Radiation Oncology-Biology Integration Network (ROBIN) Centers (U54 Clinical Trial Required) | RFA CA 22 046

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.

• 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.

Apply for RFA CA 22 046

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