Innovative Approaches to Studying Cancer Communication in the New Information Ecosystem (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 19 350

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 19 350

The National Cancer Institute (NCI), under the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is offering an R21 grant opportunity titled "Innovative Approaches to Studying Cancer Communication in the New Information Ecosystem (Clinical Trial Optional)" (Funding Opportunity Number PAR-19-350). The core purpose of this program is to support early-stage, exploratory research that improves how cancer-related information is tracked, understood, and used in a rapidly changing communication landscape shaped by digital media, social platforms, evolving news environments, and new forms of interpersonal and community information sharing. The emphasis is on applying communication science to real cancer prevention and control problems, with a clear connection to behavioral targets and measurable health-related outcomes.

The FOA highlights three main research domains. First, it encourages projects that advance cancer communication surveillance, meaning new or improved ways to monitor and analyze cancer information, messaging, and discourse as it appears and spreads across the modern information ecosystem. This can include studying how people encounter cancer information, how misinformation or confusing content circulates, and how communication patterns differ across populations, platforms, and contexts. The goal is not just to describe what is out there, but to demonstrate the utility and practical application of innovative surveillance approaches that can inform public health and cancer control efforts.

Second, NCI is seeking rapid, pilot-scale cancer communication interventions that can be developed and tested using innovative methods and study designs. The focus here is on quickly generating actionable evidence about what communication strategies may work, for whom, and under what conditions, rather than running large, definitive trials right away. Because the award mechanism is R21, the expectation is typically proof-of-concept work, feasibility testing, and early efficacy signals using creative, efficient approaches suited to modern communication environments. The FOA explicitly allows clinical trials but does not require them, meaning applicants can propose studies that do or do not meet NIH's definition of a clinical trial, depending on the research questions and design.

Third, the announcement supports the development and testing of multilevel cancer communication models that explicitly consider bidirectional influence between levels. In practice, this means research that does not treat communication as a one-way pipeline from institutions to individuals, but instead examines how individuals, social networks, communities, health systems, media, and policy environments shape each other over time. Projects in this area might investigate feedback loops such as how community beliefs influence local messaging strategies, how platform-level algorithms affect individual behavior, or how clinical guidance and patient experiences jointly influence the broader conversation about screening, vaccination, or treatment.

Across all three domains, the FOA strongly signals that applications should use one or more innovative communication research methodologies. While the notice does not list specific methods, the intent is to move beyond standard approaches when appropriate and make use of contemporary tools and designs that match the complexity and speed of the current information environment. Successful applications would typically connect methodological innovation to a meaningful cancer prevention or control question, rather than using new methods as an end in itself.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations: state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. The FOA also calls out additional eligible applicants such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, Indian/Native American Tribal Governments other than federally recognized, and U.S. territories or possessions.

At the same time, there are clear restrictions on foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. In addition, foreign components, as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed under this FOA. In other words, the work and the applicant organization must be U.S.-based without foreign components.

This opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant within the Education and Health activity area and is associated with CFDA number 93.399. The opportunity was created on August 16, 2019, and the original closing date listed is June 8, 2022. The funding ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided source details, which often means applicants need to consult the full FOA text and NIH award budget guidance for typical R21 parameters and institute-specific expectations.

Overall, PAR-19-350 is aimed at sparking creative, timely research that helps cancer communication keep pace with the realities of how people now find, share, and act on health information. It invites applicants to build better ways to observe the communication environment, to prototype and test fast-moving intervention concepts, and to model communication as a dynamic, multilevel system that can influence cancer-related behaviors and outcomes in both direct and indirect ways.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Innovative Approaches to Studying Cancer Communication in the New Information Ecosystem (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.399.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2019-08-16.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-06-08. (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.

Apply for PAR 19 350

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