Co-infection and Cancer (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR 20 062

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 20 062

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is offering an R01 research grant opportunity titled "Co-infection and Cancer (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" under Funding Opportunity Number PAR-20-062 (CFDA 93.393). The core goal is to strengthen both mechanistic (how disease processes work at a biological level) and epidemiologic (population-level patterns and risk factors) understanding of cancers that are driven by infections, with a specific emphasis on the etiologic role of co-infection. In other words, the program is looking for strong research projects that explain when and why having more than one infection, either at the same time or in sequence, changes cancer risk, cancer development, or cancer outcomes.

A central theme of the announcement is that co-infection is not treated narrowly. NIH defines co-infection as infection with two or more infectious agents, which can be pathogenic or nonpathogenic, and can occur concurrently or sequentially. The infections can be acute or chronic and may involve viruses, bacteria, parasites, and other microorganisms. This broad definition is meant to encourage proposals that look beyond single-pathogen models and instead examine how microbes interact with each other and with the host (immune function, inflammation, tissue injury and repair, microbiome shifts, and other biological pathways) in ways that may influence carcinogenesis.

The opportunity signals a clear scientific preference for studies involving co-infections that include known oncogenic agents, with examples such as Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). At the same time, it explicitly excludes human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) as a focus in this particular initiative. Competitive applications are therefore expected to be tightly aligned with infection-related cancers where at least one co-infecting agent is already recognized as cancer-causing, and where understanding the co-infection context could clarify causal mechanisms or refine risk prediction. In addition to known oncogenic agents, NIH highlights interest in co-infections that create novel opportunities for prevention and treatment, meaning projects that could plausibly point to actionable interventions such as vaccination strategies, antimicrobial approaches, screening or surveillance improvements, risk stratification tools, or targeted prevention in high-risk populations.

This is an R01 mechanism, which generally supports substantial, hypothesis-driven research programs rather than small pilot projects. The "Clinical Trial Not Allowed" designation means applicants should not propose research that meets NIH's definition of a clinical trial (for example, prospective assignment of human participants to interventions to evaluate effects on health-related outcomes). The work can still involve human data and biospecimens, observational cohort or case-control designs, molecular epidemiology, laboratory-based mechanistic studies, and other non-trial approaches, as long as it does not cross into interventional clinical trial territory.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and governmental units: state, county, city/township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and other entities. The announcement also explicitly calls out additional eligible applicant categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations), regional organizations, tribal governments other than federally recognized ones, and U.S. territories or possessions. This breadth is designed to encourage participation from a wide range of institutions and communities, including those serving populations that may experience distinct infection burdens or cancer disparities.

From the administrative details provided, the opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant within the broader activity area of education and health, administered by NIH. The posting indicates an original closing date of 2023-01-07 and a creation date of 2019-11-22. Specific figures such as an award ceiling and expected number of awards are not listed in the provided source text, so applicants typically would consult the full FOA and NIH Institute/Center guidance for budget norms, paylines, and anticipated funding levels.

Overall, this funding opportunity is aimed at advancing rigorous, non-clinical-trial research that explains how multiple infections interact to influence cancer causation and progression, especially when known cancer-associated pathogens are involved. The strongest proposals will usually be those that connect co-infection biology to measurable cancer endpoints and clearly articulate how the findings could lead to more effective prevention strategies, earlier detection, or improved approaches to reducing infection-driven cancer risk.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Co-infection and Cancer (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.393.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2019-11-22.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-01-07. (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 20 062

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