Modular R01s in Cancer Control and Population Sciences (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)

The Modular R01s in Cancer Control and Population Sciences program, issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the National Institutes of Health and its National Cancer Institute, supports research that advances understanding of cancer control, prevention, and population-level outcomes. This funding opportunity reflects the National Cancer Institute’s ongoing mission to reduce cancer incidence, morbidity, and mortality while improving the quality of life for cancer survivors. It emphasizes research that integrates behavioral, epidemiological, and data-driven approaches to uncover risk factors, improve interventions, and optimize cancer care delivery across diverse populations. This program encourages projects that develop or apply innovative scientific methods to advance the fields of epidemiology, behavioral science, implementation science, and data analytics in cancer control. Research areas of interest include statistical and analytic methods, environmental and genomic epidemiology, systems modeling, behavioral interventions, healthcare delivery, survivorship, digital health, and data science. Projects may explore how social, environmental, biological, and technological factors interact to influence cancer risk, diagnosis, and survivorship. Investigators are encouraged to propose interdisciplinary research that combines computational modeling, digital health technologies, and community-level data to inform effective cancer prevention and control strategies. The Modular R01 structure allows flexibility for investigators by capping annual direct costs at $250,000 for a project period of up to five years, promoting cost-effective, impactful research. Applications may propose clinical trials, but participation is optional under this notice. The funding instrument is a grant, and awards will depend on the availability of NIH appropriations and the submission of scientifically meritorious proposals. Cost sharing is not required, and pre-award costs are allowable under NIH Grants Policy guidelines. Applications must adhere strictly to NIH’s data management and sharing policies, ethical standards, and requirements for protection of human subjects and vertebrate animals where applicable. Eligible applicants include a broad range of domestic and foreign entities such as higher education institutions, nonprofit organizations, small businesses, for-profit organizations, government agencies at all levels, tribal governments and organizations, and independent school districts. Applicants must maintain active registrations in SAM.gov, eRA Commons, and Grants.gov prior to submission. Applications may be submitted electronically via ASSIST, Grants.gov Workspace, or institutional system-to-system solutions. All principal investigators must have active eRA Commons IDs, and foreign institutions must meet additional registration requirements including NCAGE and SAM. The program follows NIH’s standard submission cycles, with deadlines on February 5, June 5, and October 5 annually for new applications, and corresponding later dates for resubmissions and renewals. Each cycle includes review and advisory council meetings, followed by anticipated award start dates in December, April, or July of the following year. The current funding opportunity was posted November 7, 2024, opens January 5, 2025, and remains active through January 8, 2028. Applications are due by 5:00 PM local time of the applicant organization. This is a recurring opportunity with annual submission cycles. Applications are evaluated under NIH’s peer review process according to scientific significance, innovation, rigor, feasibility, investigator expertise, and adequacy of institutional resources. Reviewers assess the project’s potential to contribute new knowledge and its alignment with NCI’s population science priorities. Successful applications must demonstrate strong design, reproducibility, and relevance to NCI’s mission. Scientific contact for this opportunity is Scott Rogers (rogerssc@mail.nih.gov, 240-276-6932), and financial management contact is Dawn Mitchum (dmitchum@mail.nih.gov, 240-276-5699). Results of reviews are shared through eRA Commons, and awards are formalized via Notice of Award documentation.