career Award	Supports more junior candidates who are interested in developing academic and research expertise in a specific area
K08 Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award	Supports the development of outstanding clinical research scientists
K12 Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Program Award	Supports newly trained clinicians appointed by an institution for development of independent research skills and experience in a fundamental science within the framework of an interdisciplinary research and development program
K22 Career Transition Award	Supports newly trained investigators (basic or clinical) to develop their independent research skills through a two- phase program
K23 Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award	Provides support for the career development of investigators who focus their research endeavors on patient-oriented research
K30 Institutional Curriculum Award	Supports the development, conduct, and evaluation of the curriculum designed to improve the quality of training available to aspiring clinical investigators
K99/R00 Howard Temin Pathway to Independence Awards in Cancer Research	Supports highly promising, postdoctoral research scientists

Training Grants

The National Research Service Award (NRSA) is the major mechanism providing long-term, stable support to a wide range of promising scientists and research clinicians, but there are other Non-NRSA training opportunities available as well. Find more information in Training.

F31 Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award Predoctoral Fellowship	Provides support for research training leading to a Ph.D. (or the equivalent research degree) or a combined M.D./Ph.D. (or other combined professional research doctoral degrees) in the biomedical or behavioral sciences; programs also include support for minority students and students with disabilities
F32 Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award	Provides postdoctoral research training to individuals to broaden their scientific background and extend their potential for research in specified health- related areas
F33 Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award for Senior Fellows	Provides opportunities for experienced scientists to make major changes in the direction of research careers, broaden scientific background, acquire new research capabilities, enlarge command of an allied research field, or take time from regular professional responsibilities to increase capabilities to engage in health-related research
T32 National Research Service Award Institutional Training Grants	Supports training opportunities at the predoctoral or postdoctoral level at qualified institutions
D43 International Training Grants in Epidemiology	Provides support to improve and expand epidemiologic research and the utilization of epidemiology in clinical trials and prevention research in foreign countries through support of training programs for foreign health professionals, technicians, and other health care workers
DP1 NIH Director’s Pioneer Award (NDPA)	Provides support to individuals who have the potential to make extraordinary contributions to medical research
DP2 NIH Director’s New Innovator Awards	Provides support to highly innovative research projects by new investigators in all areas of biomedical and behavioral research

Other Grant Mechanisms

When appropriate, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) uses mechanisms other than Research Project Grants (RPGs), training grants, career awards and cancer education grants, and cancer centers and Specialized Programs of Excellence (SPORE) grants.  

R13 Conference Grant	Supports national or international scientific meetings, conferences, and workshops that are of value in promoting the goals of the National Cancer Program
R15 Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA)	Supports small-scale research projects conducted by faculty in domestic institutions that primarily award baccalaureate degrees
R24 Resource-Related Research Project	Supports research projects that will enhance the capability of resources to serve biomedical research
R25 Cancer Education Grant	Supports the development and implementation of programs related to education, information provision, training, technical assistance, coordination, or evaluation
S06 Minority Biomedical Research Support (MBRS)	Provides funds to strengthen the biomedical research and research training capability of ethnic minority institutions
SC1 Research Enhancement Award	Provides support for individual investigator-initiated research projects aimed at developing researchers at minority-serving institutions (MSIs) to a stage where they can transition successfully to other extramural support (R01 or equivalent)
SC2 Pilot Research Project	Provides support for individual investigator-initiated pilot research projects for faculty at MSIs to generate preliminary data for a more ambitious research project

This content is provided by the National Cancer Institute (www.cancer.gov)