The NCI Worta McCaskill-Stevens Career Development Award for Community Oncology and Prevention Research (K12 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 24 153

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 24 153

The NCI Worta McCaskill-Stevens Career Development Award for Community Oncology and Prevention Research (K12 Clinical Trial Optional), PAR-24-153, is an institutional NIH grant mechanism designed to build a structured career development "pipeline" for newly trained clinicians who want to become independent investigators in community oncology and cancer prevention. Rather than funding a single individual directly, this K12 supports an institution in creating and running a mentored scholar program that provides protected time, training, and research experiences so clinicians can develop the skills, track record, and preliminary data needed to compete successfully for later-stage NIH awards such as K08, R03, R21, or R01. The central goal is to accelerate the transition from clinical training into an independent research career focused on real-world cancer prevention and oncology needs in community settings.

A key feature of this opportunity is its explicit support for community-based clinical trial involvement as part of a scholar's research and career development plan, while still being flexible about what that involvement looks like. Scholars appointed under the K12 may propose to serve as the lead investigator of an independent community-based clinical trial, or they may propose a separate ancillary study that leverages an existing clinical trial focused on prevention, screening, or cancer control. The program also allows scholars to gain experience by working within a community-based clinical trial led by another investigator, which can be especially helpful for clinicians who are earlier in their research trajectory and need hands-on exposure to trial operations, recruitment, and community engagement. In addition, the NOFO encourages innovative clinical trial approaches that expand participation of underserved or underrepresented communities in cancer clinical research, signaling that equity, access, and inclusive recruitment and retention strategies are integral to the program's intent.

The funding opportunity is issued by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under the broad activity categories of Education and Health, and it carries CFDA numbers 93.398 and 93.399. It is categorized as a discretionary grant, and the application window extends to an original closing date of February 18, 2027, indicating a multi-year period during which institutions can apply when they are ready with a competitive program design and mentoring environment. Although the listing does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards in the provided text, the emphasis is clearly on building sustainable institutional capacity to train clinician-researchers and to connect them to the community-based research infrastructure needed for impactful oncology and prevention work.

Eligibility is broad and includes many domestic organization types that can host a formal scholar development program. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township governments, and special district governments, as well as independent school districts. A wide range of academic institutions can apply, including public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education. Tribal entities are also eligible, including federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other Native American tribal organizations. The NOFO also allows nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status, as well as for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses, plus additional eligible entity types. It also calls out other 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, and U.S. territories or possessions. This breadth reinforces the program's community-oriented mission and its interest in reaching diverse populations and care settings.

At the same time, the program sets clear limits on foreign participation at the applicant level. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. However, foreign components, as NIH defines them in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed, meaning an otherwise eligible U.S. applicant may include certain foreign elements when they are well-justified and compliant with NIH policy, even though the prime applicant organization must be domestic.

Overall, this K12 opportunity is best understood as NCI support for institutions to create a mentored, clinically grounded research training environment that produces independent investigators capable of designing, leading, or meaningfully contributing to community-based cancer clinical trials and prevention research. The program's structure and allowances around trial leadership, ancillary studies, experiential roles on existing trials, and innovative strategies to engage underserved populations all point to a practical aim: improving the evidence base for cancer prevention and oncology care where many patients actually receive care, while also strengthening the next generation of clinician-scientists prepared to secure independent NIH funding.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "The NCI Worta McCaskill-Stevens Career Development Award for Community Oncology and Prevention Research (K12 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.398, 93.399.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-04-19.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2027-02-18.
• 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 24 153

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: