CFDA 93.398: Cancer Research
NCI's primary mechanism for extramural cancer research grants. Covers basic, translational, and clinical research across all cancer types. The single largest federal cancer research investment.
What this CFDA funds
Cancer biology, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, and disparities research. Funding mechanisms span investigator-initiated R01s, exploratory R21s, training programs (T32, F31, F32, K-series), translational SPOREs, and the comprehensive P30 cancer-center awards. Recent priority areas: immunotherapy, precision oncology, cancer disparities, and pediatric cancers.
What winning applicants look like
NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers dominate large awards. R01s come from research universities and academic medical centers with strong oncology faculty. Patient-advocacy partnerships and community-engagement plans are increasingly valued for population-science and disparities-focused proposals.
Common pitfalls + things to know
NCI-specific scoring criteria emphasize 'Significance to cancer' — generic biomedical proposals score poorly. The Provocative Questions initiative and other targeted RFAs have specific framing requirements. Clinical-trial proposals require detailed trial-design sections subject to NIH Stage 1/2/3 framework.
Open NOFOs under CFDA 93.398 6 active
Currently posted NOFOs and assistance listings tagged with CFDA 93.398, soonest deadline first. Refreshed Jun 14, 2026.
- NCI Research Specialist (Clinician Scientist) Award (R50 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)National Institutes of Health · grants.gov · Closes: Rolling / no posted deadline
- NCI Research Specialist Award for Core and Laboratory-based Scientists (R50 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)National Institutes of Health · grants.gov · Closes: Rolling / no posted deadline
- Lasker Clinical Research Scholar's Program (Si2/R00 Clinical Trial Optional)National Institutes of Health · grants.gov · Closes: Rolling / no posted deadline
- Comprehensive Partnerships to Advance Cancer Health (CPACH) (U54 Clinical Trial Optional)National Institutes of Health · grants.gov · Closes: Rolling / no posted deadline
- Forecast to Publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity for Academic Career Excellence (ACE) Award (K32 - Clinical Trial Required)National Institutes of Health · grants.gov · Closes: Rolling / no posted deadline
- Forecast to Publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity for Paul Calabresi Career Development Award in Clinical Oncology (K12 Clinical Trial Optional)National Institutes of Health · grants.gov · Closes: Rolling / no posted deadline
Related CFDAs to also explore
- CFDA 93.310 — Trans-NIH Research Support
- CFDA 93.855 — Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research
- CFDA 93.866 — Aging Research
Reference guides
Evergreen explainers for nonprofit grant offices and federal grant seekers.
- Federal Grants for Nonprofits: A 2026 Guide for 501(c)(3) Organizations — CFDA prefixes, applicant-type code 12, forecasts, the deadline trap.
- The Grants.gov Search Guide: How to Actually Find Federal Grants in 2026 — practical filter walkthrough, native-vs-paid tool comparison.
- → All Grant Wire articles
Audiences who use this CFDA
If you fall into one of these audience groups, the audience guide gives you the broader picture of all federal funding streams you qualify for — not just CFDA 93.398.
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Always verify in the official source. CFDA program details, eligibility, and award ranges change with each annual NOFO cycle. Confirm at sam.gov/content/assistance-listings or the agency's program office before you build an application strategy. This page is editorial reference, not an official agency notice.