The National Institutes of Health (NIH), along with the Office of Disease Prevention (ODP) and several participating NIH institutes, has announced a funding opportunity to support research aimed at improving cancer screening and preventive services in populations experiencing health disparities. This R01 grant program focuses on developing interventions to address barriers and improve access to preventive healthcare services across multiple socio-ecological levels, including patient, clinician, healthcare setting, and community. This initiative encourages innovative, collaborative efforts between healthcare providers and community partners to implement or enhance strategies promoting screening, follow-ups, and timely care referrals.

The objective of the program is to reduce disparities in cancer outcomes by addressing factors that limit access to preventive services. The research should target populations identified as experiencing health disparities, including racial and ethnic minorities, socioeconomically disadvantaged groups, sexual and gender minorities, and rural populations. Projects must develop or test evidence-based interventions, such as those facilitating screening in non-traditional settings, improving patient engagement, or addressing systemic barriers like clinician bias and healthcare access limitations. Collaboration with community partners (e.g., schools, pharmacies, churches) is highly encouraged to ensure interventions are both relevant and sustainable.

The scope of eligible projects includes testing strategies to improve screening and preventive services, such as cancer vaccinations, screening uptake, and post-screening follow-up for abnormal results. The research must address barriers at multiple levels, including patient-level factors (e.g., insurance, health literacy), clinician-level issues (e.g., cultural competence), healthcare setting challenges (e.g., hours of operation, staffing), and community-level barriers (e.g., transportation access, broadband availability). Proposals should focus on existing cancer screening processes and not on developing new screening tools or treatments. Interventions that address structural racism or discrimination within healthcare settings and facilitate care through community outreach are also prioritized.

Applications must include a conceptual framework that outlines how the intervention will improve access to cancer screening or preventive services and reduce disparities. The design should incorporate a data analysis plan that accounts for interactions between multi-level factors. Proposals should also demonstrate partnerships with healthcare providers and community organizations to enhance intervention delivery. For example, integrating cancer screening with other services, such as flu vaccinations or mental health screenings, is encouraged.

The funding allows for flexible budgets to reflect the needs of each project, with a maximum project period of five years. Applicants can submit new, renewal, or resubmission applications. The initiative requires clinical trials to test proposed interventions, and all projects must comply with NIH’s data sharing and management policies. Eligible applicants include higher education institutions, nonprofits, healthcare providers, and local governments, among others. While foreign institutions cannot apply directly, they may participate as collaborators on U.S.-based projects.

Key deadlines for submission occur in October, February, and June of each year, with the earliest possible start date being July 2024. All applicants must complete necessary registrations, including with the System for Award Management (SAM) and eRA Commons, before submitting proposals. Awards will be based on scientific merit, availability of funds, and alignment with program priorities. Successful projects will receive a Notice of Award, detailing terms and conditions, and must submit annual progress reports through the NIH’s Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) system.

This funding opportunity offers a vital pathway for addressing health inequities in cancer outcomes by promoting equitable access to screening and preventive services. It aims to generate evidence-based strategies that can be scaled and sustained across diverse healthcare settings, ultimately improving health equity for populations that experience cancer disparities.