The National Cancer Institute (NCI) Research Specialist (Core-based Scientist) Award (R50) supports scientists engaged in NCI-funded cancer research within core/shared resources or central scientific support facilities. This award is structured to provide salary support and promote career stability for scientists contributing essential expertise without an independent investigator role. The aim is to maintain a highly skilled research workforce integral to cancer research activities but distinct from traditional academic pathways, allowing recipients a degree of autonomy while contributing to a core research program directed by an NCI-funded principal investigator (PI).

The R50 award specifically targets professionals with an advanced degree (e.g., Ph.D., M.D.) and a minimum of two years of experience supporting an NCI-funded research program led by an established Unit Director. The award requires the applicant to serve as the lead PI for the application, while the Unit Director, who oversees the core facility and holds the NCI-funded project, must be listed as key personnel. Unit Directors must have at least one year of NCI grant funding remaining upon award to ensure sustained support of the research specialist’s position. Only one Unit Director may be named in an application, and both the applicant and Unit Director must include biosketches detailing their qualifications and prior contributions to the NCI-funded program.

This funding opportunity covers a five-year project period and limits awardees to essential salary support based on their effort on NCI grants (minimum six person-months) and up to $2,500 per year for travel to research conferences. No additional research expenses are allowed under this grant; these must be funded separately by the Unit Director’s research grants. The award is intended to support stable career paths within institutional core resources, where research specialists can significantly advance cancer research programs through their specialized knowledge in areas such as bioinformatics, imaging, or other complex data and technical domains critical to cancer research.

Eligibility for this award extends to U.S.-based higher education institutions, nonprofits, government organizations, and eligible tribal entities. Non-U.S. entities and foreign components are not eligible. The research specialist must not have held or applied for independent NIH grant support within the last five years and must be employed in a non-tenure track position. Applications are accepted annually through 2025, with submissions due in November each year. Although a letter of intent is optional, it helps NCI plan the review process, and applications must conform to the SF424 Application Guide and include required registrations, such as SAM and eRA Commons.

The application’s evaluation criteria focus on the applicant’s prior accomplishments, the significance of their role in advancing the NCI-supported core resource, and their demonstrated contributions to cancer research. Reviewers assess how well the applicant’s work addresses significant challenges in cancer research, the applicant’s fit for the R50 role, and the institutional environment’s suitability for sustaining the specialist’s work. Supportive documentation, including letters from the Unit Director and other PIs familiar with the applicant’s work, are essential for illustrating the candidate’s impact and future potential.

Awardees will be expected to maintain their NCI-funded research contributions consistently. If the core facility or research unit closes, the research specialist may, with prior NCI approval, move to a similar position at another institution or program without losing funding. The award will be terminated if the recipient secures independent grant support, reflecting the intent to maintain the specialist's role within collaborative research cores rather than as an independent investigator. This structure enables research specialists to pursue impactful, collaborative science careers within NCI-funded programs while reducing dependency on other investigators' grant funds for job continuity.