Innovative Approaches to Studying Cancer Communication in the New Information Ecosystem (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) | PA 25 295

Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 25 295

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is inviting R21 applications under PA-25-295 to support early-stage, high-impact research on cancer communication in what it calls the "new information ecosystem." The focus is on how people encounter, interpret, share, and act on cancer information today, across rapidly changing platforms and channels, and how communication processes ultimately affect behaviors and outcomes tied to cancer prevention and control. This opportunity is designed for projects that bring communication science directly to bear on real-world cancer-related behavioral targets and health outcomes, and it encourages applicants to use at least one innovative communication research methodology. Clinical trials are optional, meaning studies may include clinical trial elements if appropriate, but they are not required.

The FOA highlights three main research domains. First, it supports work on the utility and application of new cancer communication surveillance approaches. In practice, that means developing or adapting ways to monitor cancer communication patterns as they occur in modern environments, such as digital media spaces, fragmented news ecosystems, online communities, and other fast-moving information channels. The intent is to strengthen the field's ability to track exposure, engagement, misinformation or confusion, message diffusion, audience segmentation, and related indicators that can inform cancer prevention and control strategies. Second, the FOA encourages the development and testing of rapid cancer communication pilot interventions using innovative methods and designs. This domain emphasizes speed and agility, supporting pilot studies that can be launched, iterated, and evaluated efficiently, using creative designs that fit contemporary communication settings, where information and narratives shift quickly. Third, it funds the development and testing of multilevel cancer communication models that emphasize bidirectional influence between levels. This points to research that treats communication as operating across interacting layers (for example, individual beliefs and behaviors, interpersonal networks, community contexts, healthcare systems, media environments, and policy) and explicitly examines how influence can move in both directions rather than flowing only from top-down messaging to individuals.

Across all three domains, NCI is looking for projects that apply communication science approaches to understand and influence behaviors and outcomes relevant to cancer prevention and control. The FOA is not limited to any single channel or population, but it clearly prioritizes methodological innovation and the realities of modern information exposure. The expectation is that proposed studies will do more than describe communication phenomena in the abstract; they should connect communication mechanisms to measurable behavioral targets (such as screening uptake, vaccination decisions, risk-reduction behaviors, treatment decision-making, or information-seeking) and to outcomes that matter for population health and equity. Because this is an R21 mechanism, it is generally aligned with exploratory or developmental work, including proof-of-concept studies, pilot testing, and the generation of preliminary evidence that can justify larger, subsequent projects.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of domestic organizations. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses, among others. The FOA also explicitly calls out additional eligible groups such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions. At the same time, it draws a firm boundary around foreign involvement: non-U.S. (foreign) organizations are not eligible to apply, non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as defined by NIH policy) are not allowed.

Administratively, the opportunity is a discretionary NIH grant in the education and health activity category, listed under CFDA 93.399, with an original closing date of 2025-09-07 and a creation date of 2024-11-21. The announcement does not provide an award ceiling or expected number of awards in the provided excerpt, so applicants would need to consult the full FOA and NIH policy details for budget structure, project period expectations, and any institute-specific guidance. Overall, the opportunity is aimed at pushing cancer communication research to better match how information now spreads and shapes behavior, supporting novel surveillance, rapid intervention pilots, and multilevel models that reflect two-way influence across individuals, networks, institutions, and broader information environments.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Innovative Approaches to Studying Cancer Communication in the New Information Ecosystem (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): 93.399.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-11-21.
• 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.)
• 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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