Cancer Center Support Grants (CCSGs) for NCI-designated Cancer Centers (P30 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 20 043

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - NCI Cancer Center Support Grants (CCSG) PAR-20-043 (P30)

1) What is this grant opportunity in plain terms?

This opportunity is the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG) under PAR-20-043, using the NIH P30 center grant mechanism. It is designed to support NCI-designated Cancer Centers by strengthening the institutional backbone of a cancer center, including infrastructure, shared resources, and coordinated programs.

2) Is the CCSG meant to fund individual research projects or studies?

No. The CCSG is described as being about supporting the infrastructure, shared resources, and coordinated programs that enable a cancer center to operate as a unified, high-impact research enterprise. It is not simply funding individual research studies.

3) What is the main purpose of the CCSG?

The main purpose is to consolidate and coordinate an institution's cancer research capabilities into a single, coherent, transdisciplinary enterprise that crosses departments, schools, and internal silos, and to provide the shared resources and infrastructure that allow the center to generate discoveries and translate them into prevention, diagnosis, and treatment advances that reach the broader community.

4) What types of NCI-designated Cancer Centers are supported?

The FOA supports two categories of NCI-designated Cancer Centers: (1) Comprehensive Cancer Centers and (2) Cancer Centers (non-comprehensive).

5) What is expected of a Comprehensive Cancer Center under this FOA?

Comprehensive Cancer Centers are expected to show meaningful depth and breadth across three major areas of cancer research: basic laboratory research, clinical research, and prevention/control/population-based research. A defining expectation is strong transdisciplinary work that intentionally bridges these areas so discoveries and expertise move across traditional boundaries.

6) What is expected of a Cancer Center (non-comprehensive) under this FOA?

Cancer Centers (non-comprehensive) may focus primarily on basic, clinical, and/or prevention/control/population research in various combinations, without necessarily demonstrating the same breadth and cross-cutting integration required for comprehensive designation.

7) What does "transdisciplinary" mean in the context of this opportunity?

Based on the FOA description, transdisciplinary work means intentionally bridging basic, clinical, and population/prevention research so that findings in one area inform and accelerate progress in the others (for example, integrating mechanistic findings with clinical trials and population science to improve outcomes).

8) What kinds of activities or capabilities does the CCSG emphasize?

The FOA emphasizes capabilities that help a cancer center function as a coordinated enterprise, including building and maintaining shared resources (such as core facilities and shared services) that support research across the center, advancing discovery and progress across the cancer continuum, collaborating with other NCI-funded efforts, and disseminating findings so communities can benefit.

9) What is meant by "shared resources" in this FOA?

The FOA references shared resources as core facilities, shared services, and other enabling capabilities that multiple investigators and programs rely on across the cancer center.

10) How does the FOA describe the role of CCSG-funded centers in the national research ecosystem?

The FOA stresses collaboration and coordination with other NCI-funded programs and investigators. The intent is that cancer centers should not operate in isolation, but connect their work to the broader national research ecosystem.

11) Is dissemination and communication of findings part of the CCSG mission?

Yes. Dissemination is explicitly described as part of the mission. Centers are expected to communicate and spread research findings so communities can benefit, reflecting the public-facing role of NCI-designated centers in translating scientific progress into real-world impact.

12) What outcomes or areas of progress are CCSG-funded centers expected to advance?

Centers are expected to function as major engines of cancer discovery and progress, including advancing scientific understanding of cancer biology, developing more effective methods for prevention and early detection, improving diagnostic approaches, and strengthening therapeutic strategies.

13) What is the NIH funding mechanism for this opportunity?

The mechanism is P30 (a center grant). The funding instrument is a grant.

14) Are clinical trials required under this opportunity?

No. The opportunity is described as "clinical trial optional," meaning the center grant itself is not inherently a clinical trial award, though it can encompass clinical research infrastructure and activities consistent with NIH policy and the center's research portfolio.

15) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 93.397.

16) What is the activity category for this funding opportunity?

It is described as an NIH discretionary grant opportunity under the education and health funding activity category.

17) Who is eligible to apply (in general terms)?

Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations and governmental entities. The FOA lists a wide range of eligible applicants, including multiple levels of U.S. government, institutions of higher education (public and private), tribal governments and certain tribal organizations, nonprofits, for-profits (including other than small businesses), small businesses, and other entities, along with specific categories of eligible institutions and organizations.

18) Which government entities are listed as eligible applicants?

Eligible applicants include state governments; county governments; city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; and eligible federal agencies. The FOA also includes U.S. territories or possessions.

19) Are institutions of higher education eligible?

Yes. Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are listed as eligible.

20) Are nonprofits eligible to apply?

Yes. Nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status are listed as eligible, with the stated condition that they are not institutions of higher education when applying under those nonprofit categories.

21) Are for-profit organizations eligible to apply?

Yes. The FOA lists for-profit organizations other than small businesses as eligible, and also lists small businesses as eligible.

22) Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?

Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments are listed as eligible, and the FOA also highlights Indian/Native American tribal governments other than federally recognized, as well as Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized governments.

23) Are serving institutions (for example, HBCUs and HSIs) explicitly called out as eligible?

Yes. The FOA highlights Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISI, Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) among additional eligible applicants.

24) Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?

Yes. The FOA highlights faith-based or community-based organizations among additional eligible applicants.

25) Can a non-U.S. (foreign) organization apply?

No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations and foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply.

26) Can a U.S. organization include a non-domestic component in the application?

No. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply.

27) Are foreign components allowed under this FOA?

No. Foreign components (as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are not allowed.

28) What is the opportunity number or identifier?

The FOA is identified as PAR-20-043.

29) When was this opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on 2019-11-04.

30) What is the listed closing date, and how should applicants interpret it?

The provided data lists a closing date of 2121-10-12. The description notes that a date far in the future typically indicates an extended or recurring submission structure rather than a single near-term deadline. Applicants are advised (per the description) to rely on the FOA and NIH submission calendars for the actual applicable receipt dates, cycles, and any renewals or reissues.