Impacts of climate change across the cancer control continuum (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 25 152

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 25 152

The National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is soliciting applications under the grant opportunity "Impacts of climate change across the cancer control continuum (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)," Funding Opportunity Number PAR-25-152. This is a discretionary grant program in the health and education-related federal assistance area (CFDA 93.396) that supports research examining how climate change is shaping cancer risks, prevention, detection, treatment, survivorship, and broader cancer-related outcomes across populations and places. The R21 mechanism is designed for exploratory or developmental work, meaning it is typically aimed at early-stage ideas, proof-of-concept studies, novel data approaches, pilot projects, and foundational research that can generate preliminary evidence and methods for larger future studies. Clinical trials are optional, so applicants can propose either trial or non-trial research depending on the question and design.

The core purpose of the opportunity is to build knowledge about the ways climate-related exposures and climate-driven disruptions affect the entire cancer control continuum. In practical terms, this can include research on how climate change influences carcinogenic exposures (for example, changes in air pollution patterns, wildfire smoke, extreme heat, flooding and water contamination, occupational exposures, and shifts in infectious agents), as well as how climate-related events and chronic environmental changes affect screening access, diagnostic timeliness, continuity of care, treatment delivery, and outcomes for people living with cancer. It also allows for work on survivorship and supportive care needs under climate stressors, such as heat vulnerability among medically fragile groups, disruptions to medication supply chains, or displacement after extreme weather events that interrupts follow-up care. The emphasis is on connecting climate change to measurable impacts on cancer prevention and control, including differential effects in communities that may face higher exposure burdens, fewer resources to adapt, or greater barriers to care.

A key feature of this NOFO is its broad eligibility. In addition to standard applicant types like state, county, city, and special district governments; public and private institutions of higher education; independent school districts; and federally recognized Tribal governments, the announcement also welcomes applications from Tribal organizations that are not federally recognized, public and Indian housing authorities, nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses. The NOFO explicitly calls out additional eligible applicants that often reflect underserved or mission-focused institutions and organizations, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI). Faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) are also included, signaling an intent to encourage diverse applicants and potentially cross-border or globally relevant climate-cancer research where appropriate.

From an administrative standpoint, the sponsoring agency is NIH/NCI, and the original closing date listed is May 7, 2026. The posting indicates this opportunity was created on November 18, 2024. The public summary text includes a reference to an R01 in the description, but the official title and mechanism presented are R21, which applicants should treat as controlling for scope, budget structure, and project scale. Award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided source data, so applicants would need to consult the full NOFO for budget guidance, project period limits, and any special review criteria or program priorities.

Overall, this opportunity is best understood as NCI seeking innovative, early-stage studies that clarify the cancer-related consequences of a changing climate and that can inform interventions, preparedness, and policy across prevention through survivorship. Strong applications will typically make a clear link between specific climate-related hazards or system disruptions and cancer control outcomes, identify populations and settings where impacts are likely to be most important, and propose methods that can produce credible, actionable evidence even at an exploratory R21 scale.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Impacts of climate change across the cancer control continuum (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): 93.396.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-11-18.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-05-07. (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 25 152

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