Cancer Research Education Grants Program - Courses for Skills Development (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR 23 276

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 23 276

The Cancer Research Education Grants Program - Courses for Skills Development (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Cancer Institute (NCI) funding opportunity designed to strengthen the cancer research workforce through high-quality education and skill-building courses. It sits under the NIH Research Education Program (R25), which is specifically meant to support structured educational activities that complement or enhance existing research training pathways. In practical terms, this program is about developing and delivering courses that help current and future researchers gain targeted, up-to-date skills needed to meet the nations biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research demands related to cancer, without funding clinical trials as part of the project.

The core focus of this notice of funding opportunity is Courses for Skills Development, meaning applicants are expected to propose organized, curriculum-based educational offerings rather than typical research projects. Competitive applications will generally emphasize innovative, state-of-the-art course content and teaching approaches that meaningfully expand learner capabilities. Proposed courses should clearly connect to cancer-related research priorities, including understanding cancer causes, improving diagnosis, advancing prevention strategies, refining or discovering treatments, supporting rehabilitation after cancer, and improving continuing care for cancer patients as well as support for families of cancer patients. The intent is to produce measurable improvements in research readiness and competence by filling training gaps with well-designed education experiences.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of domestic organizations and governmental entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; Native American tribal governments that are federally recognized; Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; 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 eligible entities. The program also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant categories such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, Indian/Native American tribal governments other than federally recognized, and U.S. territories or possessions. These inclusions signal an interest in reaching diverse institutions and communities that can expand access to high-quality cancer research education.

At the same time, there are important restrictions related to foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities, including foreign organizations and foreign institutions, are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization. In addition, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. However, foreign components are allowed when they meet the NIH definition in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, meaning that certain international collaborations or elements may be permitted within a primarily U.S.-led application, as long as they are structured in compliance with NIH policy.

From an administrative standpoint, this opportunity is a discretionary grant mechanism in the education and health activity category, with CFDA number 93.398. The funding opportunity number is PAR 23 276, it was created on September 29, 2023, and the listed original closing date is January 7, 2027. The award ceiling is $300,000. While the number of expected awards is not specified in the provided details, applicants should interpret the ceiling as a key planning constraint for building a realistic course budget, staffing plan, and evaluation approach.

A final point that shapes project design is captured directly in the title: Clinical Trial Not Allowed. That means the funded activities must remain educational in nature and cannot include conducting a clinical trial under the award. Applicants can still train people in clinical research methods, trial design concepts, regulatory science, data management, or ethics, but the award itself cannot be used to run a clinical trial as an activity of the project. Overall, this grant is best understood as support for carefully planned cancer-focused skills courses that modernize and strengthen the research workforce through education, innovation in instruction, and clear alignment with NCI mission priorities.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cancer Research Education Grants Program - Courses for Skills Development (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.398.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-09-29.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2027-01-07.
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $300,000.00 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 PAR 23 276

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