NCI Research Specialist (laboratory-based Scientist) Award (R50) | PAR 17 049

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 17 049

The NCI Research Specialist (laboratory-based Scientist) Award (R50), cataloged as PAR-17-049, is a discretionary grant opportunity from the National Institutes of Health, specifically through the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Its central purpose is to support laboratory-based research specialists working in any area of cancer research that falls within NCI's funding mission. In practical terms, the program is designed for scientists whose primary contributions are made through hands-on, laboratory-driven research activity, rather than through independent faculty-style research programs. The scope is broad on the science side: applicants can propose work across the spectrum of NCI-funded cancer research topics, as long as the work is grounded in laboratory research and aligns with NCI priorities.

This opportunity uses the grant funding instrument type and is listed under the broader activity category of Education and Health. It is associated with multiple CFDA numbers (93.393 through 93.399), reflecting its connection to several NIH/NCI assistance listings that span different parts of the cancer research portfolio. The original posting indicates a creation date of November 4, 2016, with an original closing date of February 2, 2017. The source information provided does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, meaning those details were either not set in the summarized listing or were provided elsewhere in the full announcement.

Eligibility is expansive across U.S.-based organizational types and includes many common government, academic, nonprofit, and private-sector entities. Eligible applicants include state governments, county governments, and city or township governments, as well as special district governments and independent school districts. Higher education institutions are eligible across multiple categories, including public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education. The program also allows applications from federally recognized Native American tribal governments, public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities, and Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments. Beyond government and academia, the eligibility list includes nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (in both cases, other than institutions of higher education), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses. The listing also includes a general "others" category, and it explicitly highlights additional eligible organizational types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), eligible federal agencies, faith-based or community-based organizations, Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), tribally controlled colleges and universities (TCCUs), regional organizations, tribal governments other than federally recognized ones, and U.S. territories or possessions.

At the same time, the FOA is clear about restrictions related to foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply. In addition, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply, and foreign components (as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are not allowed. In short, while the applicant pool is broad within the United States and its territories, the award is intended to be carried out without foreign organizational applicants or foreign components.

Overall, this FOA can be understood as an NCI mechanism aimed at strengthening cancer research by supporting skilled laboratory-based scientists through a dedicated "research specialist" award structure. It offers wide scientific flexibility within NCI-funded cancer research areas, broad domestic institutional eligibility, and firm limits on foreign participation, reflecting a program built to sustain and deepen laboratory expertise within U.S.-based cancer research efforts.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NCI Research Specialist (laboratory-based Scientist) Award (R50)" 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, 93.397, 93.398, 93.399.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2016-11-04.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-02-02. (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.

Apply for PAR 17 049

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