Early-Onset Cancers: Investigating Etiology, Mechanisms, and Early Detection Strategies (RP1 Clinical Trials Optional)
This NIH notice funds research on the causes, biology, and early detection of sporadic non-hereditary early-onset cancers in ages 18 to 49, with optional clinical trials.
⚑ Foreign organizations may apply, but foreign subawards/subcontracts are not allowed. · Clinical trials are optional, not required. · Uses an RP1 research project mechanism with both exploratory/developmental and standard projects allowed.
This is fundamentally biomedical/clinical cancer etiology and early-detection research, not the team’s social-science program. While there is a public-health framing around environmental exposures, no dossier member’s core line is cancer mechanisms, oncology, or clinical biomarker development, so this would be far outside PI territory for IPPRA.
JUDGED AGAINST THE ROSTER'S PUBLICATION DOSSIER · GPT-5.4-MINI · 2026-10-15
Unit fits — one characterization, each unit's own rules
| Physical Sciences & Engineering (demo) | 80 strong | technical depth: substantial; funds basic research |
| IPPRA | 58 good | portfolio topics: public_health, environment; signature methods: surveys longitudinal; social/behavioral work is minor; funds basic research; biomedical core — IPPRA health lane is communication/crisis/policy (capped); clinical-trial/biomedical core — IPPRA angle is policy/community (capped) |
| Tom Love Innovation Hub | 15 none | deep-tech content; no commercialization signal |
Description
This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) invites applications that investigate the etiology of sporadic non-hereditary early-onset cancers (EOCs: ages 18 to 49 years) and the underlying biological mechanisms that play a role in these cancers to inform prevention and control strategies. The proposed research is expected to advance the understanding of the unexplained rise of cancers in young adults. More specifically, studies should focus on one or more of the following: i) identifying what environmental or lifestyle exposures are driving the increase in the incidence of non-hereditary EOCs, and how these factors vary by patient demographics; ii) examining the biological mechanisms and host responses that underlie the increase in EOCs; and iii) identifying how those at increased risk of developing EOCs can be identified more effectively.
In an effort to streamline the application process and sustain momentum in this critical research area, this NOFO supports both exploratory/developmental and standard research projects through a grant award instrument.
Eligibility
Refer to Section III. Eligibility Information in the NOFO for additional information on eligibility.Foreign Organizations/International CollaborationsNon-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) are eligible to apply.Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are eligible to apply.Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed.NIH will no longer issue awards (i.e., new, renewal, or non-competing continuation) to domestic or foreign entities that involve foreign subawards/subcontracts. All NIH-funded research involving foreign subawards/subcontracts must be submitted in response to a NOFO that is specifically designated for funded international collaborations. See NIH Grants Policy Statement 16.8 Collaborative International Research Awards.Applications involving foreign subawards/subcontracts submitted in response to this NOFO will be deemed noncompliant and will not be considered for funding. This policy applies to all monetary international collaborations resulting in foreign subawards/subcontracts, however, it does not preclude unfunded international collaborations or foreign components, funding for foreign consultants, or procurement of unique equipment or supplies from foreign vendors.
Apply
View on Grants.gov → CONTACT: National Institutes of Health <Early-OnsetCancersNOFO_DCCPS_DCB_DCP@mail.nih.gov>
Proposal brief SEE AN EXAMPLE →
A one-page internal memo: fit assessment, submission requirements, document scaffold, and next steps dated back from the deadline — tailored to your project idea if you add one.
Proposal shell · National Institutes of Health conventions SEE AN NIH EXAMPLE →
Funder-faithful document skeletons — National Institutes of Health's document set with section headings, page limits, reviewer guidance, and writing prompts; add a project idea to get [DRAFT] starter bullets. Download as .md for Word or Overleaf.