Pragmatic Trials across the Cancer Control Continuum (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Required) | PAR 22 256

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 22 256

The National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is soliciting applications for a grant opportunity titled "Pragmatic Trials across the Cancer Control Continuum (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Required)" (Funding Opportunity Number PAR-22-256). The central aim is to speed up the generation of real-world evidence on cancer-related interventions that can meaningfully improve cancer outcomes while directly addressing health equity. A key theme of the announcement is that studies should reflect the diversity of people and the wide range of care and community settings across the United States, so the findings are more likely to be applicable beyond a narrow, highly controlled research environment.

This opportunity specifically funds pragmatic trials, meaning studies designed to test how well an intervention works under typical, real-world conditions rather than idealized circumstances. NCI is looking for research that evaluates the impact of cancer-related interventions on cancer-related outcomes across the cancer control continuum, which generally spans prevention, screening and early detection, diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, and end-of-life care. Projects are expected to measure outcomes that matter in practice and policy, and to do so in the kinds of systems where people actually receive care or cancer-related services, such as clinics, hospitals, community health centers, public health programs, and community-based organizations. The emphasis on equity signals that applicants should be attentive to populations and settings that have historically experienced worse cancer outcomes or reduced access to high-quality prevention and care.

The award uses a phased cooperative agreement mechanism, UG3/UH3, and it is explicitly a clinical trial required funding announcement. In practical terms, this means the project is structured in two stages with milestone-driven progression. The UG3 phase supports preparatory work: refining or adapting the intervention for the intended settings and populations, strengthening partnerships with participating sites, finalizing the pragmatic trial design, completing operational planning, and addressing other startup requirements that must be in place before full trial launch. If the UG3 milestones are met, the project transitions to the UH3 phase, during which the pragmatic trial is actually conducted and outcomes are evaluated. As a cooperative agreement, it also implies a more hands-on scientific and programmatic partnership with NIH/NCI staff than a traditional grant, with substantial NIH involvement consistent with cooperative agreement norms.

Eligibility is broad and intentionally inclusive of many organization types that can support pragmatic, practice-based research. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations other than federally recognized governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The FOA also highlights additional eligible applicant categories that align with the equity and community-setting focus, such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions, as well as Indian/Native American tribal governments other than federally recognized.

Foreign eligibility is limited in a way that is typical for many NIH opportunities. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities 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.-based applicant may include certain kinds of international collaboration or activities if they meet NIH definitions and requirements, even though a foreign institution cannot be the applicant organization.

Administratively, this is a discretionary funding opportunity using the cooperative agreement funding instrument within the health activity category, associated with CFDA number 93.855. The posting indicates an original closing date of 2025-11-17. While the award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided data, applicants should generally anticipate that budget and scope will need to match the complexity of conducting a pragmatic clinical trial and the phased UG3/UH3 structure, including clear milestones for readiness to transition from planning to trial execution.

In summary, PAR-22-256 is designed for teams ready to rigorously test cancer control interventions in real-world conditions, with a clear commitment to improving equity and ensuring that evidence reflects the full diversity of U.S. populations and settings. The two-phase UG3/UH3 structure is meant to reduce avoidable trial failures by funding upfront preparation and requiring concrete readiness milestones before moving into full-scale pragmatic trial implementation.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Pragmatic Trials across the Cancer Control Continuum (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Required)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.855.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2022-11-23.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-11-17. (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 22 256

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