Inter-organelle Communication in Cancer (R21) | PAR 17 204

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 17 204

The Inter-organelle Communication in Cancer (R21) opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number PAR 17-204) is a discretionary NIH grant program designed to fund early-stage, exploratory research that looks at how communication between cellular organelles influences cancer behavior. The core idea is that cancer cells, along with cells in the tumor microenvironment (often referred to as tumor-associated cells), rely on coordinated signaling and material exchange between organelles such as mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, lysosomes, peroxisomes, and others. This FOA is interested in projects that can clarify how those inter-organelle connections shape cellular function, stress responses, metabolic adaptation, and the ability of cancer-related cells to shift phenotypes over time, which is often described as phenotypic plasticity. In practice, this could include studying contact sites between organelles, organelle-to-organelle signaling pathways, trafficking of metabolites or ions, organelle dynamics, and how these processes help tumors survive therapy, adapt to hostile environments, or change invasive and metastatic potential.

This announcement uses the NIH R21 mechanism, which is typically intended for high-risk/high-reward concepts, new directions, and feasibility-building work rather than large, fully developed multi-year programs. The listed award ceiling is $200,000, indicating a relatively modest budget consistent with pilot-style research meant to generate key proof-of-concept results. The activity categories associated with the listing are Education and Health, and the CFDA number provided is 93.396, placing it within NIH-supported biomedical research portfolios. The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health, and the opportunity was created on 2017-03-07, with an original closing date of 2020-01-15.

Eligibility is broad and includes many common applicant types across government, academia, nonprofit, and industry. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. Tribal entities are explicitly included, both federally recognized Native American tribal governments and Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments, and the FOA also notes additional categories such as Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized) and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs). Nonprofits are eligible whether or not they have 501(c)(3) status, as long as they are not institutions of higher education within that specific nonprofit designation. For-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses are also eligible, which opens the door to biotech or tool-development companies that want to pursue organelle-communication questions relevant to cancer. The FOA further highlights expanded eligibility for specific institution types and communities, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), as well as faith-based or community-based organizations. It also allows participation by non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations), regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and applicants located in a U.S. territory or possession.

Overall, this grant opportunity supports innovative cancer research focused on the internal “cross-talk” systems that allow cells to coordinate organelle behavior, with an emphasis on how those systems drive tumor cell survival, adaptability, and changing phenotypes. It is structured to encourage exploratory projects that can open up new mechanistic insights and potentially identify novel vulnerabilities in cancer and tumor-associated cells by targeting or exploiting inter-organelle communication pathways.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Inter-organelle Communication in Cancer (R21)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.396.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-03-07.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-01-15. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 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 17 204

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