Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 23 242
The NCI Research Specialist (Laboratory-based Scientist) Award (R50, Clinical Trial Not Allowed) is a National Cancer Institute funding opportunity that supports highly skilled, non-tenure-track laboratory scientists who want a long-term, stable research career without moving into an independent principal investigator role. The program is meant for exceptional researchers who plan to continue contributing to an existing NCI-funded cancer research program and who strengthen the continuity, rigor, and productivity of that program through advanced technical expertise, deep scientific knowledge, and sustained leadership in the lab environment. In practice, the award is geared toward the kind of scientist many research groups rely on to maintain sophisticated experimental platforms, develop and optimize methods, ensure high-quality data generation, and provide day-to-day scientific momentum, but who does not intend to run an independent lab as a PI.
The scope is broad in terms of scientific content: applications can align with any area of NCI-supported cancer research, including basic, translational, clinical, or population science programs, as long as the role being supported is specifically laboratory-based. The intent is to embed the awardee within an established, already NCI-funded research effort where their work directly advances the program's cancer research goals. This is not an award for launching a new independent line of research; it is designed to formalize and support a specialist career track inside an ongoing research ecosystem where the candidate's contributions are central, sustained, and clearly differentiated from typical trainee positions.
A key restriction is that clinical trials are not allowed under this FOA. That means the proposed activities must not involve conducting a clinical trial as defined under NIH policy. Applicants typically need to shape their plans around laboratory-driven research functions and deliverables rather than trial leadership, trial enrollment activities, or interventional human studies.
Eligibility is wide across U.S.-based organizations and includes many institution types that commonly receive NIH funding. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; other Native American tribal organizations; independent school districts; special district governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. The announcement also highlights additional eligible categories 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 (AANAPISIs), along with faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions.
At the same time, the FOA is clear that foreign involvement is not permitted in several forms. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply, and foreign components (as NIH defines them in the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are not allowed. In other words, the work and the supported position must be fully based within eligible U.S. organizational structures without foreign components.
Administratively, this is an NIH discretionary grant mechanism offered under Funding Opportunity Number PAR-23-242, categorized under Education and Health, and associated with multiple CFDA numbers (93.393 through 93.399). The sponsor is the National Institutes of Health (NIH), specifically the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The opportunity lists an original closing date of 2025-11-03. The listing does not specify an award ceiling or an expected number of awards in the provided excerpt, which typically means applicants should consult the full FOA text for budget caps, project period limits, allowable costs, and other detailed submission requirements.
Overall, the R50 Laboratory-based Scientist award is best understood as a career-stabilizing mechanism for experienced cancer researchers whose value comes from sustained, high-level contributions inside an established NCI-funded program. It recognizes that modern cancer research depends on expert specialists who provide continuity and advanced capability in laboratories, and it funds those roles explicitly, while keeping the focus on non-independent, program-embedded scientific work and excluding clinical trial activity.Apply for PAR 23 242
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NCI Research Specialist (Laboratory-based Scientist) Award (R50 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, 93.394, 93.395, 93.396, 93.397, 93.398, 93.399.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2023-08-09.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-11-03. (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: NCI Research Specialist (Laboratory-based Scientist) Award (R50, Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
What is the NCI Research Specialist (Laboratory-based Scientist) Award (R50)?
The NCI Research Specialist (Laboratory-based Scientist) Award (R50, Clinical Trial Not Allowed) is a National Cancer Institute (NCI) funding opportunity that supports highly skilled, non-tenure-track laboratory scientists who want a long-term, stable research career without transitioning into an independent principal investigator (PI) role. The award is intended to formalize and sustain an expert specialist career track within an existing NCI-funded cancer research program.
Who is this award designed for?
This award is designed for exceptional, experienced laboratory-based scientists who plan to continue contributing to an established, already NCI-funded cancer research effort. It targets the type of scientist many research groups rely on for continuity and high-level lab leadership, such as maintaining sophisticated experimental platforms, developing and optimizing methods, ensuring high-quality data generation, and providing day-to-day scientific momentum, without aiming to run an independent lab as a PI.
Does the R50 support independent research programs or launching a new lab?
No. Based on the opportunity description provided, this is not an award for launching a new independent line of research or starting an independent laboratory. The intent is to embed the awardee within an established NCI-funded research program where their contributions are central, sustained, and clearly distinguished from typical trainee roles.
What does "laboratory-based scientist" mean in the context of this FOA?
In this FOA, "laboratory-based" refers to a role focused on lab-centered research functions and deliverables. The award supports advanced technical expertise, deep scientific knowledge, and sustained leadership in the laboratory environment, aligned with advancing an existing NCI-funded cancer research program.
What types of cancer research areas are allowed?
The scope is broad across NCI-supported cancer research. Applications can align with basic, translational, clinical, or population science programs, as long as the supported role is specifically laboratory-based and embedded within an established NCI-funded cancer research effort.
Are clinical trials allowed under this funding opportunity?
No. A key restriction is that clinical trials are not allowed under this FOA. The proposed activities must not involve conducting a clinical trial as defined under NIH policy, and applicants generally need to structure plans around laboratory-driven research functions rather than trial leadership, enrollment, or interventional human studies.
Can the proposed work include clinical research components?
The provided description emphasizes that clinical trials are not allowed and that the activities should be laboratory-driven rather than centered on trial conduct. Any proposed work must be shaped to avoid conducting a clinical trial as defined by NIH policy.
Does the award need to be connected to an existing NCI-funded research program?
Yes. The program is meant to support scientists who will continue contributing to an existing NCI-funded cancer research program. The intent is for the awardee to be embedded in an established, already NCI-funded research effort, where their work directly advances that program's cancer research goals.
What kinds of contributions does NCI expect from an R50 Research Specialist?
The opportunity description highlights contributions that strengthen continuity, rigor, and productivity within an established program. Examples include sustained leadership in the lab environment, advanced technical expertise, deep scientific knowledge, maintaining sophisticated experimental platforms, developing and optimizing methods, and ensuring high-quality data generation that supports the broader cancer research program.
Is this award intended for trainees (e.g., graduate students or postdocs)?
The description distinguishes this award from typical trainee positions and emphasizes a long-term, stable specialist career track. It is designed for highly skilled scientists providing sustained, central contributions within an ongoing NCI-funded program rather than a temporary training role.
Which organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations and includes: state, county, and local governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; other Native American tribal organizations; independent school districts; special district governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits (501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses.
Are institutions like HBCUs, HSIs, and Tribal Colleges eligible?
Yes. The opportunity description specifically highlights additional eligible categories 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 (AANAPISIs).
Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. The announcement highlights faith-based or community-based organizations among eligible categories.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?
Yes. The opportunity description lists U.S. territories or possessions among eligible categories.
Are foreign (non-U.S.) organizations eligible to apply?
No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply under this FOA, based on the restrictions described.
Can a U.S. organization apply if it has a non-U.S. component?
No. The FOA states that non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply.
Are foreign components allowed in the project?
No. Foreign components (as defined by NIH in the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are not allowed. The work and the supported position must be fully based within eligible U.S. organizational structures without foreign components.
Which federal agency sponsors this opportunity?
The sponsor is the National Institutes of Health (NIH), specifically the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this R50 award?
The Funding Opportunity Number is PAR-23-242.
How is this opportunity categorized?
The listing categorizes it under Education and Health.
Which CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with multiple CFDA numbers: 93.393, 93.394, 93.395, 93.396, 93.397, 93.398, and 93.399.
What is the closing date listed for this opportunity?
The listing shows an original closing date of 2025-11-03.
Does the provided information include an award ceiling or number of expected awards?
No. The excerpt provided does not specify an award ceiling or an expected number of awards. It indicates applicants typically need to consult the full FOA for budget caps, project period limits, allowable costs, and detailed submission requirements.
What is the overall purpose of this R50 mechanism?
The overall purpose is to provide a career-stabilizing mechanism for experienced cancer researchers whose value comes from sustained, high-level contributions inside an established NCI-funded program. It recognizes that modern cancer research relies on expert laboratory specialists who provide continuity and advanced capability, while keeping the focus on non-independent, program-embedded work and excluding clinical trial activity.
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