Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA CA 20 005
This funding opportunity, titled Research Answers to National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Provocative Questions (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) (RFA-CA-20-005), is a National Institutes of Health grant program run through the National Cancer Institute. Its core goal is to support exploratory, early-stage research projects that directly tackle specific, clearly defined "Provocative Questions" identified by NCI as persistent problems, paradoxes, or gaps in cancer research that have not received enough focused attention. Rather than covering the full spectrum of cancer research priorities, the program is intentionally narrow and challenge-driven: applicants are expected to pick one question from the current set and design a project that produces meaningful progress toward answering it.
The Provocative Questions concept is meant to push researchers beyond incremental work by spotlighting issues that are scientifically important but understudied. Some of these questions come from older, intriguing observations that were never fully investigated and have lingered in the literature without clear explanations. Others arise from newer discoveries that do not fit current models, creating paradoxes that expose weak points in existing theories or methods. A third category targets problems that used to look unsolvable, but may now be approachable due to new technologies, new datasets, or modern experimental and computational strategies. In this particular issuance, NCI lists an updated set of 12 Provocative Questions, and each proposed project must be built around one selected question and its associated research problem.
Because the purpose is to generate fresh answers to stubborn or puzzling issues, the FOA explicitly welcomes creative approaches, including those that combine ideas and tools from different disciplines. Projects can be transdisciplinary if that integration is genuinely needed to address the selected question, for example by mixing biology, engineering, data science, behavioral science, clinical insight, or population-level methods. The mechanism is an R21, which generally aligns with exploratory or proof-of-concept work, and it is labeled "clinical trial optional," meaning applicants may propose studies that include a clinical trial component if appropriate, but a clinical trial is not required.
Eligibility is broad and includes a wide range of organization types. Beyond standard academic and research institutions, eligible applicants include state, county, city, township, and special district governments; independent school districts; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status; private institutions of higher education; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. The announcement also highlights additional eligible applicants such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and non-U.S. (foreign) entities.
Administratively, this is a discretionary grant opportunity under health and education-related activity categories, associated with CFDA numbers 93.393, 93.394, 93.395, 93.396, and 93.399. The opportunity record shows a creation date of January 16, 2020, and an original closing date of November 17, 2020. The listing does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards in the provided excerpt. Overall, the defining feature of this FOA is its tight alignment requirement: an application is only responsive if it is clearly aimed at answering one of the 12 NCI Provocative Questions, using whatever cross-cutting methods are best suited to produce credible, useful insight into that particular cancer research puzzle.Apply for RFA CA 20 005
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Research Answers to National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Provocative Questions (R21 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, 93.394, 93.395, 93.396, 93.399.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2020-01-16.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-11-17. (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: Research Answers to NCI's Provocative Questions (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) (RFA-CA-20-005)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant funding opportunity administered through the National Cancer Institute (NCI) titled Research Answers to NCI's Provocative Questions (R21 Clinical Trial Optional), funding opportunity number RFA-CA-20-005.
What is the main goal of this program?
The goal is to support exploratory, early-stage research that directly addresses a specific set of cancer research challenges known as NCI's Provocative Questions. These questions represent persistent problems, paradoxes, or gaps in cancer research that have not received enough focused attention.
What makes this opportunity different from broader cancer research grants?
This program is intentionally narrow and challenge-driven. Rather than funding across the full range of cancer research topics, it requires applicants to select one Provocative Question from the current set and propose a project designed to make meaningful progress toward answering that specific question.
How many Provocative Questions are included in this issuance?
NCI lists an updated set of 12 Provocative Questions for this particular funding opportunity, and each proposed project must be built around one selected question and its associated research problem.
Do applicants have to choose one specific Provocative Question?
Yes. The defining responsiveness requirement is tight alignment: an application is only responsive if it is clearly aimed at answering one of the 12 listed NCI Provocative Questions.
What kind of research is NCI trying to stimulate through the Provocative Questions concept?
The Provocative Questions approach is intended to push research beyond incremental advances by spotlighting important but understudied issues. The questions include:
- Older observations that were never fully investigated and remain unexplained in the literature
- Newer discoveries that do not fit existing models, creating paradoxes and exposing weaknesses in current theories or methods
- Problems that once seemed unsolvable but may now be tractable due to new technologies, datasets, experimental strategies, or computational approaches
What grant mechanism is used for this program?
The program uses the R21 mechanism, which generally aligns with exploratory or proof-of-concept research projects.
Are clinical trials required under this FOA?
No. The FOA is labeled "Clinical Trial Optional", meaning a clinical trial component may be proposed if appropriate to the project, but a clinical trial is not required.
Are creative or unconventional approaches encouraged?
Yes. Because the purpose is to generate fresh answers to stubborn or puzzling issues, the FOA explicitly welcomes creative approaches, including work that combines ideas and tools from different fields.
Can projects be transdisciplinary?
Yes. Projects can be transdisciplinary when that integration is genuinely needed to address the selected Provocative Question, such as combining biology, engineering, data science, behavioral science, clinical insight, or population-level methods.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many organization types, including:
- Academic and research institutions
- State, county, city, township, and special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
- Public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities
- Tribal organizations that are not federally recognized
- Nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status)
- Private institutions of higher education
- For-profit organizations (other than small businesses)
- Small businesses
- Non-U.S. (foreign) entities
Are minority-serving institutions and community-based organizations mentioned as eligible?
Yes. The announcement highlights additional eligible applicants including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), and faith-based or community-based organizations.
Are federal agencies eligible to apply?
Yes. The announcement lists eligible federal agencies among additional eligible applicants.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?
Yes. The eligibility list includes U.S. territories or possessions.
Is this considered a discretionary grant?
Yes. Administratively, the opportunity is listed as a discretionary grant opportunity.
What activity categories are associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with health and education-related activity categories.
What CFDA numbers are associated with this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA numbers 93.393, 93.394, 93.395, 93.396, and 93.399.
When was the opportunity record created?
The opportunity record shows a creation date of January 16, 2020.
What was the original closing date listed?
The original closing date shown in the provided listing is November 17, 2020.
Does the provided excerpt include an award ceiling or expected number of awards?
No. The provided excerpt states that the listing does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards.
What would make an application non-responsive to this FOA?
An application would be non-responsive if it does not show clear, direct alignment to one of the 12 NCI Provocative Questions and does not present a project design intended to make credible progress on that specific research puzzle.
What is the core "fit" requirement for proposed projects?
The project must be explicitly designed to answer a selected Provocative Question and should use the methods, tools, and disciplines best suited to produce credible, useful insight into that defined cancer research gap, paradox, or persistent problem.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (RFA CA 20 005) also looked into and applied for these:
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|---|
| Research Answers to National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Provocative Questions (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA CA 20 004 Funding Number: RFA CA 20 004 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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| HIV/AIDS and the Tumor Niche (U54 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA CA 20 016 Funding Number: RFA CA 20 016 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
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| Development of Medications to Prevent and Treat Opioid Use Disorders and Overdose (UG3/UH3) (Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 20 092 Funding Number: PAR 20 092 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $3,000,000 |
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| National Cancer Institute Program Project Applications (P01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 20 077 Funding Number: PAR 20 077 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Training Modules to Enhance the Rigor, Reproducibility and Responsible Conduct of Biomedical Data Science Research (R25 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA GM 20 001 Funding Number: RFA GM 20 001 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Implementing the HIV Service Cascade for Justice-Involved Populations (U01 Clinical Trial Required) Apply for RFA DA 20 028 Funding Number: RFA DA 20 028 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Exploring the Roles of Biomolecular Condensates (BMCs) in HIV replication, latency, or pathogenesis in the context of substance use disorders (R21/R33 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA DA 21 004 Funding Number: RFA DA 21 004 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Toward Translation of Nanotechnology Cancer Interventions (TTNCI) (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 20 116 Funding Number: PAR 20 116 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $475,000 |
| National Cooperative Drug/Device Discovery/Development Groups (NCDDG) for the Treatment of Mental or Substance Use Disorders or Alcohol Disorder (U01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 20 118 Funding Number: PAR 20 118 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| National Cooperative Drug/Device Discovery/Development Groups (NCDDG) for the Treatment of Mental or Substance Use Disorders or Alcohol Disorder (U19 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 20 119 Funding Number: PAR 20 119 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Strengthening the Impact of Community Health Workers on the HIV Care Continuum in the US (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA NR 20 002 Funding Number: RFA NR 20 002 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| SBIR Phase IIB Bridge Awards to Accelerate the Development of Cancer-Relevant Technologies Toward Commercialization (R44 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA CA 20 033 Funding Number: RFA CA 20 033 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Core Infrastructure Support for Cancer Epidemiology Cohorts (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 20 136 Funding Number: PAR 20 136 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Research Projects to Enhance Applicability of Mammalian Models for Translational Research (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 20 131 Funding Number: PAR 20 131 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $450,000 |
| Research to Reduce Morbidity and Improve Care for Pediatric, and Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Cancer Survivors (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA CA 20 027 Funding Number: RFA CA 20 027 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Research to Reduce Morbidity and Improve Care for Pediatric, and Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Cancer Survivors (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA CA 20 028 Funding Number: RFA CA 20 028 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| NIDA Small Research Grant Program (R03 Clinical Trial Required) Apply for PA 20 146 Funding Number: PA 20 146 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $50,000 |
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