Forecast to Publish a Funding Opportunity Announcement for Research Opportunities in Cancer Epidemiology Cohort Studies (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

The National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has issued a forecast for an upcoming funding opportunity titled "Research Opportunities in Cancer Epidemiology Cohort Studies (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)." This notice outlines the anticipated release of a formal funding opportunity announcement and is intended to inform potential applicants in advance of the expected application window. NCI is a federal agency devoted to cancer research and training, and this funding mechanism will be structured as a Cooperative Agreement, indicating substantial involvement from the NIH staff during the grant period. The forthcoming funding opportunity will support cancer epidemiology cohort studies designed to investigate specific gaps in understanding cancer causes (etiology) and survivorship. Proposals are expected to be hypothesis-driven and must include support for the maintenance of existing cohorts, follow-up efforts, and the sharing of biospecimens and associated data resources. This effort aims to further enhance the scientific infrastructure necessary to support long-term epidemiological research and enable analyses that can reveal patterns and factors contributing to cancer incidence and outcomes. The funding mechanism designated for this opportunity is the U01 award type, which means clinical trials are not permitted. The cooperative agreement framework implies collaboration between awardees and NIH staff in terms of oversight and possibly joint activities during the life of the project. Although specific funding amounts such as award floor, ceiling, and total program funding have not yet been released, the program will be part of the Assistance Listing 93.399—Cancer Control. Eligible applicants for this opportunity will include a wide range of organizations, including nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions), public and private institutions of higher education, state and county governments, Native American tribal organizations (both federally recognized and other), for-profit organizations (including small businesses), public housing authorities, and independent school districts. No cost-sharing or matching requirements will be imposed, and multiple entity types may apply independently. The estimated publication date for the final Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is August 1, 2025, with a projected application due date of November 5, 2025. Awards are expected to be announced by July 1, 2026, and project start dates will coincide with that. The program is classified as discretionary and falls under the funding activity category of Health. As of now, the opportunity is considered forecasted and is not accepting applications. For further inquiries, potential applicants may contact Somdat Mahabir, PhD, MPH, at the National Cancer Institute. Dr. Mahabir can be reached by phone at 240-276-6914 or via email at mahabir@mail.nih.gov. The official notice encourages prospective applicants to begin preparing their applications in alignment with the upcoming deadlines and research priorities outlined in the forecast.