Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 20 034
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity PAR-20-034, titled Fundamental Mechanisms of Affective and Decisional Processes in Cancer Control (R01 Clinical Trial Optional), supports research that digs into the basic, underlying mechanisms of emotion (affect) and how those emotional processes shape decision-making and behavior in cancer prevention and cancer control. The central idea is to move beyond simply describing that emotions matter and instead produce fundamental, generalizable knowledge about how affect works, how it interacts with cognition and context, and how it ultimately influences real-world cancer-related choices and actions.
A key emphasis of the announcement is that affective science should connect clearly to decisions and behaviors across the cancer prevention and control continuum. That includes both single-event decisions, such as whether someone gets a recommended cancer screening, as well as repeated or multi-event behaviors that unfold over time, such as sticking with a long-term medication plan or maintaining adherence to an oral chemotherapy regimen. In practice, the projects this FOA seeks are those that can explain why people make certain cancer-related choices under emotional influence, what emotional processes are driving those choices, and how those processes might vary across situations, populations, and stages of prevention, diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, or end-of-life care.
The FOA also signals a strong interest in cross-disciplinary collaboration, specifically encouraging teams that connect cancer control researchers with experts from fields not always tied directly to cancer applications. Examples named in the opportunity include affective and cognitive neuroscience, decision science, and consumer science. The motivation is to bring rigorous theories, methods, and measurement approaches from these fields to tackle problems that are considered puzzling or understudied in affective and decision sciences, while keeping a clear line of sight to downstream implications for cancer prevention and control. In other words, the work should be foundational in what it discovers about affect and decisions, but also positioned so that what is learned can later inform intervention development, communication strategies, behavioral support tools, or policy-relevant approaches in cancer control.
Mechanistically oriented studies are a natural fit under this announcement, especially those that clarify how emotions such as fear, worry, anxiety, regret, hope, shame, or anticipated emotions shape risk perception, information processing, preferences, and follow-through behaviors. The FOA is designed for projects that can help explain phenomena like avoidance of screening due to fear, inconsistent adherence when treatment decisions are emotionally taxing, difficulty acting on preventive guidance when people feel overwhelmed, or changes in decision quality under stress. While the opportunity is not limited to any single method, the framing favors careful theory-driven work that can isolate processes, test competing explanations, and produce knowledge that transfers across different cancer-related contexts.
This is an R01 grant mechanism, which generally supports substantial, multi-year research projects. The listing specifies that a clinical trial is optional, meaning applicants may propose studies that include a clinical trial component if appropriate, but they are not required to do so. Many projects may be observational, experimental, or laboratory- and field-based studies focused on mechanisms of affect and decision-making, while others may test interventions if they meet the NIH definition of a clinical trial and align with the FOA’s objectives.
Eligibility is broad. In addition to typical eligible organizations such as public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (including entities other than small businesses), and small businesses, the FOA includes a wide range of governmental and community-based applicants. These include state, county, city or township, and special district governments; independent school districts; Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) and other tribal organizations; and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. The announcement explicitly highlights additional 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, U.S. territories or possessions, and even non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations). That breadth reflects an interest in expanding who conducts affective and decision science in cancer control and encouraging research that can be sensitive to diverse populations and contexts.
Administratively, this is a discretionary NIH grant opportunity in the health domain (CFDA 93.393). The FOA was created on 2019-10-18, and the source data lists an original closing date of 2023-01-07. Award ceiling and expected awards are not specified in the provided source information, so applicants would normally rely on the full FOA text and NIH Institute/Center guidance for budget expectations, paylines, and submission cycles.
Overall, this opportunity is aimed at researchers who can produce strong basic-science insights about emotion and decision-making while keeping those insights anchored to consequential cancer-related behaviors. The strongest fit is work that explains mechanisms in a way that can ultimately help improve prevention uptake, treatment adherence, patient decision quality, risk communication, and other behavioral outcomes that shape cancer burden and equity.Apply for PAR 20 034
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Fundamental Mechanisms of Affective and Decisional Processes in Cancer Control (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.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2019-10-18.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-01-07. (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.
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FAQs: NIH PAR-20-034 - Fundamental Mechanisms of Affective and Decisional Processes in Cancer Control (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)
What is the funding opportunity PAR-20-034 about?
PAR-20-034 is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity that supports research on the fundamental mechanisms of affect (emotion) and how affective processes shape decision-making and behavior in cancer prevention and cancer control. The focus is on explaining how emotion works and how it interacts with cognition and context to influence real-world cancer-related choices and actions.
What is the main goal of this FOA?
The goal is to move beyond simply showing that emotions matter and instead produce fundamental, generalizable knowledge about affective mechanisms that drive cancer-related decisions and behaviors across the cancer prevention and control continuum.
What grant mechanism is used for this opportunity?
This opportunity uses the NIH R01 mechanism, which generally supports substantial, multi-year research projects.
Are clinical trials required under this FOA?
No. The FOA specifies "Clinical Trial Optional," meaning applicants may include a clinical trial component if appropriate, but a clinical trial is not required.
What kinds of studies are a good fit if a clinical trial is not proposed?
The FOA describes many projects as likely being observational, experimental, or laboratory- and field-based studies focused on mechanisms of affect and decision-making. The emphasis is on theory-driven work that can isolate processes, test competing explanations, and generate findings that transfer across cancer-related contexts.
What kinds of cancer-related decisions and behaviors does the FOA care about?
The FOA emphasizes affective science that connects clearly to decisions and behaviors across the cancer prevention and control continuum. Examples include single-event decisions (such as whether someone gets a recommended cancer screening) and repeated or multi-event behaviors over time (such as adhering to long-term medication plans or maintaining adherence to an oral chemotherapy regimen).
Which stages of the cancer continuum are relevant to this opportunity?
The FOA indicates relevance across prevention, diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, and end-of-life care, as long as the work is anchored to consequential cancer-related decisions and behaviors influenced by affect.
What does "fundamental mechanisms" mean in the context of this FOA?
In this FOA, "fundamental mechanisms" refers to basic, underlying processes that explain how emotions influence risk perception, information processing, preferences, and follow-through behaviors. The intent is to generate generalizable knowledge, not just context-specific descriptions.
What emotions or affective processes are specifically mentioned as relevant?
The FOA highlights emotions such as fear, worry, anxiety, regret, hope, shame, and anticipated emotions, and it emphasizes understanding how these processes shape decisions and behaviors relevant to cancer prevention and control.
What types of real-world problems or phenomena does this FOA aim to explain?
The FOA is framed to support mechanistic explanations for issues such as avoidance of screening due to fear, inconsistent adherence when treatment decisions are emotionally taxing, difficulty acting on preventive guidance when people feel overwhelmed, and changes in decision quality under stress.
Is the opportunity limited to a specific research method?
No. The FOA is not limited to any single method, but it favors careful, theory-driven research designs that can isolate mechanisms, test competing explanations, and produce knowledge that transfers across different cancer-related contexts.
How important is cross-disciplinary collaboration for this FOA?
Cross-disciplinary collaboration is strongly encouraged. The FOA specifically encourages teams that connect cancer control researchers with experts from fields not always tied directly to cancer applications.
Which outside disciplines are explicitly encouraged for collaboration?
The FOA names affective and cognitive neuroscience, decision science, and consumer science as examples of fields that can contribute rigorous theories, methods, and measurement approaches.
Why does the FOA emphasize collaboration with disciplines like neuroscience, decision science, or consumer science?
The stated motivation is to bring rigorous theory, methods, and measurement from these fields to address problems that may be puzzling or understudied in affective and decision sciences, while keeping a clear connection to downstream implications for cancer prevention and control.
Does the FOA require that studies directly test interventions?
No. The FOA is centered on foundational, mechanistic research. However, it also notes that some projects may test interventions if they meet the NIH definition of a clinical trial and align with the FOA's objectives.
How should applicants connect basic affective science to cancer control outcomes?
Based on the FOA description, proposed work should be foundational in what it discovers about affect and decisions, but still positioned so what is learned can later inform intervention development, communication strategies, behavioral support tools, or policy-relevant approaches in cancer control.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status); for-profit organizations (including entities other than small businesses); and small businesses.
Are government entities eligible to apply?
Yes. The FOA includes state, county, city or township, and special district governments, as well as independent school districts, among eligible applicants.
Are tribal entities eligible to apply?
Yes. The FOA includes Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) and other tribal organizations as eligible applicants.
Are community-based or faith-based organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The FOA explicitly highlights faith-based or community-based organizations and regional organizations as eligible applicants.
Are minority-serving institutions explicitly included in eligibility?
Yes. 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), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), and other organizations.
Can organizations in U.S. territories apply?
Yes. The FOA highlights U.S. territories or possessions among eligible applicants.
Are foreign organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The FOA explicitly notes that non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) are eligible.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 93.393.
When was this FOA created?
The FOA was created on 2019-10-18.
What is the closing date shown in the provided information?
The source information provided lists an original closing date of 2023-01-07.
Does the provided information specify an award ceiling?
No. The provided source information does not specify an award ceiling.
Does the provided information specify the expected number of awards?
No. The provided source information does not specify the expected number of awards.
How should applicants think about budget expectations given the missing award details?
Based on the provided information, award ceiling and expected awards are not specified, so applicants would typically rely on the full FOA text and NIH Institute/Center guidance for budget expectations, paylines, and submission cycles.
What types of outcomes or impacts does the FOA ultimately want to enable?
The FOA is aimed at research that explains mechanisms in a way that can ultimately help improve prevention uptake, treatment adherence, patient decision quality, risk communication, and other behavioral outcomes that shape cancer burden and equity.
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