Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPOREs) in Cancer Health Disparities and Minority Health (CHD-MH) (U54 Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA CA 24 020

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA CA 24 020

The Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPOREs) in Cancer Health Disparities and Minority Health (CHD-MH) program is an NIH funding opportunity designed to build a coordinated network of large, team-based cancer research centers that move discoveries from the lab and early clinical insights toward real-world impact in populations that have been historically underserved. It uses the SPORE model, which is known for emphasizing translational research, meaning projects are expected to be positioned along the path from mechanistic understanding and biomarker development to prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and implementation approaches that can improve outcomes. What makes this specific SPORE initiative distinct is its explicit requirement that the science be centered on cancer health disparities and/or minority health, and that it directly supports the development of novel, cancer-relevant interventions for people with cancer or people at elevated risk for cancer in underserved communities.

This opportunity is offered as a U54 cooperative agreement, which generally means the NIH will have substantial programmatic involvement compared to a typical research project grant. In practice, applicants should expect structured coordination, NIH input on the overall network direction, and an emphasis on collaboration across institutions and disciplines. The notice is labeled “Clinical Trial Optional,” so applicants may propose studies that do or do not include clinical trials, depending on what is appropriate for their translational aims. The overall goal is not just to generate knowledge, but to drive actionable advances that reduce inequities in cancer burden, whether those inequities are reflected in incidence, stage at diagnosis, access to quality care, response to therapy, survivorship outcomes, or mortality.

The program encourages multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional teams, which fits the reality that disparity-focused cancer research often requires integrated expertise. Competitive SPORE-style applications typically draw on oncology, epidemiology, behavioral science, implementation science, biostatistics, genomics, health services research, community engagement, and clinical specialties, among others. In the CHD-MH context, the translational pipeline is expected to be designed with underserved populations in mind from the start, rather than adding equity considerations later. That can include interventions tailored to specific communities, addressing structural barriers to screening or treatment, improving diagnostic pathways, testing novel therapeutics or supportive care approaches in populations underrepresented in research, or developing prevention strategies for high-risk groups.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations. Eligible applicants include state, county, city, township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education in those categories); public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; and Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments. The opportunity also permits for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses, as well as other applicant types noted by NIH. In addition, the announcement highlights inclusion of specific institution types and community-centered entities that are often central to minority health work, such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs). Faith-based and community-based organizations are also explicitly listed, reflecting the importance of trusted local partners for recruitment, intervention delivery, and sustained impact.

There are important limits related to foreign participation. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. However, “foreign components” as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement are allowed, meaning a U.S. applicant may include certain international elements when they are scientifically necessary and compliant with NIH policy, even though the main applicant organization must be domestic. The announcement also notes eligibility for U.S. territories or possessions and regional organizations, supporting broader geographic reach where cancer disparities can be substantial.

Key administrative details provided include the funding opportunity number RFA-CA-24-020 and the CFDA number 93.395, with the National Institutes of Health as the sponsoring agency. The instrument type is a cooperative agreement (U54) under the Education/Health activity category. The original closing date listed is 2024-09-26. The award ceiling is shown as $1,600,000, which signals the upper limit indicated in the notice; applicants typically need to design a scope that is credible and achievable within that budget framework while meeting the SPORE expectation for substantial, integrated translational work. The announcement’s creation date is 2024-03-27, placing it in the FY2024 cycle of NIH cancer funding opportunities.

Taken together, this CHD-MH SPORE opportunity is aimed at institutions and partnerships that can assemble strong translational cancer research programs with a clear and direct line to reducing cancer inequities. It is structured for collaborative, networked work and encourages participation from minority-serving institutions and community-centered organizations, with the expectation that proposed interventions and research outputs will be relevant, testable, and capable of improving cancer outcomes in underserved populations.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPOREs) in Cancer Health Disparities and Minority Health (CHD-MH) (U54 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.395.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-03-27.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-09-26. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,600,000.00 in funding.
• 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 RFA CA 24 020

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