Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 17 206
The Alliance of Glycobiologists for Cancer Research: Translational Tumor Glycomics Laboratories (U01) funding opportunity (PAR 17-206) is a National Institutes of Health program led by the National Cancer Institute that supports cooperative, team-oriented research aimed at understanding how altered cellular carbohydrates (glycans) contribute to cancer. The overall goal is to move tumor glycomics beyond basic description and toward translational outcomes by linking cancer-associated changes in glycosylation to practical biomarker candidates that could eventually be used for early cancer detection, risk assessment, or improved disease characterization. The program continues support for the broader Alliance of Glycobiologists for Cancer Research effort (glycomics.cancer.gov), which is designed to accelerate progress in this field by encouraging projects that generate actionable, clinically relevant findings.
Scientifically, the FOA focuses on the idea that cancers often rewire glycosylation pathways, leading to abnormal glycan structures or patterns on the surface of cells and in secreted molecules. These changes can influence tumor initiation and progression by affecting cell signaling, immune recognition, invasion and metastasis, and interactions with the tumor microenvironment. Applicants are encouraged to investigate these alterations across multiple molecular contexts, including glycoproteins, glycolipids, glycosaminoglycans, and glycan-binding proteins (such as lectins and related receptors). In practice, this means projects can target a wide range of glycan-driven mechanisms and molecular readouts, as long as the work is anchored in cancer relevance and is positioned to produce biomarker leads or strong mechanistic insights that support biomarker development.
A key translational expectation in the announcement is that proposed biomarker candidates should be evaluated for their ability to distinguish people with cancer from people without cancer. In other words, the program is not only interested in identifying glycan changes, but also in demonstrating that these changes have real discriminative potential, which implies attention to performance characteristics like sensitivity, specificity, and robustness across samples. While clinical validation studies are viewed as an eventual next step for the strongest candidates, the FOA does not require applicants to complete full clinical validation within the proposed project. Instead, the emphasis is on generating compelling, well-supported candidates and evidence that they could plausibly advance toward clinical testing.
From a funding and administrative standpoint, this opportunity uses the U01 cooperative agreement mechanism. That structure typically indicates substantial programmatic involvement by the funding institute compared with a traditional investigator-initiated grant, often reflecting an interest in coordination, shared standards, or integration across a broader research network. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding and falls within education and health activity areas, with CFDA numbers listed as 93.393, 93.394, and 93.396. The award ceiling is $500,000, and the original closing date listed is 2019-02-07, with a creation date of 2017-03-08.
Eligibility is broad and deliberately inclusive, reflecting the program’s interest in bringing in the best-qualified teams regardless of prior participation in the Alliance. Eligible applicants include many types of U.S. governmental entities (state, county, city/township, special districts), independent school districts, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and a range of nonprofit and for-profit organizations (including small businesses). The FOA also explicitly welcomes participation from organizations serving historically underrepresented communities and regions, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribal Colleges and Universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions. Additional eligible groups include federally recognized tribal governments, other tribal organizations, faith-based or community-based organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and even non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) and regional organizations. Taken together, the opportunity is structured to support translational tumor glycomics research wherever the needed expertise and capabilities exist, with the expectation that funded projects will help clarify cancer-relevant glycan biology and generate credible glycan-based biomarker candidates for future clinical application.Apply for PAR 17 206
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Alliance of Glycobiologists for Cancer Research: Translational Tumor Glycomics Laboratories (U01)" 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, 93.396.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2017-03-08.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-02-07. (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 $500,000.00 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled The Alliance of Glycobiologists for Cancer Research: Translational Tumor Glycomics Laboratories (U01) and is identified as PAR 17-206.
Which agency and program are responsible for this opportunity?
This is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) program led by the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
What is the overall goal of the program?
The overall goal is to move tumor glycomics beyond basic description and toward translational outcomes by linking cancer-associated changes in glycosylation to practical biomarker candidates that could eventually be used for early cancer detection, risk assessment, or improved disease characterization.
What is tumor glycomics in the context of this FOA?
In this FOA, tumor glycomics focuses on how cancers alter cellular carbohydrates (glycans). The program is centered on understanding how cancer rewires glycosylation pathways, producing abnormal glycan structures or patterns on cells and in secreted molecules, and how those changes relate to cancer biology and biomarker potential.
What kinds of research does the FOA support?
The FOA supports cooperative, team-oriented research aimed at understanding how altered glycans contribute to cancer and generating actionable, clinically relevant findings. Projects are expected to be anchored in cancer relevance and positioned to produce biomarker leads or strong mechanistic insights that support biomarker development.
What translational outcomes are expected from funded projects?
A major translational expectation is the generation of compelling, well-supported glycan-based biomarker candidates, along with evidence that these candidates could plausibly advance toward clinical testing in the future.
Is the program only interested in describing glycan changes?
No. The program emphasizes moving beyond description by connecting cancer-associated glycosylation changes to practical biomarker candidates and/or mechanistic insights that directly support biomarker development.
What biological processes are cancer-associated glycan changes expected to influence?
The FOA notes that abnormal glycan structures or patterns can influence tumor initiation and progression by affecting cell signaling, immune recognition, invasion and metastasis, and interactions with the tumor microenvironment.
What molecular contexts can applicants investigate?
Applicants are encouraged to investigate cancer-associated alterations across multiple molecular contexts, including glycoproteins, glycolipids, glycosaminoglycans, and glycan-binding proteins (such as lectins and related receptors).
Does the FOA require projects to focus on a specific glycan class?
No specific single glycan class is required. The FOA encourages a wide range of glycan-driven mechanisms and molecular readouts, as long as the work is cancer-relevant and positioned to produce biomarker leads or mechanistic insights supporting biomarker development.
What does the FOA say about evaluating biomarker candidates?
The FOA expects proposed biomarker candidates to be evaluated for their ability to distinguish people with cancer from people without cancer, demonstrating real discriminative potential.
What performance characteristics are implied for biomarker evaluation?
Because the FOA emphasizes discriminative potential between cancer and non-cancer, it implies attention to performance characteristics such as sensitivity, specificity, and robustness across samples.
Is full clinical validation required within the project period?
No. While clinical validation is viewed as an eventual next step for the strongest candidates, the FOA does not require applicants to complete full clinical validation within the proposed project. The emphasis is on generating compelling candidates and supportive evidence.
What award mechanism is used for this opportunity?
This opportunity uses the U01 cooperative agreement mechanism.
What does the U01 cooperative agreement structure imply?
The U01 cooperative agreement typically indicates substantial programmatic involvement by the funding institute compared with a traditional investigator-initiated grant, often reflecting an interest in coordination, shared standards, or integration across a broader research network.
How does this FOA relate to the broader Alliance of Glycobiologists for Cancer Research?
The FOA continues support for the broader Alliance of Glycobiologists for Cancer Research effort (glycomics.cancer.gov), which is designed to accelerate progress by encouraging projects that generate actionable, clinically relevant findings.
Is prior participation in the Alliance required to apply?
No. Eligibility is described as broad and inclusive, and the program is interested in bringing in the best-qualified teams regardless of prior participation in the Alliance.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling listed for this opportunity is $500,000.
How is the funding categorized?
The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding and falls within education and health activity areas.
Which CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA numbers listed are 93.393, 93.394, and 93.396.
What are the listed dates for this opportunity?
The creation date listed is 2017-03-08, and the original closing date listed is 2019-02-07.
Which U.S. government entities are eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include multiple types of U.S. governmental entities, including state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, and independent school districts.
Are institutions of higher education eligible?
Yes. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education.
Are nonprofits and for-profits eligible to apply?
Yes. The FOA includes eligibility for a range of nonprofit and for-profit organizations, including small businesses.
Does the FOA encourage applications from institutions serving underrepresented communities?
Yes. The FOA explicitly welcomes participation from organizations serving historically underrepresented communities and regions.
Which types of minority-serving institutions are explicitly mentioned as welcomed?
The FOA explicitly mentions: Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribal Colleges and Universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions.
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Eligible applicants include federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations.
Are faith-based and community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. The eligibility list includes faith-based and community-based organizations.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?
Yes. Eligibility includes U.S. territories or possessions.
Are non-U.S. organizations allowed to apply?
Yes. The FOA explicitly includes non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) and regional organizations among eligible applicants.
What is the central scientific premise emphasized by the FOA?
The FOA emphasizes that cancers often rewire glycosylation pathways, leading to abnormal glycan structures or patterns, and that these changes can be leveraged to understand cancer mechanisms and generate biomarker candidates with translational potential.
What kinds of project outputs does the FOA appear to prioritize?
Based on the description provided, the FOA prioritizes outputs that are actionable and clinically relevant, including credible glycan-based biomarker candidates and strong mechanistic insights that support biomarker development and future clinical application.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (PAR 17 206) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Alliance of Glycobiologists for Cancer Research: Biological Tumor Glycomics Laboratories (U01) Apply for PAR 17 207 Funding Number: PAR 17 207 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Mechanisms of Alcohol-associated Cancers (R21) Apply for PA 17 219 Funding Number: PA 17 219 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Mechanisms of Alcohol-associated Cancers (R01) Apply for PA 17 220 Funding Number: PA 17 220 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Revision Applications to National Cancer Institute (NCI)-supported U01 Awards to Include Research on the NCI's Provocative Questions (U01) Apply for RFA CA 17 020 Funding Number: RFA CA 17 020 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Revision Applications to National Cancer Institute (NCI)-supported P01 Awards to Include Research on the NCI's Provocative Questions (P01) Apply for RFA CA 17 021 Funding Number: RFA CA 17 021 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Revision Applications to National Cancer Institute (NCI)-supported P50 Awards to Include Research on the NCI's Provocative Questions (P50) Apply for RFA CA 17 022 Funding Number: RFA CA 17 022 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Revision Applications to NCI-supported R01 Awards to Include Research on the NCI's Provocative Questions (R01) Apply for RFA CA 17 019 Funding Number: RFA CA 17 019 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Supplements for Validating the Use of Automated Sources of Residential Histories in Cancer Epidemiology Cohorts (Admin Supp) Apply for PA 17 222 Funding Number: PA 17 222 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $125,000 |
| Research Supplements to Promote Sharing Data in Cancer Epidemiology Studies (Admin Supp) Apply for PA 17 224 Funding Number: PA 17 224 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Supplement Opportunity to Support Population-Based Research Studies of Rare Cancers (Admin Supp) Apply for PA 17 223 Funding Number: PA 17 223 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Advancing the Science of Geriatric Palliative Care (R01) Apply for PA 17 225 Funding Number: PA 17 225 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Advancing the Science of Geriatric Palliative Care (R21) Apply for PA 17 226 Funding Number: PA 17 226 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Core Infrastructure and Methodological Research for Cancer Epidemiology Cohorts (U01) Apply for PAR 17 233 Funding Number: PAR 17 233 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $1,250,000 |
| Mechanisms and Consequences of Sleep Disparities in the U.S. (R21) Apply for PAR 17 235 Funding Number: PAR 17 235 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Innovative Research in Cancer Nanotechnology (IRCN) (R01) Apply for PAR 17 240 Funding Number: PAR 17 240 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $450,000 |
| Mechanisms and Consequences of Sleep Disparities in the U.S. (R01) Apply for PAR 17 234 Funding Number: PAR 17 234 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Fostering Research Training and Education Programs for Native American Students at NCI-designated Cancer Centers (Admin Supp) Apply for PA 17 241 Funding Number: PA 17 241 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Avenir Award Program for Research on Substance Abuse and HIV/AIDS (DP2) Apply for RFA DA 18 004 Funding Number: RFA DA 18 004 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Secondary Analysis and Integration of Existing Data to Elucidate the Genetic Architecture of Cancer Risk and Related Outcomes (R21) Apply for PA 17 243 Funding Number: PA 17 243 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Secondary Analysis and Integration of Existing Data to Elucidate the Genetic Architecture of Cancer Risk and Related Outcomes (R01) Apply for PA 17 239 Funding Number: PA 17 239 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $350,000 |
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