Federal Awards and Grants
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Grants through Federal Agencies

National Institutes of Health (NIH) The National Institutes of Health, a part of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), is the primary Federal agency for conducting and supporting medical research. Helping to lead the way toward important medical discoveries that improve people's health and save lives, NIH scientists investigate ways to prevent disease as well as the causes, treatments, and even cures for common and rare diseases.

  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) NHLBI provides leadership for a national program in diseases of the heart, blood vessels, lung, and blood; blood resources; and sleep disorders. Since October 1997, the NHLBI has also had administrative responsibility for the NIH Woman's Health Initiative. The NHLBI supports research training and career development of new and established researchers in fundamental sciences and clinical disciplines to enable them to conduct basic and clinical research related to heart, blood vessel, lung, and blood diseases; sleep disorders; and blood resources through individual and institutional research training awards and career development awards.

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) AHRQ supports a broad program of health services research to promote improvements in clinical and health systems practices, including disease prevention. AHRQ programs are designed to improve clinical practice, and the healthcare system's ability to provide access to and delivery of high-quality, high-value healthcare. AHRQ also seeks to provide policymakers with the ability to assess the impact of system changes on outcomes, quality, access to, cost, and use of healthcare services. In FY2007, AHRQ plans to emphasize in its grants portfolio research on improving healthcare quality in under-resourced settings that predominantly serve low-income persons.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) CDC spends over $300 million on cancer programs, primarily supporting early detection and prevention. CDC also funds research focused on program evaluation.

Department of Defense (DOD) In FY 1992, Congress appropriated $25 million for breast cancer research to the DOD. Since then, Congress has increased the appropriation for breast cancer and added ovarian and prostate cancer to the DOD areas of research. In FY 2006, the total funding for these three programs was nearly $250 million. These three targeted programs fund research on a peer-reviewed basis to reduce the incidence, increase the survival rates, and improve the quality of life of cancer patients. Additionally, the DOD has funded cancer research in broader areas, especially within the Army. Army-funded/directed research has addressed synchrotron-based high energy radiation beam cancer detection and targeted nano-therapeutics for cancer. The Army has also supported research on cancer imaging and detection. Congress regularly directs the Army to fund specific research programs and initiatives. The DOD uses www.grants.gov to announce all extramural research opportunities.

  • Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) DARPA is the central research and development organization for DOD. It manages and directs selected basic and applied research and development projects for DOD, and pursues research and technology where risk and payoff are both very high and where success may provide dramatic advances for traditional military roles and missions. DARPA primarily funds research and development of technology for military applications. Within the Defense Research Sciences program, DARPA has funded cancer-related research initiatives.

Department of Commerce (DOC)/National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) NIST conducts and supports scientific and engineering research in disciplines ranging from chemistry and physics to information technology through collaboration with industry, academia and government. Research tools developed at NIST -- including measurement methods, standards, data, and various technologies -- assist industrial, academic and government scientists worldwide. The Advanced Technology Program (ATP) supports the development of innovative technologies for broad national benefit through partnerships with the private sector. Although cancer is not the primary focus of this program, some of the projects have been cancer-related, such as a project to develop High Performance Sensor Arrays for Digital X-Ray and Visible Light Imaging for new digital X-ray mammography instruments.

Department of Energy (DOE) DOE funds research programs in basic energy sciences, biological and environmental sciences, and computational science, and is the federal government’s largest single provider of funds for materials and chemical sciences. DOE has supported cancer-specific research within its Basic Energy Sciences programs and its Biological and Environmental Research program. Additionally, Congress has earmarked cancer research programs within the DOE Science program. DOE uses www.grants.gov to post available funding opportunities. Grant opportunities are listed through the Office of Science.

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) The VA funds more cancer-related studies than any federal agency other than HHS. The VA initiated a National Cancer Strategy to ensure that the VA continually builds upon current knowledge, contributes to the national research base, and provides for state-of-the-art preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. While each of the VA's four research services has a particular focus, the National Cancer Strategy seeks to streamline and combine appropriate goals and objectives into one integrated effort. Built into this plan, Designated Research Areas identify aging, chronic diseases (including cancer), mental illness, substance abuse, sensory loss, trauma-related impairment, health systems, special populations, and military occupational and environmental exposures as primary research targets because of their prevalence in the veteran patient population. The VA-funded research must be coordinated with the VA facilities/patients.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) The EPA’s Office of Research and Development (ORD) focuses on the advancement of basic peer-reviewed scientific research and the implementation of cost-effective technology. ORD partners with the academic scientific community through extramural research grants and fellowships. Within the focus of human health, the EPA funds research in human health exposure, human health, sensitive subpopulations and children’s health, as well as children and their environment. The EPA primarily provides funding for environmental research and uses www.grants.gov to list all available funding opportunities.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Space radiation research is an important element of NASA's Life Sciences Division's Biomedical Research and Countermeasures Program. Space radiation research focuses on understanding how different kinds of radiation encountered in space alter living tissue and on developing ways of preventing damage to healthy tissue or accelerating the repair of damaged tissue. NASA’s Life Science division funds extensive cancer related research, with a special focus on risk factors and improved early detection through MRI technology. Sponsored Research Business Activity (SRBA) is the component of NASA’s Contract Management Division that establishes policy for the award and administration of grants and cooperative agreements.

National Science Foundation (NSF) NSF funds research and education in most fields of science and engineering through grants and cooperative agreements to more than 2,000 colleges, universities, K-12 school systems, businesses, informal science organizations and other research organizations. NSF accounts for about one-fourth of federal support to academic institutions for basic research. NSF, which has funded cancer-related research, divides most funding opportunities into broad program areas, including biology.

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) USDA Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) funds researchers throughout the U.S. to solve problems critical to farmers, consumers, and communities. CSREES is USDA’s major extramural research agency, funding both individuals and institutions. CSREES-funded research typically focuses on utilizing new knowledge and techniques to advance and benefit individuals and society, including health applications.

Department of Labor/Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) OSHA supports a workplace safety program which funds research to identify safe workplace carcinogen exposure levels, programs to identify workplace carcinogens and possible solutions to workplace hazards.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) DHS’s research agenda focuses on countering threats to the homeland, which may include improving biological response practices or identifying new methods to protect Americans from radiological attacks. Grant information is provided by the Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency (HSARP).

Who can Qualify for a Federal Award/Grant?

Any qualified scientist working in a research institution that can furnish the needed support can receive an NIH grant. Reviewers look at both your credentials and those of your institution to determine whether you are likely to be able to accomplish the work you've proposed in your application. To meet their expectations, you will need academic credentials and experience appropriate to the proposal. Your institution must have equipment, personnel and space, and give you enough time to accomplish your project. For new investigators, reviewers do not expect a long track record of publications and research or advanced job standing. But they will look closely at academic and research background.

 What’s an RFA, RFP and a PA?

  • A RFA is a Request for Application and identifies a more narrowly defined area for which one or more NIH institutes have set aside funds for awarding grants. An RFA usually has a single receipt date, as specified in RFA announcement.
  • A RFP is a Request for Proposal and solicits contract proposals. A RFP usually has one receipt date, as specified in RFP solicitation.

  • A PA is a Program Announcement and relates to areas of increased priority and/or emphasis on particular funding mechanisms for a specific area of science. Applications are usually accepted on standard receipt dates on an ongoing basis.

Individual Announcements (RFAs, RFPs, PAs ) can be found by visiting the NCI’s site. Click here to be directed to that site.

To learn more about federal funding mechanisms, click here.

 

Last updated on 12/12/2007 8:49:00 AM