Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 17 440
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity announcement PA 17-440, titled "The Interplay of Cell Death Pathways in Cancer Cell Survival and Resistance to Therapy (R01)," supports grant-based research focused on how cancer cells avoid being eliminated by regulated cell death programs, especially in the context of treatment resistance. The central idea behind the opportunity is that regulated cell death acts as a natural defense against cancer: when these pathways function properly, they help prevent malignant cells from surviving, spreading, and ultimately forming metastases. Because escaping cell death is a well-established hallmark of cancer, understanding exactly how tumors disable or reroute these death mechanisms is viewed as a direct path to improving therapeutic outcomes, particularly for cancers that no longer respond to standard drugs.
A key scientific motivation for the FOA is the growing recognition that multiple cell death machineries can coexist within the same cell, including apoptosis and necroptosis. Apoptosis is the classic programmed cell death pathway often targeted by therapies, while necroptosis is a distinct regulated pathway that can serve as an alternative route to kill cells when apoptosis is blocked. Even though the components needed to trigger different death programs may be present, the way these pathways communicate, compensate for one another, or are jointly suppressed in cancer has not been studied in a comprehensive or systematic way. This FOA is intended to push the field toward studying that "crosstalk" rather than examining each pathway in isolation, with an emphasis on both treatment-naive tumors and tumors that have already developed drug resistance.
The opportunity highlights practical translational payoffs from this line of research. By mapping the intersection of cell death programs at a molecular level, researchers may be able to define clearer, more reliable biomarkers that indicate which death pathway is engaged, blocked, or rewired in a given tumor setting. Those markers could then guide therapy choices or patient stratification. In addition, the FOA explicitly points to therapeutic strategies that could emerge from mechanistic insights, such as inhibiting specific mediators that support cancer cell survival or, conversely, enhancing mediators that push cells toward apoptosis, necroptosis, or other regulated death outcomes. The overarching goal is to identify vulnerabilities that can be exploited to force both untreated and drug-resistant cancer cells into effective cell death, thereby reducing progression, metastasis, and therapeutic failure.
Administratively, this is a discretionary NIH grant opportunity using the R01 mechanism, and it falls under the education and health activity category (CFDA 93.396). Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S. organizations and governments, such as state, county, city, township, and special district governments; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; independent school districts; and public or Indian housing authorities. The FOA also allows applications from nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses, reflecting an intent to encourage participation from a wide range of research-performing entities.
The announcement also specifically names additional eligible applicant categories to promote inclusivity and reach, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIs (Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), tribal governments that are not federally recognized, faith-based or community-based organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations). The FOA was created on 2017-08-04, and the original closing date listed is 2020-09-07. Award ceiling and expected awards are not specified in the provided source data, which typically means applicants would need to consult the full FOA text or NIH budget guidance for the most current funding and award expectation details.Apply for PA 17 440
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "The Interplay of Cell Death Pathways in Cancer Cell Survival and Resistance to Therapy (R01)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.396.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2017-08-04.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-09-07. (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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FAQs: NIH PA 17-440 - The Interplay of Cell Death Pathways in Cancer Cell Survival and Resistance to Therapy (R01)
What is the title and identifier of this NIH funding opportunity?
This NIH funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is PA 17-440, titled "The Interplay of Cell Death Pathways in Cancer Cell Survival and Resistance to Therapy (R01)."
What type of grant mechanism is used?
The FOA uses the NIH R01 research project grant mechanism.
What is the main scientific focus of this FOA?
The FOA supports research on how cancer cells avoid elimination by regulated cell death programs, with a particular focus on how this contributes to resistance to therapy.
Why is regulated cell death considered important in cancer research under this announcement?
The FOA is based on the idea that regulated cell death acts as a natural defense against cancer. When these pathways function properly, they can help prevent malignant cells from surviving, spreading, and forming metastases. Because escaping cell death is a hallmark of cancer, understanding how tumors disable or reroute death mechanisms is seen as a path to improving therapeutic outcomes.
Which cell death pathways are specifically highlighted?
The announcement highlights that multiple death machineries can coexist within the same cell, including apoptosis and necroptosis. Apoptosis is described as the classic programmed cell death pathway, while necroptosis is a distinct regulated pathway that can serve as an alternative route to kill cells when apoptosis is blocked.
What does the FOA mean by "crosstalk" between cell death pathways?
In this FOA, "crosstalk" refers to how different regulated cell death pathways communicate, compensate for one another, or are jointly suppressed within cancer cells. The announcement emphasizes the need to study these interactions rather than examining each pathway in isolation.
Does the FOA emphasize specific tumor contexts or stages?
Yes. The FOA places emphasis on both treatment-naive tumors and tumors that have already developed drug resistance.
How is treatment resistance connected to the goals of this funding opportunity?
The FOA is centered on understanding how tumors avoid cell death in ways that allow them to survive therapy. By clarifying how death pathways are blocked or rerouted, the research aims to identify vulnerabilities that could help kill cancers that no longer respond to standard drugs.
What translational or practical payoffs does the FOA describe?
The FOA highlights potential translational outcomes such as (1) defining clearer, more reliable biomarkers indicating which death pathway is engaged, blocked, or rewired in a tumor setting, and (2) enabling therapeutic strategies based on mechanistic insights into how cancer cells survive or can be forced into regulated cell death.
What kinds of biomarkers are envisioned in the announcement?
The FOA envisions biomarkers that indicate whether a particular regulated cell death pathway is engaged, blocked, or rewired in a given tumor setting, which could help guide therapy choices or patient stratification.
What therapeutic strategies are explicitly mentioned as potential outcomes of this research direction?
The FOA points to strategies such as inhibiting specific mediators that support cancer cell survival and/or enhancing mediators that push cancer cells toward apoptosis, necroptosis, or other regulated death outcomes.
What is the overarching goal of the FOA?
The overarching goal is to identify vulnerabilities that can be exploited to force both untreated and drug-resistant cancer cells into effective cell death, thereby reducing progression, metastasis, and therapeutic failure.
What activity category and CFDA number are associated with this opportunity?
This opportunity is listed under the education and health activity category and is associated with CFDA 93.396.
Who is eligible to apply (general categories)?
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S. organizations and governments. Examples listed include state, county, city, township, and special district governments; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; independent school districts; and public or Indian housing authorities.
Are nonprofits eligible to apply?
Yes. The FOA allows applications from nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status.
Are for-profit organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The FOA allows applications from for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and also includes small businesses as eligible applicants.
Are small businesses eligible to apply?
Yes. Small businesses are included among the eligible applicant types in the provided information.
Are tribal entities eligible to apply?
Yes. The FOA includes federally recognized Native American tribal governments, and it also names tribal governments that are not federally recognized among additional eligible applicant categories.
Are minority-serving institutions specifically included as eligible applicants?
Yes. The FOA explicitly names additional eligible applicant categories including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), and others.
Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. Faith-based or community-based organizations are explicitly listed among additional eligible applicant categories.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible to apply?
Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are specifically listed among additional eligible applicant categories.
Are regional organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. Regional organizations are explicitly included among additional eligible applicant categories.
Are federal agencies eligible to apply?
Yes. Eligible federal agencies are listed among the additional eligible applicant categories.
Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. Non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) are specifically listed as eligible applicants.
When was the FOA created?
The FOA was created on 2017-08-04.
What is the closing date listed in the provided information?
The original closing date listed is 2020-09-07.
Is the award ceiling specified in the provided information?
No. The provided information states that the award ceiling is not specified.
Is the expected number of awards specified in the provided information?
No. The provided information states that expected awards are not specified.
Where should applicants look for current budget or award expectation details?
Because award ceiling and expected awards are not provided in the source data, applicants would typically need to consult the full FOA text or NIH budget guidance for the most current funding and award expectation details.
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| Symptom Cluster Characterization in Chronic Conditions (R21) Apply for PA 17 461 Funding Number: PA 17 461 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
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| Approaches to Identify and Care for Individuals with Inherited Cancer Syndromes (U01) Apply for RFA CA 17 041 Funding Number: RFA CA 17 041 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Exploiting HIV and/or Host Genomic Information to Understand HIV Compartments or Reactivation in Individuals with Substance Use Disorders (R61/R33) Apply for RFA DA 18 016 Funding Number: RFA DA 18 016 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $650,000 |
| NINR Center of Excellence (P30) Apply for RFA NR 17 004 Funding Number: RFA NR 17 004 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $350,000 |
| Short-term Mentored Career Enhancement Awards for Mid-Career Investigators to Integrate Basic Behavioral and Social Sciences (K18) Apply for PAR 17 486 Funding Number: PAR 17 486 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| New Onset Depressive Symptoms in Acute Illness (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PA 17 488 Funding Number: PA 17 488 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| New Onset Depressive Symptoms in Acute Illness (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PA 17 487 Funding Number: PA 17 487 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Addressing Chronic Wound Trajectories Through Social Genomics Research (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PA 17 492 Funding Number: PA 17 492 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Implementing the Most Successful Interventions to Improve HIV/AIDS Outcomes in U.S. Communities (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 17 491 Funding Number: PAR 17 491 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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