Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA CA 22 046
The Radiation Oncology-Biology Integration Network (ROBIN) Centers funding opportunity (RFA-CA-22-046) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) cooperative agreement that aims to create a small set of U54 Research Centers forming a coordinated national network focused on radiation oncology and cancer biology. The central goal is to build an agile, collaborative infrastructure that can tackle key translational research questions about the biological basis of how cancer patients respond to radiation therapy. In practical terms, the program is meant to connect radiation oncology with mechanistic and hypothesis-driven biology, helping to close gaps between what is observed clinically during radiotherapy and the underlying biological processes driving tumor control, resistance, and normal tissue effects.
A defining feature of the initiative is its emphasis on hypothesis-based translational research in patients receiving radiation treatment. The FOA explicitly frames the need as understanding patient responses to radiation, which typically implies integrated efforts that may include clinically annotated biospecimens, coordinated protocols, harmonized data capture, and analytical approaches capable of linking radiation dose and treatment context to biological endpoints. Because this is a U54 cooperative agreement, awardees should expect substantial programmatic involvement from NIH staff compared to a standard grant, with the intent that the Centers operate as a unified network rather than isolated projects.
The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding and uses the cooperative agreement mechanism (U54). It is listed under the Health and Education, Health activity categories and corresponds to CFDA numbers 93.394 and 93.395. The FOA title includes "Clinical Trial Required," indicating that supported activities are expected to include clinical trial components or trials as defined by NIH policy, rather than being limited to observational or purely preclinical work. Applicants would need to plan accordingly for trial-related design, regulatory oversight, patient protections, and data and safety considerations consistent with NIH clinical research requirements.
Funding parameters provided in the source information indicate an award ceiling of $1,000,000 and an anticipated two awards, suggesting a competitive program designed to support a limited number of well-resourced Centers with the capacity to contribute meaningfully to a national network. The original closing date for applications was October 3, 2022, and the FOA was created on August 15, 2022, which situates it as a time-limited solicitation rather than an ongoing open solicitation.
Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations and includes various levels of government (state, county, city/township, and special district governments), public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (with and without 501(c)(3) status, excluding institutions of higher education), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses. It also includes federally recognized Native American tribal governments and tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments. The FOA further highlights additional eligible applicant types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions.
At the same time, the FOA draws clear boundaries around foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible. However, "foreign components" as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement are allowed, meaning a U.S. applicant may include certain specific, justified foreign collaborations or elements within NIH policy limits, even though the applicant organization itself must be domestic and the primary organizational components must remain U.S.-based.
Overall, the ROBIN Centers program is structured to seed a coordinated national capability in radiation oncology translational science, with Centers expected to work collectively on clinically grounded biological questions tied to radiation treatment response. The combination of the U54 cooperative model, the network framing, and the clinical trial requirement signals that NIH intended these awards to produce shared infrastructure, harmonized approaches, and actionable biological insights that can be tested in patients and ultimately inform how radiation is delivered, combined with other therapies, or tailored to individual biology.Apply for RFA CA 22 046
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Radiation Oncology-Biology Integration Network (ROBIN) Centers (U54 Clinical Trial Required)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.394, 93.395.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2022-08-15.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-10-03. (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 $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), 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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the ROBIN Centers funding opportunity?
The Radiation Oncology-Biology Integration Network (ROBIN) Centers funding opportunity (RFA-CA-22-046) is an NIH cooperative agreement designed to support a small set of U54 Research Centers that operate together as a coordinated national network focused on radiation oncology and cancer biology.
What is the main goal of the ROBIN Centers program?
The central goal is to build an agile, collaborative infrastructure to address key translational research questions about the biological basis of how cancer patients respond to radiation therapy. The program is intended to connect clinical observations during radiotherapy with mechanistic, hypothesis-driven biology.
What types of research does the FOA emphasize?
The FOA emphasizes hypothesis-based translational research in patients receiving radiation treatment, focused on understanding tumor control, resistance, and normal tissue effects in the context of radiotherapy.
How is this program different from individual, stand-alone research projects?
The program is explicitly structured as a coordinated national network rather than isolated projects. Awardees are expected to operate as unified Centers that work collectively, using shared or harmonized approaches to tackle clinically grounded biological questions tied to radiation treatment response.
What funding mechanism is used for this opportunity?
This opportunity uses the NIH cooperative agreement mechanism (U54), which is designed for Research Centers and includes substantial programmatic involvement from NIH staff compared to standard grant mechanisms.
What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement (U54)?
As a U54 cooperative agreement, recipients should expect significant NIH staff involvement in the program, with the intent that the funded Centers function as a coordinated network and contribute to collective goals, infrastructure, and harmonized efforts.
Does the FOA require a clinical trial?
Yes. The FOA title includes "Clinical Trial Required," indicating that supported activities are expected to include clinical trial components or clinical trials as defined by NIH policy, rather than being limited to observational studies or purely preclinical work.
What practical capabilities or infrastructure does the program anticipate?
Based on the FOA framing around patient responses to radiation, the program typically implies integrated efforts such as clinically annotated biospecimens, coordinated protocols, harmonized data capture, and analytical approaches that connect radiation dose and treatment context to biological endpoints.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The funding parameters provided indicate an award ceiling of $1,000,000.
How many awards are anticipated?
The opportunity anticipates two awards, suggesting a competitive program intended to support a limited number of well-resourced Centers.
When was the FOA created, and when did it close?
The FOA was created on August 15, 2022, and the original closing date for applications was October 3, 2022. This indicates it was a time-limited solicitation rather than an open, ongoing opportunity.
What agency is sponsoring this opportunity?
The opportunity is sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
How is the opportunity categorized?
It is categorized as discretionary funding and falls under the Health and Education, Health activity categories.
Which CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity corresponds to CFDA numbers 93.394 and 93.395.
Which organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations and includes state, county, city/township, and special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations (with and without 501(c)(3) status, excluding institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses.
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments are eligible, and tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments are also included in the eligibility list.
Are Minority Serving Institutions and other special institution types eligible?
Yes. The FOA highlights eligibility for Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISI institutions, Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs).
Are federal agencies eligible to apply?
Yes. Eligible applicant types include eligible federal agencies.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible to apply?
Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are included in the eligible applicant types.
Can a non-U.S. organization apply as the applicant?
No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities are not eligible to apply.
Can a U.S. organization apply if it plans to conduct part of the work outside the U.S.?
Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible. However, "foreign components" as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement are allowed, meaning a U.S. applicant may include specific and justified foreign collaborations or elements within NIH policy limits, as long as the applicant organization is domestic and the primary organizational components remain U.S.-based.
What is the intended outcome of the ROBIN Centers network?
The program is designed to seed a coordinated national capability in radiation oncology translational science, producing shared infrastructure, harmonized approaches, and actionable biological insights that can be tested in patients and potentially inform how radiation is delivered, combined with other therapies, or tailored to individual biology.
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