Biology of Bladder Cancer (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 19 183

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 19 183

The National Institutes of Health is offering an R01 grant opportunity titled "Biology of Bladder Cancer (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)" (Funding Opportunity Number PAR-19-183). The purpose of this funding announcement is to support research that digs into the basic biology and underlying mechanisms of bladder cancer, with an emphasis on understanding what drives the disease to start, progress, recur, and become malignant. The FOA frames bladder cancer as a major public health issue in the United States and worldwide, noting that its high incidence and frequent tumor recurrence create a disproportionate medical and economic burden compared with many other cancers.

A central theme of the opportunity is that, despite advances in molecular profiling and the identification of mutated genes in bladder tumors, key gaps remain in explaining how those molecular findings translate into the actual biological processes that initiate and sustain cancer. In other words, the FOA is looking for studies that go beyond listing mutations or subtypes and instead explain mechanisms: how altered genes, pathways, cell states, and microenvironmental factors functionally contribute to tumor initiation, progression, and aggressive behavior. The announcement also highlights a second major knowledge gap: comparatively limited understanding of normal bladder biology at the molecular, cellular, and organ levels. By encouraging stronger foundational work on how the healthy bladder operates, the FOA aims to enable clearer, more causal comparisons between normal processes and what goes wrong in cancer.

The NIH signals interest in applications that connect normal and cancer biology rather than studying tumors in isolation, since understanding what changes (and why) often requires a solid baseline of normal function. Projects that use clinical specimens are explicitly encouraged, which suggests a preference for translationally relevant mechanistic studies grounded in human tissue, patient-derived models, or clinically annotated biospecimens. The FOA also encourages multidisciplinary teams, implying that competitive projects may integrate approaches such as molecular and cellular biology, genomics and epigenomics, immunology, pathology, computational biology, bioengineering, organoid or animal modeling, and clinical collaboration to answer mechanistic questions more convincingly.

This is an R01 mechanism, meaning it is intended for substantial, hypothesis-driven research projects that can support a robust scope of work. The "Clinical Trial Optional" designation means applicants may propose studies that do not involve a clinical trial, but they are not barred from including one if it fits the scientific goals and NIH definitions. The funding announcement is categorized as a discretionary grant in the health and education activity area, and it is associated with CFDA numbers 93.393 and 93.396, reflecting NIH cancer-related funding streams.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S. organizations and governments, such as state, county, and city/township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. Academic eligibility includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education as well as private institutions of higher education. The FOA also allows participation by nonprofit organizations (both with and without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses. In addition, it explicitly calls out a wide range of other eligible applicants, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), and Indian/Native American Tribal Governments that are not federally recognized. Faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, U.S. territories or possessions, regional organizations, and non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) are also listed as eligible, reinforcing that the NIH is open to diverse institutional types and, where appropriate, international expertise.

From the provided source details, the opportunity was created on 2019-02-05, and an original closing date is listed as 2022-05-07. No award ceiling, expected number of awards, or other budget summary is provided in the excerpt, so applicants would typically need to consult the full FOA text and NIH R01 policies to understand allowable budgets, project periods, and submission cycles. Overall, this FOA is best understood as a call for rigorous, mechanistic bladder cancer research that links molecular observations to biological function, strengthens understanding of normal bladder biology, and leverages multidisciplinary methods and clinically relevant specimens to generate insights that can ultimately inform better prevention, diagnosis, and treatment strategies.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Biology of Bladder Cancer (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.393, 93.396.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2019-02-05.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-05-07. (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.

Apply for PAR 19 183

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