RFA-CA-21-054: Translational and Basic Science Research in Early Lesions (TBEL) (U54 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Closed
This grant is closed. Who won this program's grants before is below, and similar open grants are at the end of the page. It is in our archive of National Institutes of Health notices from 2021.
National Institutes of Health offered grants of up to $1.0 million to nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments, tribes, small businesses and businesses. Applications closed on November 2, 2021.
From the official notice on Grants.gov, last changed August 31, 2021. Checked November 7, 2026.
- Award ceiling$1.0 million
- Cost sharingNot required
- Funding typeCooperative Agreement
About this NIH notice
- Activity codeU54
- Clinical trialsNot allowed
- Funded byNCI
- Median yearly award$315,617
- Typical project length5 years
- U54, Specialized Center Cooperative Agreement. A research center with several projects and shared cores, with substantial NIH involvement. Other open U54 notices.
Projects funded under RFA-CA-21-054 were run by National Cancer Institute (NCI, 5 projects). Contact the program officer at the institute that fits your project before you apply; the notice lists them.
Application due dates, page limits and budget limits are set in the notice. Read RFA-CA-21-054 in the NIH Guide.
Key dates
| Posted | August 31, 2021 |
|---|---|
| Deadline | November 2, 2021 |
| Archived by Grants.gov | December 8, 2021 |
Who can apply
This opportunity was open to nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments, tribes, small businesses and businesses.
All 15 applicant types the notice lists
- 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 (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
Other Eligible Applicants include the following: Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs); Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government; Faith-based or Community-based Organizations; Hispanic-serving Institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized); Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations); Regional Organizations; Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) ; U.S. Territory or Possession.
Is this a realistic fit?
- Projects NIH funded under this notice had a median yearly award of $315,617; it allows up to $1.0 million per award.
- Most of the money in the 2 programs behind this notice (66% over five years) went to colleges and universities.
- No cost sharing or match is required.
What the grant funds
The TBEL program aims to integrate basic and translational cancer research concepts to examine the direct causal relationships and interactions of an early lesion, its microenvironment and host-systemic factors as co-organizers of tumor initiation (or suppression) and malignant progression. The ultimate goals of the TBEL program are to further understand the biological and pathophysiological mechanisms driving or restraining precancers and early cancers and facilitate biology-backed precision prevention approaches. The FOA will utilize the U54 (Specialized Center--Cooperative Agreements) activity code. Each TBEL Center shall have a unique thematic focus and be structured to test hypotheses that bridge basic and translational research in a synergistic and iterative fashion. Collectively, TBEL Centers will operate as a network that will inform future, rationally-design modes of intervention that are founded on strong biological mechanisms and be comprehensive, multi-dimensional, and appropriately tailored to the degree of malignant potential of an early lesion.
Funded under RFA-CA-21-054 so far
NIH funded 5 projects under RFA-CA-21-054 in fiscal 2022 to 2026, at 5 institutions. The median yearly award was $315,617.
| Project | Institution | Fiscal year | Award |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative Core | Methodist Hospital Research Institute | 2026 | $315,617 |
| Administrative Core | Vanderbilt University Medical Center | 2026 | $246,572 |
| TBEL Project 2 | New York University School of Medicine | 2026 | $272,995 |
| TBEL Administrative Core | Johns Hopkins University | 2026 | $393,272 |
| Comprehensive atlas of advanced adenomas and their surrounding primed colon: A multi-omics evaluation and clinical impact assessment | Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center | 2026 | $303,818 |
Who has won Cancer Biology Research grants before
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Cancer Biology Research (93.396) awarded $4.3 billion across 3,142 grant awards, an average of $1.4 million per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York | New York | 70 | $151 million |
| The Univeristy of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center | Texas | 109 | $144 million |
| Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research | New York | 66 | $136 million |
| Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Inc. | Massachusetts | 47 | $107 million |
| The Regents of the University of California, San Francisco | California | 64 | $95.5 million |
Who has won Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research grants before
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research (93.394) awarded $2.7 billion across 1,944 grant awards, an average of $1.4 million per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Regents of the University of California, San Francisco | California | 56 | $114 million |
| Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center | Washington | 37 | $96.7 million |
| The Leland Stanford Junior University | California | 62 | $89.1 million |
| Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research | New York | 52 | $88.7 million |
| The Johns Hopkins University | Maryland | 63 | $86.5 million |
Applying now
This notice no longer takes applications. Agencies often post the same opportunity again under a new number, so check the program's notices on Grants.gov and the similar open grants below.
The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.
Questions people ask
Is RFA-CA-21-054 still open?
No. It closed on November 2, 2021.
Who can apply for Translational and Basic Science Research in Early Lesions (TBEL) (U54 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)?
National Institutes of Health accepted applications from nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments, tribes, small businesses and businesses. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.
What is the deadline for Translational and Basic Science Research in Early Lesions (TBEL) (U54 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)?
Closed November 2, 2021. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.
How much funding is available?
Awards of up to $1.0 million each.
Who has been funded under RFA-CA-21-054?
NIH RePORTER lists 5 projects funded under RFA-CA-21-054 in fiscal 2022 to 2026, at 5 institutions. The most were at Methodist Hospital Research Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, New York University School of Medicine.
Who has won Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research grants before?
The largest recipients over five fiscal years were The Regents of the University of California, San Francisco, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, The Leland Stanford Junior University. The program made 1,944 awards worth $2.7 billion in that time.
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