Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 19 169
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is offering a discretionary grant opportunity titled "Biology of Bladder Cancer (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)" (Funding Opportunity Number: PAR-19-169). The focus of this announcement is on exploratory, early-stage research aimed at understanding the core biology of bladder cancer and the underlying mechanisms that drive how the disease starts, progresses, and becomes malignant. Bladder cancer is highlighted as a major public health concern in the United States and worldwide, in large part because it is common and because tumors often come back after treatment, creating an unusually high long-term medical burden for patients and healthcare systems.
A key point of this opportunity is that, even though science has made meaningful strides in molecular profiling of bladder tumors and in identifying mutated genes, there is still a major gap in explaining how those molecular findings translate into real biological behavior. In other words, the FOA is pushing investigators to move beyond lists of mutations and molecular signatures and toward mechanistic understanding: what pathways, cellular programs, tissue interactions, and microenvironmental factors actually cause bladder cancer to initiate, recur, invade, and progress. The announcement also stresses that basic knowledge of normal bladder biology is still limited at molecular, cellular, and organ levels, and that this gap slows progress in cancer research. Projects that clarify normal bladder function and then connect those insights to cancer-related changes fit well within the intent of the FOA, because understanding what "normal" looks like is often essential for pinpointing what has gone wrong in disease.
The FOA encourages applications that take a multidisciplinary approach, reflecting the complexity of bladder cancer biology. That can include teams that integrate molecular biology, genetics, immunology, pathology, urology, bioinformatics, systems biology, engineering, or other complementary disciplines. It also explicitly encourages the use of clinical specimens, which signals an interest in research that is anchored in human biology and can connect mechanistic questions to real patient-derived material. In addition, the FOA welcomes studies that investigate both normal and cancer processes, reinforcing the idea that progress may come from comparing healthy bladder cell states, tissue organization, and regenerative responses with the altered states seen in tumors.
This opportunity uses the R21 mechanism, which is typically intended for exploratory and developmental research that can test novel ideas, generate preliminary data, or open new directions rather than deliver a fully mature research program. The "Clinical Trial Optional" designation means applicants may propose studies that include a clinical trial if it is scientifically appropriate, but they are not required to do so; strong non-trial mechanistic studies are also within scope.
In terms of funding details provided in the listing, the award ceiling is $200,000. The CFDA numbers associated with the opportunity are 93.393 and 93.396, and the activity category is listed under education and health. The original closing date shown is 2019-02-05, and the creation date is 2019-01-24, which indicates this specific posting is historical; applicants would generally need to confirm whether the FOA is still active, reissued, or replaced by a newer announcement before planning a submission.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S. and non-U.S. organizations. Eligible applicants listed include state, county, and local 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; other Native American tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and other organizations. The FOA also specifically notes additional eligible applicant types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, U.S. territories or possessions, regional organizations, and foreign (non-U.S.) entities. This wide eligibility aligns with the FOA's emphasis on multidisciplinary collaboration and the value of diverse research settings and patient populations.
Overall, the grant is geared toward accelerating foundational discoveries in bladder biology and bladder cancer mechanisms, especially work that can explain why bladder tumors form and recur, how they progress, and how normal bladder molecular and cellular functions are rewired during cancer. The NIH is signaling that mechanistic, biology-driven studies, ideally strengthened by clinical specimens and cross-disciplinary expertise, are central to advancing future interventions and improving outcomes in bladder cancer.Apply for PAR 19 169
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Biology of Bladder Cancer (R21 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, 93.396.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2019-01-24.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-02-05. (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 $200,000.00 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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Biology of Bladder Cancer (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) - PAR-19-169
What is the title and funding opportunity number for this NIH grant?
The opportunity is titled "Biology of Bladder Cancer (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)" and the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA) is PAR-19-169.
Which agency is offering this grant opportunity?
This is a discretionary grant opportunity offered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What is the main focus of this FOA?
The FOA focuses on exploratory, early-stage research to understand the core biology of bladder cancer and the mechanisms that drive how bladder cancer initiates, progresses, recurs, invades, and becomes malignant.
Why is NIH emphasizing bladder cancer biology in this announcement?
Bladder cancer is described as a major public health concern in the U.S. and worldwide because it is common and tumors often recur after treatment, leading to an unusually high long-term medical burden for patients and healthcare systems.
What scientific gap is this FOA trying to address?
Even with progress in molecular profiling and identifying mutated genes, there remains a major gap in understanding how molecular findings translate into real biological behavior. The FOA pushes investigators to go beyond mutation lists and molecular signatures and instead develop mechanistic explanations for bladder cancer behavior.
What does "mechanistic understanding" mean in the context of this FOA?
Within this FOA, mechanistic understanding refers to explaining what pathways, cellular programs, tissue interactions, and microenvironmental factors actually cause bladder cancer to start, recur, invade, and progress.
Are studies of normal bladder biology relevant to this opportunity?
Yes. The FOA stresses that basic knowledge of normal bladder biology is still limited at molecular, cellular, and organ levels, and that this slows cancer research. Projects that clarify normal bladder function and connect those insights to cancer-related changes align well with the FOA's intent.
Does this FOA encourage comparing normal bladder processes with cancer processes?
Yes. The announcement welcomes studies investigating both normal and cancer processes, including comparisons between healthy bladder cell states, tissue organization, or regenerative responses and the altered states seen in tumors.
What kind of research approach does NIH encourage for this grant?
The FOA encourages a multidisciplinary approach to reflect the complexity of bladder cancer biology. It highlights the value of integrating complementary expertise across multiple fields.
Which disciplines are mentioned as potentially relevant for multidisciplinary teams?
Examples listed include molecular biology, genetics, immunology, pathology, urology, bioinformatics, systems biology, engineering, and other complementary disciplines.
Does the FOA encourage the use of clinical specimens?
Yes. The FOA explicitly encourages using clinical specimens, signaling interest in research grounded in human biology and connected to patient-derived material.
What grant mechanism is being used?
This opportunity uses the R21 mechanism, which is typically intended for exploratory and developmental research that tests novel ideas, generates preliminary data, or opens new research directions rather than supporting a fully mature research program.
What does "Clinical Trial Optional" mean for this FOA?
"Clinical Trial Optional" means applicants may propose studies that include a clinical trial if scientifically appropriate, but they are not required to include a clinical trial. Non-trial mechanistic studies are also within scope.
What is the award ceiling listed for this opportunity?
The listing provides an award ceiling of $200,000.
What CFDA numbers are associated with this FOA?
The CFDA numbers associated with the opportunity are 93.393 and 93.396.
What activity category is associated with this grant listing?
The activity category is listed under education and health.
What are the dates shown for this opportunity, and what do they imply?
The listing shows a creation date of 2019-01-24 and an original closing date of 2019-02-05. This suggests the specific posting is historical, and applicants would generally need to confirm whether the FOA is still active, has been reissued, or has been replaced before planning a submission.
Who is eligible to apply for this grant?
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S. and non-U.S. organizations, including governments, higher education institutions, nonprofits, for-profits, small businesses, tribal entities, and other organizations.
Are state, county, or local governments eligible?
Yes. The eligible applicant list includes state, county, and local governments, as well as special district governments.
Are higher education institutions eligible?
Yes. The FOA includes eligibility for public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education, as well as independent school districts.
Are nonprofit organizations eligible, including those without 501(c)(3) status?
Yes. Eligibility includes nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education).
Are for-profit organizations and small businesses eligible to apply?
Yes. The eligible applicants include for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses.
Are tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Eligibility includes federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other Native American tribal organizations.
Are public housing authorities eligible?
Yes. The eligible applicants include public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities.
Are foreign (non-U.S.) entities eligible to apply?
Yes. The FOA explicitly includes eligibility for foreign (non-U.S.) entities.
Does the FOA mention specific institution types like HBCUs or Hispanic-serving Institutions?
Yes. It specifically notes additional eligible applicants such as Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), and other designated institution types.
Are Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and AANAPISI institutions mentioned as eligible?
Yes. The FOA lists Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs) among eligible applicant types.
Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA lists faith-based or community-based organizations among eligible applicant types.
Are U.S. territories and regional organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA includes U.S. territories or possessions and regional organizations among eligible applicant types.
What kinds of projects are a strong fit for this FOA based on its emphasis?
Projects that are strongly aligned include those that aim for biology-driven, mechanistic explanations of bladder cancer initiation, recurrence, invasion, and progression, potentially strengthened by clinical specimens and cross-disciplinary collaboration. Studies that also clarify normal bladder biology and connect it to cancer-related changes fit well within the stated intent.
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|---|
| Biology of Bladder Cancer (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 19 168 Funding Number: PAR 19 168 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Administrative Supplements to NCI Grant and Cooperative Agreement Awards to Support Collaborations with the PDX Development and Trial Centers Research Network (PDXNet) (Admin Supp Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PA 19 174 Funding Number: PA 19 174 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NCI Awardee Skills Development Consortium: Research Education Short Courses (UE5 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA CA 19 010 Funding Number: RFA CA 19 010 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NCI Awardee Skills Development Consortium: Program Logistics and Evaluation Coordinating Center (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA CA 19 011 Funding Number: RFA CA 19 011 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Biology of Bladder Cancer (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 19 184 Funding Number: PAR 19 184 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Biology of Bladder Cancer (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 19 183 Funding Number: PAR 19 183 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Microbial-based Cancer Therapy -Bugs as Drugs (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 19 194 Funding Number: PAR 19 194 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
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| Sustained Support for Informatics Technologies for Cancer Research and Management (U24 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA CA 19 041 Funding Number: RFA CA 19 041 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Advanced Development of Informatics Technologies for Cancer Research and Management (U24 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA CA 19 040 Funding Number: RFA CA 19 040 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $600,000 |
| Single Cell Opioid Responses in the Context of HIV (SCORCH) Program: CNS Data Generation (UM1 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA DA 19 037 Funding Number: RFA DA 19 037 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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