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.Apply for PAR 18 887
- 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.
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FAQs: NCI Research Specialist (Core-based Scientist) Award (R50, Clinical Trial Not Allowed) - PAR-18-887
What is the NCI Research Specialist (Core-based Scientist) Award (R50)?
The NCI Research Specialist (Core-based Scientist) Award (R50) is a National Cancer Institute (NCI) funding opportunity designed to support highly skilled scientists who play essential roles in cancer research programs but are not seeking to become independent principal investigators. It is aimed at professionals working in core facilities, shared resources, or central scientific support units that provide specialized expertise, advanced technologies, and continuity for NCI-funded cancer research.
Who is this award meant for?
This award is intended for core-based or shared-resource scientists who keep major cancer research programs running smoothly. Examples of the kinds of roles described include maintaining sophisticated platforms, developing and optimizing methods, ensuring quality control, training other users, and advancing technical capabilities within an established research environment. The defining feature is the applicant's specialist role within an existing program rather than a plan to transition to an independent investigator position.
What is the main purpose or goal of the R50 mechanism?
A central goal is career stability for highly skilled research specialists. Many core-based scientists are often supported 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 these specialists are not entirely dependent on other people's NCI grants for continued employment and career continuity.
How does this award differ from grants intended to develop independent investigators?
Based on the announcement description, the R50 is structured to clearly position the recipient as a non-independent investigator who contributes in a focused, high-impact specialist role within an established cancer research program. The distinguishing factor is not the scientific topic but the career role: the award supports a specialist who strengthens infrastructure and scientific capabilities rather than building an independent research program as a principal investigator.
What types of work or activities does the R50 support?
The award supports research activities carried out within the context of an existing NCI-funded basic, translational, clinical, or population science cancer research program. It is particularly suited to core science and support functions that enable and strengthen cancer research infrastructure and technology.
Is this opportunity limited to a particular cancer type or scientific discipline?
No. The opportunity is described as 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 may align with laboratory-based (basic), translational, clinical research settings (without running clinical trials under this FOA), or population sciences.
What makes an application a good fit for this FOA?
The key fit factor is the applicant's role: a core or shared-resource scientist whose contributions strengthen the infrastructure and scientific capabilities of cancer research programs. The FOA is designed for specialists who provide continuity, specialized expertise, advanced technologies, and support functions within a central resource environment.
Are clinical trials allowed under this R50 announcement?
No. Clinical trials are not allowed under this announcement (R50, Clinical Trial Not Allowed).
What does "Clinical Trial Not Allowed" mean in practical terms?
In practical terms, the proposed activities cannot include leading or conducting NIH-defined clinical trials as part of the funded scope. The work should remain focused on core-based science and support activities rather than administering or studying interventions in human participants as a clinical trial.
What kinds of activities are mentioned as good examples for this award?
The description indicates this award is well suited to areas such as technology development, assay validation, biostatistics or bioinformatics support, specialized imaging or genomics cores, pathology or biorepository operations, and other centralized resources that enable cancer research without conducting clinical trials under this FOA.
Does the work need to be connected to an existing NCI-funded program?
Yes. The supported activities are described as being carried out within the context of an existing NCI-funded basic, translational, clinical, or population science cancer research program.
Who administers this funding opportunity?
The administering agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH), through the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is PAR-18-887.
What funding activity areas are associated with this opportunity?
This opportunity is categorized under education and health funding activity areas.
Which organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as 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.
Are minority-serving institutions and other specific institution types included as eligible?
Yes. The FOA 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.
Can foreign organizations apply?
No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities are not eligible to apply under this announcement.
Are foreign components allowed if the applicant organization is U.S.-based?
No. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply, and foreign components (as defined by NIH policy) are not allowed. The application and supported work must be based within eligible U.S. organizational structures without foreign components.
Is this opportunity current or historical?
The original closing date listed for this opportunity was 2019-01-11, which indicates the specific posted cycle described is historical.
Does a historical closing date mean NCI no longer offers R50 opportunities?
Not necessarily. The information provided notes that similar R50 opportunities may appear in updated or reissued announcements depending on NCI priorities, even though this specific posting includes a historical closing date.
What CFDA programs are associated with this opportunity?
This funding opportunity is associated with multiple CFDA listings (93.393 through 93.399) corresponding to NCI programs.
Is the award intended to fund an independent research lab or independent PI trajectory?
No. The award is described as supporting scientists who are not trying to become independent principal investigators. It is intended for focused, high-impact specialist contributions within core facilities or shared resources, providing continuity and advanced capabilities in an established research environment.
What kind of research settings can this award support?
The description indicates it can align with laboratory-based (basic), translational, clinical research settings (without running clinical trials under this FOA), or population sciences, as long as it fits within NCI-funded cancer research areas and matches the core-based specialist role.
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| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| NCI Research Specialist (Laboratory-based Scientist) Award (R50 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 18 888 Funding Number: PAR 18 888 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Physical Activity and Weight Control Interventions Among Cancer Survivors: Effects on Biomarkers of Prognosis and Survival (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 18 892 Funding Number: PAR 18 892 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Physical Activity and Weight Control Interventions Among Cancer Survivors: Effects on Biomarkers of Prognosis and Survival (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 18 893 Funding Number: PAR 18 893 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NLM Research Grants in Biomedical Informatics and Data Science (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 18 896 Funding Number: PAR 18 896 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Limited Competition: AIDS and Cancer Specimen Resource (ACSR)(UM1 Clinical Trials Not Allowed) Apply for RFA CA 18 012 Funding Number: RFA CA 18 012 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Advancing Translational and Clinical Probiotic/Prebiotic and Human Microbiome Research (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PA 18 902 Funding Number: PA 18 902 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NLM Information Resource Grants to Reduce Health Disparities (G08 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA LM 19 001 Funding Number: RFA LM 19 001 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Improving Smoking Cessation Interventions among People Living with HIV (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA CA 18 028 Funding Number: RFA CA 18 028 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Improving Smoking Cessation Interventions among People Living with HIV (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA CA 18 027 Funding Number: RFA CA 18 027 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Prevention of HPV-related Cancers in HIV-infected individuals: United States-Latin American-Caribbean Clinical Trials Network: Partnership Centers (U54 Clinical Trial Required) Apply for RFA CA 18 018 Funding Number: RFA CA 18 018 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| Feasibility Studies to Build Collaborative Partnerships in Cancer Research (P20 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 18 911 Funding Number: PAR 18 911 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $375,000 |
| Utilizing the PLCO Biospecimens Resource to Bridge Gaps in Cancer Etiology and Early Detection Research (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 18 913 Funding Number: PAR 18 913 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Modeling HIV Neuropathology Using Microglia from Human iPSC and Cerebral Organoids (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA DA 19 009 Funding Number: RFA DA 19 009 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Modeling HIV Neuropathology Using Microglia from Human iPSC and Cerebral Organoids (R21-Clinical Trials Not Allowed) Apply for RFA DA 19 010 Funding Number: RFA DA 19 010 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| AIDS-Science Track Award for Research Transition (R03 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PA 18 916 Funding Number: PA 18 916 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Imaging - Science Track Award for Research Transition (I/START) (R03 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 18 918 Funding Number: PAR 18 918 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Communication and Decision Making for Individuals with Inherited Cancer Syndromes (U01 Clinical Trial Optional). Apply for RFA CA 19 001 Funding Number: RFA CA 19 001 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $600,000 |
| Quantitative Imaging Tools and Methods for Cancer Response Assessment (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 18 919 Funding Number: PAR 18 919 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Cancer Prevention Clinical Trials Network (CP-CTNet): CP-CTNet Sites (UG1 Clinical Trial Required) Apply for RFA CA 18 029 Funding Number: RFA CA 18 029 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $625,000 |
| Cancer Prevention Clinical Trials Network (CP-CTNet): Data Management, Auditing, and Coordinating Center (DMACC) (U24 Clinical Trials Required) Apply for RFA CA 18 030 Funding Number: RFA CA 18 030 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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