Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 25 130
The Metastasis Research Network (MetNet): MetNet Research Projects (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity (PAR-25-130) that supports research projects aimed at understanding metastasis using systems-level approaches. The core idea behind MetNet is that metastasis is not a simple linear chain of events, but a set of non-linear, dynamic, and emergent biological processes that unfold over time and across multiple biological scales. Rather than treating metastasis as a tumor-only phenomenon, the network encourages projects that frame it as a whole-body, systems problem involving interactions among cancer cells, host tissues, immune responses, organ microenvironments, and other physiological factors. The program is structured to help the field build a more integrated and cohesive picture of metastasis by considering both chronological progression (how metastatic disease evolves over time) and biological scale (from molecular and cellular mechanisms up through tissues, organs, and organism-level behavior).
This opportunity uses the cooperative agreement mechanism (U01), meaning awardees should expect a more collaborative, programmatic relationship with NIH than in a standard research grant. In practice, cooperative agreements often involve substantial NIH scientific or programmatic involvement, network coordination, shared goals, and expectations around collaboration and data or resource sharing. The funding instrument is listed as discretionary, and the activity category is Education, Health, with CFDA number 93.396. Importantly, the announcement specifies “Clinical Trial Not Allowed,” so applications must be designed as non-clinical-trial research projects. That generally means projects should not prospectively assign human participants to interventions to evaluate health outcomes. Applicants can still often work with human biospecimens, existing datasets, or observational human studies depending on the specific NIH definitions and the final study design, but they must avoid meeting the NIH definition of a clinical trial.
The opportunity is broadly open to a wide range of applicant organizations. Eligible applicants include multiple levels of government (state, county, city/township, special district), independent school districts, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, and Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized. It also includes public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses. The solicitation also explicitly highlights additional eligible groups 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, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations). Taken together, that list signals NIH’s intent to encourage broad participation across institution types, including organizations that serve underrepresented communities and international partners where appropriate.
Key administrative details included in the source information are the original closing date of June 20, 2025, and an award ceiling of $500,000. The posting lists “Expected Awards:” but does not provide a number in the provided source text, so the anticipated count of funded projects is not specified here. The opportunity record was created on October 25, 2024. In short, this program is designed for teams that want to tackle metastasis as a complex, evolving system and are prepared to operate within a coordinated, NIH-involved network environment, while staying firmly outside the clinical trial space.Apply for PAR 25 130
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "The Metastasis Research Network (MetNet): MetNet Research Projects (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.396.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2024-10-25.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-06-20. (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 $500,000.00 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is the MetNet Research Projects opportunity (PAR-25-130)?
The Metastasis Research Network (MetNet): MetNet Research Projects (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) is an NIH funding opportunity (PAR-25-130) that supports research projects focused on understanding metastasis using systems-level approaches.
2) What is the main scientific focus of this program?
The program is centered on studying metastasis as a non-linear, dynamic, and emergent set of biological processes that unfold over time and across multiple biological scales. It encourages research that treats metastasis as a whole-body, systems problem rather than a tumor-only phenomenon.
3) How does MetNet define a "systems-level" approach to metastasis?
Based on the description provided, a systems-level approach considers interacting components across the body and across scales, including cancer cells, host tissues, immune responses, organ microenvironments, and other physiological factors, and aims to integrate these into a more cohesive picture of how metastatic disease develops and progresses.
4) What does it mean that metastasis is "not a simple linear chain of events" in this program?
It means the program is looking for projects that recognize metastasis as a complex process with feedback, interactions, and emergent behavior, rather than a single step-by-step pathway that looks the same in every context.
5) What kinds of interactions does MetNet encourage applicants to study?
The program encourages applicants to frame metastasis around interactions among cancer cells, host tissues, immune responses, organ microenvironments, and other physiological factors that may shape metastatic progression.
6) Does the program emphasize how metastasis changes over time?
Yes. The description highlights the importance of chronological progression, meaning how metastatic disease evolves over time, as part of building a more integrated understanding of metastasis.
7) Does the program also emphasize multiple biological scales?
Yes. The program emphasizes biological scale, spanning molecular and cellular mechanisms up through tissues, organs, and organism-level behavior.
8) What is the funding mechanism for this opportunity?
This opportunity uses the cooperative agreement mechanism (U01).
9) What does a U01 cooperative agreement typically imply for awardees?
A U01 generally implies a more collaborative and programmatic relationship with NIH than a standard research grant. The information provided indicates that cooperative agreements often involve substantial NIH scientific or programmatic involvement, network coordination, shared goals, and expectations around collaboration and data or resource sharing.
10) Is this opportunity a clinical trial funding announcement?
No. The announcement specifies "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," meaning applications must be designed as non-clinical-trial research projects.
11) What does "Clinical Trial Not Allowed" mean in practical terms?
It means projects should not be designed to prospectively assign human participants to interventions to evaluate health outcomes (i.e., they must avoid meeting the NIH definition of a clinical trial).
12) Can a project include human-related research at all if clinical trials are not allowed?
The provided information indicates applicants can often still work with human biospecimens, existing datasets, or observational human studies depending on NIH definitions and the final study design, but the project must avoid meeting the NIH definition of a clinical trial.
13) Who is eligible to apply for this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is broadly open to a wide range of applicant organizations, including multiple levels of government, eligible educational institutions (public and private), tribal governments and tribal organizations (including those not federally recognized), public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses.
14) Are institutions of higher education eligible?
Yes. Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are listed as eligible applicants.
15) Are small businesses eligible?
Yes. Small businesses are explicitly included among eligible applicants.
16) Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. For-profit organizations other than small businesses are listed as eligible, and small businesses are also eligible.
17) Are nonprofit organizations eligible?
Yes. Nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status are included (as long as they are not institutions of higher education).
18) Are tribal entities eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments are listed as eligible, and Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized are also included.
19) Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?
Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are explicitly highlighted as eligible.
20) Are foreign (non-U.S.) organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The eligibility list includes non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations).
21) Are minority-serving institutions specifically encouraged or eligible?
Yes. The solicitation explicitly highlights eligibility for Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, Hispanic-serving Institutions, HBCUs, and TCCUs, among others.
22) Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. Faith-based or community-based organizations are explicitly highlighted as eligible.
23) Are federal agencies eligible to apply?
Yes. The opportunity lists eligible federal agencies among the explicitly highlighted eligible groups.
24) What is the award ceiling for this opportunity?
The award ceiling listed in the provided information is $500,000.
25) When is the closing date for applications?
The original closing date provided is June 20, 2025.
26) How many awards does NIH expect to make under this opportunity?
The posting lists "Expected Awards," but the provided source text does not include a number. Based on the information provided only, the anticipated count of funded projects is not specified here.
27) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 93.396.
28) What is the activity category for this funding opportunity?
The activity category is listed as Education, Health.
29) What does it mean that the funding instrument is "discretionary"?
The opportunity record lists the funding instrument as discretionary. No further detail is provided in the supplied description.
30) When was this opportunity record created?
The opportunity record was created on October 25, 2024.
31) What kind of research team is this opportunity designed for?
Based on the program description, it is designed for teams prepared to study metastasis as a complex, evolving system and to work within a coordinated network environment with NIH involvement, while ensuring the work stays outside the clinical trial space.
32) Does this program expect collaboration and sharing across projects?
Yes. The U01 cooperative agreement structure described indicates expectations around collaboration, network coordination, shared goals, and data or resource sharing.
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