Epidemiologic Research on Emerging Risk Factors and Liver Cancer Susceptibility (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR 22 083

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 22 083

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is soliciting applications under PAR-22-083, titled "Epidemiologic Research on Emerging Risk Factors and Liver Cancer Susceptibility (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)." This is a discretionary grant opportunity using the NIH R01 research project grant mechanism, and it is focused on supporting epidemiologic studies rather than clinical trials. The overall aim is to strengthen understanding of why liver cancer develops in the United States by encouraging research that tests new, creative hypotheses about risk, susceptibility, and the way multiple risk factors interact over time.

The core scientific focus is liver cancer, including hepatocellular carcinoma (the most common form) as well as other histologic subtypes. NIH is specifically interested in research that examines emerging risk factors that may be contributing to current and future liver cancer burden. These emerging factors can be biological, environmental, or social in nature, and applicants are encouraged to look beyond well-established drivers alone. At the same time, the FOA makes clear that proposals should account for how these newer or evolving risks work alongside established liver cancer risk factors, such as viral hepatitis. In practical terms, this points to studies that consider joint effects, effect modification, mediation, clustering of exposures, and other models of interplay that better reflect real-world patterns of risk.

Because the FOA emphasizes epidemiologic research, competitive projects would typically be designed around population-based or clinically anchored observational approaches, such as prospective cohort studies, nested case-control analyses, registry-linked studies, or other rigorous designs that can evaluate exposure-disease relationships and susceptibility patterns. The emphasis on "novel and innovative hypotheses" signals that NIH is looking for work that moves the field forward, for example by identifying underappreciated exposures, capturing newer environmental or social determinants, improving measurement of complex risk profiles, or clarifying which subpopulations are most susceptible and why. The central theme is liver cancer development in the U.S., so even when data sources or collaborators are international, the application should clearly tie the scientific question back to liver cancer susceptibility and risk in U.S. populations.

Eligibility is broad and intentionally inclusive. In addition to the typical array of domestic U.S. applicants (state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; and federally recognized Native American tribal governments), the FOA allows applications from a wide range of organizational types. This includes public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized governments, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses. It also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant categories 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, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations). This breadth suggests NIH is encouraging participation from institutions that serve populations disproportionately affected by liver cancer risk factors and from organizations positioned to conduct community-engaged or population-relevant epidemiology.

Administratively, the opportunity is listed under CFDA 93.393 and is categorized under education and health. The FOA was created on January 21, 2022, and the original closing date provided is May 7, 2025. The listing does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards in the provided source data, which often means applicants should consult the full FOA text and NIH Institute/Center budget policies for practical expectations about typical R01 budgets, project periods, and any program-specific constraints.

In summary, this FOA supports R01-scale epidemiologic research (without clinical trials) aimed at explaining liver cancer risk in the United States through the study of emerging biological, environmental, and social risk factors and how they combine with established risks like viral hepatitis. The program encourages innovative, hypothesis-driven work that improves understanding of susceptibility and the multi-factor pathways leading to liver cancer, while welcoming a wide spectrum of applicant organizations, including minority-serving institutions, tribal entities, community-based organizations, U.S. territories, and foreign organizations with relevant expertise and data resources.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Epidemiologic Research on Emerging Risk Factors and Liver Cancer Susceptibility (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 2022-01-21.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-05-07. (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 22 083

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