The National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has issued a reannouncement for its Small Grants Program for Cancer Research for 2023, 2024, and 2025 under Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) PAR-23-058. This program, under the R03 Small Grant mechanism, supports small-scale research projects on cancer that can be completed within two years with limited resources. The primary objective is to support pilot studies, secondary data analysis, self-contained research projects, development of research methodologies, and new technologies related to cancer.

The R03 mechanism is ideal for projects that are discrete and well-defined, providing up to $50,000 per year for a maximum of two years. These grants are suitable for investigators pursuing projects that may not require the substantial funding or extended time frame typical of larger NIH grants but still have the potential to contribute significantly to cancer research. This includes basic, translational, clinical, and population-based cancer research. Examples of research areas include cancer biology, cancer disparities, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

Eligible applicants include higher education institutions, nonprofits, small businesses, and government entities. Both U.S.-based and foreign organizations are eligible, and international components of U.S. organizations may also apply. The application process requires registrations with several systems, such as SAM, eRA Commons, and Grants.gov, and applicants must complete these well in advance of submission, as delays in registration will not be considered valid reasons for late submission.

Applications must follow the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, and submissions can be made through ASSIST, Grants.gov Workspace, or an institutional system-to-system solution. While a letter of intent is not required, early submission is encouraged to allow time for correcting any errors before the deadline. The program allows for new applications, resubmissions, and clinical trial applications, with optional inclusion of clinical trials in the research project.

Peer review for submitted applications will be conducted based on scientific merit, significance, approach, innovation, and the qualifications of the research team. The NIH encourages participation from underrepresented groups in biomedical research, including racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and women. Following review, successful applicants will receive a Notice of Award (NoA), which will authorize the release of funds.

The application deadlines are staggered throughout the year, with the next due dates on February 22, June 20, and October 17, 2024. This FOA will expire on January 08, 2025. For assistance with the submission process or questions about the scientific scope of the grant, applicants are encouraged to contact the appropriate NIH staff as listed in the FOA.