NCI Research Specialist (Core-based Scientist) Award (R50 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR 18 887

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 18 887

The NCI Research Specialist (Core-based Scientist) Award (R50, Clinical Trial Not Allowed) is a National Cancer Institute funding opportunity meant to support highly skilled scientists who play essential roles in cancer research programs but are not trying to become independent principal investigators. The focus is on professionals based in core facilities, shared resources, or central scientific support units who provide specialized expertise, advanced technologies, and continuity for NCI-funded cancer research. In practice, this mechanism is designed for the kinds of scientists who keep major research programs running smoothly by maintaining sophisticated platforms, developing and optimizing methods, ensuring quality control, training other users, and advancing technical capabilities within an established research environment.

A central goal of this award is career stability. Many core-based scientists are critical to day-to-day research operations yet are often funded indirectly through other investigators grants, which can make their positions vulnerable when project funding changes. The R50 is intended to provide dedicated salary support and enough professional autonomy so that these specialists are not completely dependent on other people s NCI grants for continued employment and career continuity. The award supports research activities carried out within the context of an existing NCI-funded basic, translational, clinical, or population science cancer research program, while still clearly positioning the recipient as a non-independent investigator who contributes in a focused, high-impact specialist role.

The opportunity is broad in scientific scope as long as the work fits within NCI-funded cancer research areas. It is not limited to a single disease site, technology, or discipline, and it can align with laboratory-based (basic), translational, clinical research settings (without running clinical trials under this FOA), or population sciences. What makes it distinct is not the cancer topic itself, but the role of the applicant: a core or shared-resource scientist whose contributions strengthen the infrastructure and scientific capabilities of cancer research programs.

Clinical trials are not allowed under this announcement. That typically means the proposed activities cannot include leading or conducting NIH-defined clinical trials as part of the funded scope. The award is therefore best suited to core science and support functions, technology development, assay validation, biostatistics or bioinformatics support, specialized imaging or genomics cores, pathology or biorepository operations, or other centralized resources that enable cancer research but do not involve administering or studying interventions in human participants as a clinical trial.

Eligibility is wide across U.S.-based organization types. 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; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; Native American 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; small businesses; and other organizations. The FOA also explicitly notes additional eligible categories 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.

Foreign involvement is restricted. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply, and foreign components as defined by NIH policy are not allowed. In other words, the application and the supported work must be based within eligible U.S. organizational structures without foreign components.

The administering agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH), through NCI, and it is a discretionary grant mechanism categorized under education and health funding activity areas. The funding opportunity number is PAR-18-887, and it is associated with multiple CFDA listings (93.393 through 93.399) that correspond to NCI programs. The original closing date listed for the opportunity was 2019-01-11, indicating this specific posted cycle is historical, although similar R50 opportunities may appear in updated or reissued announcements depending on NCI priorities.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NCI Research Specialist (Core-based Scientist) Award (R50 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): 93.393, 93.394, 93.395, 93.396, 93.397, 93.398, 93.399.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2018-08-02.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-01-11. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• 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 18 887

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