Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 18 893
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity titled "Physical Activity and Weight Control Interventions Among Cancer Survivors: Effects on Biomarkers of Prognosis and Survival (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)" (Funding Opportunity Number PAR-18-893) supports research aimed at clarifying how lifestyle interventions can influence cancer outcomes after treatment. The central focus is on uncovering the specific biological and biobehavioral pathways through which physical activity and/or weight control (either intentional weight loss or preventing weight gain) may affect cancer prognosis and survival. Rather than only asking whether exercise or weight management helps, this FOA prioritizes studies that explain why and through which measurable mechanisms those effects occur, with a strong emphasis on translational work that connects behavioral interventions to tumor biology and clinical outcomes.
A key requirement is that proposed projects test the impact of physical activity alone or combined with weight control on established biomarkers of cancer prognosis in cancer survivors. NIH is especially interested in biomarkers that are supported by prior animal studies or observational human research and that go beyond the commonly studied insulin and glucose metabolism pathways. In practical terms, this encourages applicants to target other well-supported mechanistic candidates such as inflammation-related markers, immune function indicators, angiogenesis-related pathways, sex steroid pathways, stress and neuroendocrine signaling, oxidative stress, epigenetic markers, and other tumor microenvironment or host-response measures, as long as they are grounded in credible prior evidence. The FOA highlights a particular interest in biomarkers obtained directly from tumor tissue, especially when repeat biopsies are available, because tumor-based measures can provide more direct insight into how a lifestyle intervention might influence tumor behavior or residual disease biology.
The announcement also recognizes that many cancer survivors will not experience cancer recurrence, yet may still face substantial risks from comorbid conditions or accelerated aging-related changes. Because of that, NIH explicitly welcomes the inclusion of biomarkers linked to comorbid diseases, such as cardiovascular disease risk markers, as well as biomarkers related to aging processes. This reflects a broader view of survivorship in which interventions are expected to potentially improve not only cancer-specific outcomes, but also overall health, functional status, and long-term survival by addressing competing risks that commonly affect survivors.
Methodologically, the FOA encourages rigorous experimental designs. Randomized controlled trials are clearly within scope, and the title notes that clinical trials are optional, meaning applicants may propose clinical trials when appropriate but are not strictly required to do so. The FOA also points to designs like fractional factorial experiments, which can efficiently test multiple intervention components (for example, different types or doses of physical activity, dietary strategies for weight loss, and behavioral support elements) and help determine which components drive biomarker changes. Across designs, the expectation is that studies will be capable of making strong causal inferences about whether the intervention changes the targeted biomarkers and, by extension, whether those biomarker changes plausibly map to improvements in prognosis or survival.
The program is built around transdisciplinary collaboration. Competitive applications are expected to integrate expertise in behavioral intervention development and implementation with cancer biology and other relevant basic and clinical science disciplines tied to the pathways under study. In effect, NIH is looking for teams that can design real-world, scalable physical activity and/or weight control interventions while also collecting and interpreting sophisticated biological data, including tissue-based measures when feasible. This typically implies careful attention to intervention fidelity, dose and adherence measurement, standardized biospecimen collection, and analytic strategies that link behavioral changes to biologic endpoints in a coherent mechanistic framework.
In terms of administrative details, this is a discretionary NIH grant using the R01 mechanism, which generally supports substantial, multi-year research projects. The funding activity category is listed under education and health, and the CFDA numbers associated with the opportunity are 93.393 and 93.399. The original closing date provided in the source data is 2021-09-07. The listing does not specify an award ceiling or expected number of awards in the provided fields, so those details would typically need to be verified in the full FOA or NIH funding notices.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of domestic organizations: state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. The FOA also explicitly calls out a wide range of other eligible applicants, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), eligible federal agencies, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and even non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations). This inclusive eligibility reflects an interest in reaching diverse survivor populations and supporting research capacity across many institutional settings, including community-engaged contexts where survivorship interventions may be delivered and evaluated.
Overall, PAR-18-893 is designed for investigators who want to move beyond general claims that exercise or weight control is beneficial for cancer survivors and instead pinpoint the measurable mechanistic pathways that connect these interventions to prognosis, survival, comorbidity risk, and aging-related outcomes. The strongest-fit projects are likely those that combine well-designed interventions with biomarker strategies that are both biologically compelling and realistically measurable in survivor populations, potentially including repeat tumor tissue sampling when available, and that use experimental designs capable of clarifying which intervention elements drive the observed biological effects.Apply for PAR 18 893
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Physical Activity and Weight Control Interventions Among Cancer Survivors: Effects on Biomarkers of Prognosis and Survival (R01 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, 93.399.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2018-08-07.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-09-07. (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.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the NIH funding opportunity PAR-18-893 about?
PAR-18-893, titled "Physical Activity and Weight Control Interventions Among Cancer Survivors: Effects on Biomarkers of Prognosis and Survival (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)," supports research in cancer survivors that tests how physical activity and/or weight control interventions influence biological markers linked to cancer prognosis and survival. A central priority is explaining the mechanisms (the "why" and "how") that connect lifestyle changes to cancer-related outcomes, rather than only determining whether the interventions help.
What is the main scientific focus of this FOA?
The FOA prioritizes mechanistic, translational research that links behavioral interventions (physical activity and/or weight control) to measurable biological and biobehavioral pathways relevant to cancer prognosis and survival. The expectation is that proposed studies will clarify causal pathways by testing whether interventions change established biomarkers and whether those biomarker changes plausibly map to improved prognosis or survival.
Who is the target population for studies under this opportunity?
The focus is on cancer survivors (people who have completed or are beyond active treatment) and on how post-treatment lifestyle interventions may affect biomarkers related to prognosis, survival, comorbid disease risk, and aging-related processes.
What types of interventions are supported?
Projects must test the impact of physical activity interventions alone or physical activity combined with weight control strategies. Weight control can include intentional weight loss or prevention of weight gain.
Does this FOA require a clinical trial?
No. The FOA is labeled "Clinical Trial Optional," meaning clinical trials (including randomized controlled trials) are allowed when appropriate, but they are not strictly required.
Are randomized controlled trials (RCTs allowed and encouraged?
Yes. The FOA explicitly encourages rigorous experimental designs, and randomized controlled trials are clearly within scope.
What other study designs are mentioned as being of interest?
The FOA highlights designs such as fractional factorial experiments, which can efficiently test multiple intervention components (for example, different activity doses or types, dietary weight loss strategies, and behavioral support elements) and help identify which components drive biomarker changes.
What is the required outcome focus: clinical endpoints or biomarkers?
A key requirement is that projects test the impact of the intervention on established biomarkers of cancer prognosis in cancer survivors. The FOA emphasizes biomarkers as primary mechanistic endpoints to connect interventions to prognosis and survival.
What kinds of biomarkers does NIH want applicants to study?
NIH is especially interested in biomarkers supported by prior animal studies or observational human research. The FOA encourages biomarkers that go beyond commonly studied insulin and glucose metabolism pathways, including (when grounded in credible prior evidence): inflammation-related markers, immune function indicators, angiogenesis-related pathways, sex steroid pathways, stress and neuroendocrine signaling, oxidative stress, epigenetic markers, and other tumor microenvironment or host-response measures.
Does the FOA discourage insulin/glucose biomarkers?
The FOA does not state that insulin and glucose metabolism biomarkers are prohibited, but it places special emphasis on moving beyond those commonly studied pathways and targeting other well-supported mechanistic candidates.
Are tumor tissue biomarkers specifically encouraged?
Yes. The FOA highlights particular interest in biomarkers obtained directly from tumor tissue, especially when repeat biopsies are available, because tumor-based measures can offer more direct insight into how lifestyle interventions might influence tumor behavior or residual disease biology.
Can the project include repeat biopsies or repeated tumor tissue sampling?
The FOA notes special interest in tumor tissue biomarkers, particularly in situations where repeat biopsies are available, implying that repeated tumor tissue sampling can be an important and valuable feature when feasible.
Does the FOA address comorbidities and aging-related outcomes for survivors?
Yes. The announcement acknowledges that many survivors may not experience recurrence but may face substantial risks from comorbid conditions or accelerated aging-related changes. NIH explicitly welcomes biomarkers linked to comorbid diseases (such as cardiovascular disease risk markers) and biomarkers related to aging processes.
Is the FOA focused only on cancer recurrence?
No. While prognosis and survival are central, the FOA reflects a broader survivorship view that includes competing risks affecting survivors, such as comorbid disease and aging-related changes, and encourages biomarker strategies that capture these dimensions.
What does NIH mean by "mechanisms" in this FOA?
In this context, "mechanisms" refers to measurable biological and biobehavioral pathways through which physical activity and/or weight control could influence cancer prognosis and survival. The FOA prioritizes studies that can credibly connect intervention-driven behavioral changes to biomarker changes in a coherent mechanistic framework.
What level of methodological rigor is expected?
The FOA encourages rigorous experimental approaches capable of strong causal inference about whether the intervention causes changes in targeted biomarkers and whether those changes plausibly relate to improved prognosis or survival.
What kind of research team is NIH looking for?
NIH emphasizes transdisciplinary collaboration. Competitive applications are expected to integrate expertise in behavioral intervention development and implementation with cancer biology and other relevant basic and clinical sciences tied to the pathways being studied.
What practical implementation considerations are implied by the FOA?
The FOA implies attention to real-world, scalable interventions alongside strong biological measurement. This typically includes careful attention to intervention fidelity, measuring dose and adherence, standardized biospecimen collection, and analysis plans that link behavioral and biologic endpoints.
What grant mechanism is used for PAR-18-893?
This opportunity uses the NIH R01 mechanism, which generally supports substantial, multi-year research projects.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number and title?
The Funding Opportunity Number is PAR-18-893. The title is "Physical Activity and Weight Control Interventions Among Cancer Survivors: Effects on Biomarkers of Prognosis and Survival (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)."
What is the activity category listed for this opportunity?
The funding activity category is listed under education and health.
What CFDA numbers are associated with this funding opportunity?
The CFDA numbers associated with the opportunity are 93.393 and 93.399.
What is the closing date listed in the provided information?
The original closing date provided in the source data is 2021-09-07.
Does the provided information include an award ceiling or expected number of awards?
No. The provided listing does not specify an award ceiling or an expected number of awards in the included fields. Those details would typically need to be verified in the full FOA or NIH funding notices.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of domestic organizations, including: state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses.
Are minority-serving institutions and specific institution types explicitly included?
Yes. The FOA explicitly calls out Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs).
Are federal agencies eligible to apply?
Yes. Eligible applicants include eligible federal agencies, as explicitly listed.
Are community-based and faith-based organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA explicitly includes faith-based or community-based organizations among eligible applicants.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?
Yes. The FOA includes U.S. territories or possessions among eligible applicants.
Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The FOA explicitly includes non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) as eligible applicants.
What kinds of projects are likely to be the best fit for this FOA?
Based on the description provided, the strongest-fit projects are those that (1) combine well-designed physical activity and/or weight control interventions with (2) biomarker strategies grounded in credible prior evidence and relevant to prognosis/survival (including tumor tissue biomarkers when feasible), and (3) use experimental designs capable of identifying which intervention elements drive observed biological effects.
Is it acceptable to focus on physical activity alone, or must weight control be included?
The FOA requires testing physical activity alone or physical activity combined with weight control. This means physical activity-only interventions are within scope, and combined approaches are also encouraged.
What is meant by weight control in this FOA?
Weight control is described as either intentional weight loss or prevention of weight gain.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Education, Health
Next opportunity: Limited Competition for the Continuation of the Symptoms of Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction Research Network (LURN) Data Coordinating Center (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Previous opportunity: CESU White Nose Syndrome Funding Proposal
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for PAR 18 893
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (PAR 18 893) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| 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 |
| The NCI Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Fellow Transition Award (F99/K00) Apply for RFA CA 19 002 Funding Number: RFA CA 19 002 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Loyalty and Reward-Based Technologies to Increase Adherence to Substance Use Disorder Pharmacotherapies (R41/R42 - Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA DA 19 015 Funding Number: RFA DA 19 015 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Loyalty and Reward-Based Technologies to Increase Adherence to Substance Use Disorder Pharmacotherapies (R43/R44 - Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA DA 19 014 Funding Number: RFA DA 19 014 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "PAR 18 893", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.