Biology of Bladder Cancer (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 22 219

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 22 219

The National Institutes of Health is offering a discretionary grant opportunity titled "Biology of Bladder Cancer (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)" (Funding Opportunity Number PAR-22-219) to support exploratory, early-stage research that digs into the core biology of bladder cancer. The purpose of this announcement is to move the field beyond gene lists and tumor profiles and toward a clearer, mechanism-based understanding of how bladder cancer starts, evolves, and becomes aggressive. Although researchers have made meaningful progress identifying mutations and molecular subtypes, the FOA emphasizes that the fundamental drivers of initiation, progression, and malignancy remain poorly understood, and that this gap limits the development of more effective prevention and treatment strategies.

A major theme of the opportunity is that understanding bladder cancer requires better baseline knowledge of the normal bladder itself. The NIH highlights that molecular, cellular, and organ-level biology of the healthy bladder is still not fully mapped, and that cancer-related changes can only be interpreted properly when normal biology is well characterized. Projects are therefore encouraged to investigate how normal bladder processes are altered during transformation and tumor evolution, with the goal of uncovering pathways and cellular behaviors that could eventually become intervention targets. This can include research that links molecular changes to shifts in cell state, tissue organization, the tumor microenvironment, or other biological processes that meaningfully explain disease behavior rather than simply describing it.

The FOA specifically encourages multidisciplinary approaches and studies that leverage clinical specimens, reflecting a preference for teams that can integrate complementary expertise such as molecular biology, genomics, pathology, immunology, computational biology, bioengineering, or related fields. Applications that bridge normal bladder biology and cancer biology, or that connect mechanistic lab work to observations in patient-derived materials, are especially aligned with the goals described. Clinical trials are optional under this R21 mechanism, meaning applicants may propose clinical research components when appropriate, but they are not required to run a clinical trial to be responsive.

This opportunity uses the NIH R21 funding mechanism, which is typically designed for exploratory or proof-of-concept studies that may be higher-risk but potentially high-impact. The listed award ceiling is $275,000, supporting smaller, focused projects intended to generate key mechanistic insights and/or preliminary data that could justify larger follow-on studies later. The original closing date provided is 2025-09-07, and the program is associated with CFDA number 93.393.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of domestic organizations such as state, county, and local governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; independent school districts; special district governments; federally recognized tribal governments; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits both with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in those nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The announcement also calls out additional eligible applicant categories, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISI institutions, Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, U.S. territories or possessions, and non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations), among others. Overall, the FOA is structured to attract a wide range of applicants capable of contributing innovative biological insight into bladder cancer, particularly work that can clarify mechanisms and connect discoveries to real human disease contexts.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Biology of Bladder Cancer (R21 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 2022-07-26.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-09-07. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $275,000.00 in funding.
• 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 22 219

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