Metabolic Dysregulation and Cancer Risk Program, Research Grants: a Transdisciplinary Approach to Obesity-Associated Research (U01 Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA CA 21 021

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA CA 21 021

The Metabolic Dysregulation and Cancer Risk Program, Research Grants: a Transdisciplinary Approach to Obesity-Associated Research (U01 Clinical Trial Optional) is a National Cancer Institute (NCI) funding opportunity that supports cooperative agreement research projects aimed at clarifying how obesity contributes to cancer risk through metabolic dysfunction. The core scientific emphasis is not obesity in general, but metabolic dysregulation as the central biological process connecting excess adiposity to cancer development and progression. In this announcement, metabolic dysregulation is defined in practical, mechanistic terms as disruptions in glucose utilization and storage, insulin sensitivity, and/or lipid metabolism. The expectation is that funded projects will move beyond simple correlations and instead explain the dynamic pathways and mechanisms by which these metabolic changes influence cancer risk in people.

The program is explicitly transdisciplinary, meaning applications are expected to integrate expertise across relevant fields rather than staying within a single discipline. Competitive proposals would typically bring together areas such as cancer biology, endocrinology and metabolism, epidemiology, clinical research, prevention science, biostatistics, and potentially behavioral or systems science when appropriate to the questions being addressed. The overall goal is to generate knowledge that can be translated into practical cancer prevention and early detection advances for individuals affected by obesity-related metabolic dysfunction.

NCI highlights three main translational outcomes that research supported under this FOA should enable. First, studies should improve cancer risk prediction by identifying mechanistic markers, pathways, or models that better estimate risk in people with metabolic abnormalities. Second, projects should contribute to screening approaches for identifying high-risk individuals in clinical settings, which implies a focus on measurable indicators and clinically meaningful stratification methods. Third, research should point to potential targets for preventive or therapeutic interventions, meaning the work should help define actionable biological pathways or modifiable processes that could be leveraged to reduce cancer risk or interrupt obesity-associated carcinogenic mechanisms.

This opportunity uses the U01 mechanism, which is a cooperative agreement. In practical terms, that signals a more interactive relationship with NCI than a standard research project grant, with NIH program staff typically having substantial involvement in coordinating and guiding program goals across funded awards. Clinical trials are optional under this FOA, so applicants may propose clinical trial components when they are well-justified, but they are not required to do so. The activity category is listed under Education and Health, and the CFDA number associated with the program is 93.393.

The FOA is part of a larger program structure being built by NCI. It is published in parallel with a companion announcement for a Coordinating Center (RFA-CA-21-022, U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed). Together, the funded U01 research projects and the U24 Coordinating Center are intended to function as a unified Metabolic Dysregulation and Cancer Risk Program, suggesting that funded teams should be prepared to participate in cross-project coordination, data or methods harmonization, and other collaborative activities typical of organized research networks.

A wide range of organizations are eligible to apply. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township 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; tribal organizations other than federally recognized governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The FOA also calls out additional eligible applicant types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions, Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, tribal governments other than federally recognized, and U.S. territories or possessions.

At the same time, there are clear restrictions related to foreign participation. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and non-domestic (non-U.S.) institutions are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. However, foreign components are allowed as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, which means a U.S. applicant organization may include certain types of international collaboration when it fits NIH policy definitions and is appropriately justified.

Key administrative details from the source listing include the funding opportunity number RFA-CA-21-021, the federal agency as the National Institutes of Health (with NCI as the issuing institute), and the funding instrument type as a cooperative agreement. The original closing date listed for this opportunity was 2021-10-06. The award ceiling is shown as $850,000, indicating the maximum award amount expected under the announcement as provided in the listing.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Metabolic Dysregulation and Cancer Risk Program, Research Grants: a Transdisciplinary Approach to Obesity-Associated Research (U01 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.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2021-07-06.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-10-06. (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 $850,000.00 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.

Apply for RFA CA 21 021

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: