Early-Onset Cancers: Investigating Etiology, Mechanisms, and Early Detection Strategies (RP1 Clinical Trials Optional)

Key Facts

Status: Open

Posted date: March 10, 2026

Opportunity ID: 361438

Opportunity number: PAR-26-150

Opportunity category: Discretionary

Agency name: National Institutes of Health

Agency code: HHS-NIH11

Award floor: $0

Award ceiling: $0

Cost sharing required: No

Funding Instrument Types
  • Grant
Category of Funding Activity
  • Health
Eligible Applicants
  • City or township governments
  • County governments
  • For-profit organizations other than small businesses
  • Independent school districts
  • Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
  • 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
  • Others
  • Private institutions of higher education
  • Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
  • Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
  • Small businesses
  • Special district governments
  • State governments
Tools
Categories (use these for quoted searches)
  • agency_code:hhs_nih11
  • category_of_funding_activity:health
  • cost_sharing_or_matching_requirement:false
  • eligible_applicants:city_or_township_governments
  • eligible_applicants:county_governments
  • eligible_applicants:for_profit_organizations_other_than_small_businesses
  • eligible_applicants:independent_school_districts
  • eligible_applicants:native_american_tribal_governments_federally_recognized
  • eligible_applicants:native_american_tribal_organizations_other_than_federally_recognized_tribal_governments
  • eligible_applicants:nonprofits_having_a_501_c_3_status_with_the_irs_other_than_institutions_of_higher_education
  • eligible_applicants:nonprofits_that_do_not_have_a_501_c_3_status_with_the_irs_other_than_institutions_of_higher_education
  • eligible_applicants:others
  • eligible_applicants:private_institutions_of_higher_education
  • eligible_applicants:public_and_state_controlled_institutions_of_higher_education
  • eligible_applicants:public_housing_authoritiesindian_housing_authorities
  • eligible_applicants:small_businesses
  • eligible_applicants:special_district_governments
  • eligible_applicants:state_governments
  • funding_instrument_type:grant
  • opportunity_category:discretionary
  • status:open
Description

Through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) invites applications that investigate the etiology of sporadic non-hereditary early-onset cancers (EOCs: ages 18 to 49 years) and the underlying biological mechanisms that play a role in these cancers to inform prevention and control strategies. The proposed research is expected to advance the understanding of the unexplained rise of cancers in young adults. More specifically, studies should address one or more of the following: i) what modifiable exposures are driving the increase in the incidence of non-hereditary EOCs, and how do these factors vary by patient demographics? (ii) what biological mechanisms and host responses underly the increase in EOCs? and (iii) how can those at increased risk for developing EOCs be identified more effectively?This NOFO consolidates exploratory/developmental and research project funding mechanisms to streamline the application process and sustain momentum in this critical research area. Applicants have the option of submitting either an exploratory/developmental research project with a project period of up to 2 years or a research project with a project period of 4 to 5 years.

Early-Onset Cancers: Investigating Etiology, Mechanisms, and Early Detection Strategies (RP1 Clinical Trials Optional)
Through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) invites applications that investigate the etiology of sporadic non-hereditary early-onset cancers (EOCs: ages 18 to 49 years) and the underlying biological mechanisms that play a role in these cancers to inform prevention and control strategies. The proposed research is expected to advance the understanding of the unexplained rise of cancers in young adults. More specifically, studies should address one or more of the following: i) what modifiable exposures are driving the increase in the incidence of non-hereditary EOCs, and how do these factors vary by patient demographics? (ii) what biological mechanisms and host responses underly the increase in EOCs? and (iii) how can those at increased risk for developing EOCs be identified more effectively?This NOFO consolidates exploratory/developmental and research project funding mechanisms to streamline the application process and sustain momentum in this critical research area. Applicants have the option of submitting either an exploratory/developmental research project with a project period of up to 2 years or a research project with a project period of 4 to 5 years.
Early-Onset Cancers: Investigating Etiology, Mechanisms, and Early Detection Strategies (RP1 Clinical Trials Optional)
Open
National Institutes of Health
Health
Grant
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
2026-03-10