Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPOREs) in Human Cancers for years 2018, 2019 and 2020 (P50) | PAR 18 313

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 18 313

The Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPOREs) in Human Cancers (P50) funding opportunity, released by the National Institutes of Health under Opportunity Number PAR-18-313, supports large, center-style research grants focused on translational cancer research. It is aimed at building and sustaining multidisciplinary teams that can move strong scientific ideas from the laboratory toward practical applications that improve prevention, early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer. The emphasis is not on basic science in isolation, but on research that is clearly driven by human biology and designed to reach a human translational endpoint within the grant period. In other words, the work is expected to show a credible pathway from discovery to impact in people, such as clinically meaningful biomarkers, intervention strategies, or treatment approaches that can be tested and advanced toward clinical use.

Across the 2018, 2019, and 2020 cycles covered by this FOA, the program is structured around organ-specific cancers or scientifically justified groupings of related cancers. "Related" is interpreted broadly but deliberately: it can mean cancers arising within the same organ system (for example, gastrointestinal or endocrine systems), but it can also mean cancers linked by a common biological mechanism even if they occur in different organ systems. The FOA explicitly allows SPOREs to be built around themes such as cancers driven by the same infectious agent, cancers promoted by dysregulation of a shared signaling pathway, or other cross-cutting concepts where a unified translational strategy makes sense. It also allows thematic SPOREs that address wider needs in oncology, including pediatric cancers and cancer health disparities, as long as the proposed center maintains a strong translational focus and a coherent organizing theme that connects the projects.

A defining feature of the opportunity is its expectation that supported research will be investigator-initiated, state-of-the-art, and translational in a direct way. The translational requirement is tied to research rooted in human biology, using experimental approaches such as cellular, molecular, structural, biochemical, and genetic methods. This framing signals that applicants need to do more than propose promising mechanistic work; they must design projects with a clear line of sight to a tangible human endpoint, such as validation of a diagnostic tool, development of prevention or early detection strategies, or a therapy-oriented advance that can be moved toward clinical testing. In practice, that often means strong integration between laboratory research, clinically annotated biospecimens or patient-derived models, and a plan for how findings will be advanced toward use in patient care.

The award mechanism is a P50 Research Center Grant, which typically implies a coordinated program rather than a single independent project. While the provided text does not list internal components, the SPORE model is widely known for supporting multiple synergistic translational projects under one umbrella theme, usually with shared resources and leadership structures that make the whole greater than the sum of its parts. The intent is to create a durable translational pipeline where discovery, validation, and clinical relevance are continuously connected, and where the center environment accelerates progress compared with stand-alone awards.

Eligibility is broad and intentionally inclusive, reflecting the program's interest in engaging a wide range of institutions capable of conducting high-quality translational cancer research. Eligible applicants include various levels of government (state, county, city or township, and special district governments), federally recognized Native American tribal governments, and tribal organizations that are not federally recognized. Eligible academic institutions include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education, as well as independent school districts. The FOA also permits nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (so long as they are not institutions of higher education when categorized that way), public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, and for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) as well as small businesses. It further highlights other eligible applicant types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions. This broad eligibility reflects a recognition that impactful translational cancer work can be led by many organizational forms, including those closely connected to underserved populations or specific regional needs.

There are, however, clear restrictions on foreign participation at the applicant level. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply as the primary applicant organization, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. At the same time, the FOA allows foreign components as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, meaning U.S.-based applicant institutions may include certain foreign collaborations or activities when they meet NIH policy requirements and are justified scientifically. This structure supports global scientific collaboration while keeping the primary award and accountability within eligible U.S.-based organizations.

Administratively, this opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding and uses the grant funding instrument. The activity category is listed under education and health, and the CFDA numbers associated with the program are 93.121 and 93.395. The FOA was created on 2017-10-12 and lists an original closing date of 2021-01-07, indicating it was intended to cover multiple submission cycles spanning several years, including 2018, 2019, and 2020. The provided source data does not specify an award ceiling or expected number of awards, suggesting applicants would need to consult the full FOA details and NIH budget guidance for limits, typical budget ranges, and funding levels for any given receipt date.

Taken as a whole, PAR-18-313 for the 2018-2020 period is best understood as a major NIH center grant opportunity designed to push cancer research across the translational bridge: from human biology discoveries to interventions and tools that can change clinical practice. It encourages applicants to organize around a clear cancer focus (organ-specific, organ-system-based, mechanism-based, or thematically cross-cutting) and to build a coordinated program capable of producing measurable translational progress within the funded project period. The emphasis on human endpoints, coherent themes, and robust translational design is the backbone of the SPORE concept reflected in this opportunity.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPOREs) in Human Cancers for years 2018, 2019 and 2020 (P50)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.121, 93.395.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-10-12.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-01-07. (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 18 313

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