Inter-organelle Communication in Cancer (R01) | PAR 17 203

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Inter-organelle Communication in Cancer (R01) - PAR-17-203

What is the Inter-organelle Communication in Cancer (R01) opportunity (PAR-17-203)?

PAR-17-203 is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary funding opportunity that supports research on how organelles inside cells communicate with one another in the context of cancer. It emphasizes that cancer biology is shaped not only by gene mutations and cell-surface signaling, but also by internal cellular organization and coordination among organelles.

What funding mechanism does this opportunity use?

This opportunity uses the NIH R01 mechanism, which typically supports substantial, investigator-initiated, hypothesis-driven research projects with multi-year plans and a well-developed experimental strategy.

What is the main scientific focus of the FOA?

The focus is on inter-organelle communication: how organelles exchange signals, metabolites, lipids, ions, and stress responses, and how these interactions influence cancer-related behaviors. The FOA encourages treating organelles as a coordinated network rather than isolated compartments.

Which organelles are specifically mentioned as relevant to this research area?

The FOA highlights mitochondria, the endoplasmic reticulum, lysosomes, peroxisomes, the Golgi apparatus, and the nucleus as examples of organelles that participate in ongoing communication relevant to cancer biology.

What kinds of cancer behaviors or outcomes is this FOA interested in?

The FOA is interested in how inter-organelle interactions influence what cancer cells do and how they change over time, including survival under stress, metabolic rewiring, therapy resistance, invasion into surrounding tissue, and shifting between different cellular states (phenotypic plasticity).

Does the FOA focus only on malignant cancer cells?

No. A key feature is that it supports studies in both cancer cells and tumor-associated cells within the tumor microenvironment. Projects may examine inter-organelle communication within malignant cells or within supportive/interacting cell populations involved in tumor growth and treatment resistance.

Which tumor microenvironment cell types are mentioned as within scope?

The FOA explicitly mentions immune cells, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and other stromal components as examples of tumor-associated cells that can be studied in the context of inter-organelle communication.

What types of biological processes or mechanisms could be considered responsive to this FOA?

Examples given include investigating how organelle contact sites form and function; how stress in one organelle triggers compensatory changes in another; and how organelle dynamics such as fission/fusion, trafficking, and turnover shape cancer behavior.

Is therapeutic relevance part of the FOA’s intent?

Yes. The FOA notes that inter-organelle communication may create vulnerabilities that could be targeted therapeutically. Projects would typically be expected to clarify mechanisms and, where appropriate, indicate how disrupting or exploiting these pathways could inform prevention, diagnosis, or therapy.

Is this program described as discretionary?

Yes. The opportunity is described as an NIH discretionary grant program.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The FOA is associated with CFDA number 93.396.

When was this opportunity created, and what is the listed closing date?

The opportunity was created on March 7, 2017. The original closing date listed in the provided details is January 15, 2020.

Is an award ceiling (maximum award amount) provided in the information available here?

No. The source details provided do not include an explicit award ceiling. Applicants are generally expected to consult the full NIH posting and institute-specific budget guidance for precise limits.

Is the expected number of awards provided in the information available here?

No. The provided fields do not specify the number of expected awards, which typically means applicants need to refer to the full NIH announcement for additional context.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes many applicant types commonly allowed under NIH policies. Eligible applicants listed include a wide range of U.S. domestic organizations (government entities, higher education institutions, nonprofits, for-profits, and small businesses), as well as additional categories explicitly highlighted in the FOA, including certain minority-serving institutions and non-U.S. (foreign) organizations.

Which government entities are listed as eligible applicants?

Eligible government applicants include state, county, city or township, and special district governments.

Are school districts and housing authorities eligible?

Yes. Independent school districts are listed as eligible, as are public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities.

Are colleges and universities eligible?

Yes. Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, as well as private institutions of higher education, are listed as eligible.

Are nonprofit organizations eligible?

Yes. Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) IRS status and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status are listed as eligible (with the caveat in the provided text noting eligibility categories as stated for those nonprofit types).

Are for-profit organizations eligible?

Yes. For-profit organizations other than small businesses are listed as eligible, and small businesses are also listed as eligible.

Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?

Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments are eligible, and tribal organizations that are not federally recognized are also listed as eligible.

Are minority-serving institutions specifically encouraged or included?

The FOA explicitly highlights 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), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) as eligible applicant groups.

Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?

Yes. Faith-based or community-based organizations are explicitly listed among eligible applicant groups.

Are federal agencies eligible to apply?

Yes. Eligible federal agencies are included among the listed eligible applicant groups.

Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?

Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are explicitly listed as eligible applicant groups.

Are regional organizations eligible?

Yes. Regional organizations are listed among eligible applicant groups.

Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible?

Yes. The FOA explicitly includes non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) among eligible applicant groups.

What is the broader rationale behind focusing on inter-organelle communication in cancer?

The FOA’s rationale is that cancer progression and adaptation depend not only on mutations and external signaling, but also on how organelles coordinate internal signaling and stress responses. Understanding these internal coordination mechanisms may help explain how tumors survive stress, adapt metabolically, resist therapy, and change cellular states over time.