Epidemiologic Research on Emerging Risk Factors and Liver Cancer Susceptibility (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PA 25 121

Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 25 121

The funding opportunity titled "Epidemiologic Research on Emerging Risk Factors and Liver Cancer Susceptibility (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" (Funding Opportunity Number PA 25 121) is a discretionary grant program from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) focused on advancing epidemiologic research on liver cancer in the United States. The main aim is to support studies that test novel, innovative hypotheses about emerging risk factors for liver cancer, including hepatocellular carcinoma and other histologic subtypes. A central emphasis is on understanding not only new or increasingly relevant biological, environmental, and social risk factors, but also how these factors interact with established liver cancer risks such as viral hepatitis. The overall goal is to strengthen the evidence base around liver cancer susceptibility and to improve understanding of why liver cancer develops in different populations and contexts, particularly as risk profiles evolve over time.

This FOA is specifically designed for epidemiologic research, meaning it is oriented toward population-based studies that examine patterns, causes, and determinants of disease. The "R01" mechanism indicates support for substantial, hypothesis-driven research projects of the type typically used for mature, well-developed study plans. The notice also clearly states "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," which signals that applications proposing prospective assignment of human participants to interventions to evaluate health outcomes would not be responsive under this announcement. Applicants should therefore frame their work as observational epidemiology or other non-trial human research approaches consistent with NIH definitions, such as cohort studies, case-control studies, nested studies within existing cohorts, registry-based analyses, geospatial or environmental exposure analyses, molecular epidemiology, and related designs that do not involve assigning interventions.

Eligible applicants are broad and include many types of organizations that can carry out rigorous public health and biomedical research. In addition to standard applicants such as state, county, and local governments; federally recognized tribal governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; independent school districts; special district governments; and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, the FOA allows participation from nonprofit organizations (both with and without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses. It also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, and Indian/Native American Tribal Governments that are not federally recognized. Eligibility also extends to U.S. territories or possessions, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and even non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations), reflecting an intent to attract strong epidemiologic expertise and data resources, while keeping the research focus on liver cancer development in the U.S. context.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is listed under Assistance Listing/CFDA number 93.393 and uses the grant funding instrument type. The original closing date provided is 2025-05-07, and the opportunity record indicates a creation date of 2024-10-10. While the listing does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, the R01 mechanism typically supports multi-year projects with budgets justified by scientific scope, with NIH review placing weight on significance, innovation, approach, investigator capability, and research environment, along with human subjects protections and data management expectations where applicable.

In practical terms, a strong application under this FOA would likely propose a clearly articulated epidemiologic question about liver cancer susceptibility that goes beyond well-established risk factors alone. Competitive projects would typically integrate emerging exposures or determinants (for example, shifting metabolic risks, environmental contaminants, social and structural drivers, or new biomarkers) and explicitly evaluate how those factors may compound, mediate, or modify known risks like viral hepatitis. Because the FOA stresses interplay between emerging and established risks, applicants would be expected to describe analytic strategies capable of testing interactions, heterogeneity across subgroups, and potentially multi-level pathways that connect biological mechanisms with environmental and social conditions. The announcement is essentially a call for forward-looking liver cancer epidemiology that reflects the changing landscape of risk in the United States and aims to clarify who is most vulnerable, why that vulnerability arises, and what patterns might be addressed through future prevention and public health strategies.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Epidemiologic Research on Emerging Risk Factors and Liver Cancer Susceptibility (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.393.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-10-10.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-05-07. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: 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.

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