Biological Comparisons in Patient-Derived Models of Cancer (U01) | PAR 16 344

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 16 344

The Biological Comparisons in Patient-Derived Models of Cancer (U01) funding opportunity (PAR-16-344) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) cooperative agreement aimed at improving how well patient-derived cancer models reflect real human tumors. The central goal is to support projects that directly compare two or more patient-derived models that all come from the same original patient sample, then carefully map where those models match and where they diverge. Rather than treating each model type in isolation, the FOA pushes investigators to line models up side-by-side and identify the underlying biological mechanisms that drive cancer traits (phenotype) and determine how those traits change when the models are perturbed, such as by drugs, genetic manipulation, microenvironmental changes, or other experimental interventions. The emphasis is on delineating and comparing mechanisms, not simply describing that models behave differently.

A key feature of this FOA is the requirement that the models being compared originate from a common patient source, which is meant to control for patient-to-patient variability and focus the comparison on differences introduced by the model system itself. In practice, this might involve comparing multiple patient-derived platforms such as patient-derived xenografts, organoids, primary cultures, or other patient-derived systems that represent the same tumor specimen. By anchoring the comparisons to a shared biospecimen origin, the research is positioned to answer practical translational questions: which patient-derived models best preserve the tumor biology that matters for predicting treatment response, what biological processes are consistently captured across models, and what artifacts or selection pressures emerge as the tumor is adapted into different experimental settings.

The opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant and uses the U01 mechanism, meaning it is a cooperative agreement. That structure generally implies substantial NIH scientific or programmatic involvement during the project, with a collaborative relationship between awardees and the funding institute. The funding activity category is listed under education and health, and the CFDA number provided is 93.396. While the listing does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, applicants would typically need to consult the full FOA text for budget limits, project period expectations, and any special cooperative agreement terms.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S. organizations and governmental units, such as state, county, city or township governments, special district governments, independent school districts, and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. A wide range of academic institutions can apply, including public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and designated serving institutions. The FOA explicitly notes additional eligible applicants including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs). Tribal entities are eligible both as federally recognized Native American tribal governments and as Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments, and it also includes Indian/Native American tribal governments other than federally recognized. Nonprofits are eligible whether or not they hold 501(c)(3) status, as are for-profit organizations other than small businesses and small businesses. The FOA also allows eligible federal government agencies, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and even non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations), which expands the applicant pool to international groups able to contribute to the scientific aims.

The opportunity was created on 2016-06-24, and the original closing date listed is 2019-03-06. Overall, the FOA is best understood as a call for rigorous, mechanism-focused comparative studies that use matched patient-derived cancer models to determine how faithfully each model captures tumor biology and treatment response, and to clarify which biological differences arise specifically because of the modeling approach rather than the patient tumor itself.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Biological Comparisons in Patient-Derived Models of Cancer (U01)" 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 2016-06-24.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-03-06. (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 16 344

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