Molecular Imaging of Inflammation in Cancer (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR 24 311

FAQs: NIH PAR-24-311 - Molecular Imaging of Inflammation in Cancer (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

What is PAR-24-311?

PAR-24-311 is an NIH funding opportunity titled "Molecular Imaging of Inflammation in Cancer (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)." It supports R01 research projects that develop and apply molecular imaging technologies to study cancer-related inflammation in living systems (in vivo).

What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?

The central goal is to improve how cancer-related inflammation is studied in vivo by developing and applying current or emerging molecular imaging technologies. The intent is to generate fundamental insights into how inflammation interacts with cancer over time, with better spatial and temporal resolution than approaches that rely mainly on in vitro or ex vivo methods.

What problem is this NOFO trying to address?

The NOFO is based on the premise that many studies of cancer inflammation still rely heavily on in vitro or ex vivo approaches, which can miss the dynamic and evolving nature of inflammatory processes within tumors and across the body. By emphasizing in vivo molecular imaging, the program aims to enable observations that are difficult or impossible to capture using bench-based or tissue-only methods alone.

What type of grant mechanism is used?

This opportunity uses the NIH R01 mechanism.

Are clinical trials allowed under this opportunity?

No. The NOFO is explicitly designated as "Clinical Trial Not Allowed." Applications should propose research and method development that does not meet NIH criteria for a clinical trial.

What kind of research does this NOFO support?

The NOFO supports research focused on molecular imaging probes and integrated imaging strategies that can characterize inflammatory biology at the molecular and cellular level in real time or near real time. The goal is to interrogate cancer-inflammation interactions in vivo in a mechanistically informative and quantitatively robust way.

What is meant by "molecular imaging of inflammation in cancer" in this context?

In this NOFO, molecular imaging refers to technologies and methods (including probes/tracers and integrated imaging strategies) used to observe and measure inflammation-related biology in living systems, with emphasis on capturing molecular and cellular processes within the tumor microenvironment over time.

Does the NOFO allow projects relevant to both preclinical and clinical research?

Yes. The NOFO includes approaches suitable for both preclinical and clinical investigations, as long as the proposed work does not include a clinical trial.

What kinds of imaging advancements are encouraged?

Examples described in the NOFO include developing novel probes, optimizing existing tracers for higher specificity, combining complementary imaging modalities, and building imaging workflows that link molecular readouts to biological mechanisms relevant to tumor initiation, progression, immune involvement, and treatment response.

What biological questions is the program trying to enable investigators to answer?

The program aims to enable in vivo insights into how inflammation interacts with cancer over time, including identifying and quantifying inflammatory cell physiology within cancers, tracking molecular changes as tumors evolve, and observing how inflammation-related pathways respond to therapies.

Why is there an emphasis on in vivo studies?

The NOFO emphasizes in vivo studies because inflammatory processes in cancer can be dynamic and time-varying, and those features can be missed when relying primarily on in vitro or ex vivo experiments. In vivo imaging is positioned as a way to achieve more realistic spatial and temporal measurement of inflammation within the living tumor microenvironment and throughout the body.

What is the role of molecular imaging probes in this opportunity?

Molecular imaging probes (including tracers) are emphasized as key tools for characterizing inflammatory biology at molecular and cellular levels, ideally in real time or near real time. The opportunity encourages probe development and improvement to support more specific, quantitative, and mechanistically informative measurements in vivo.

Does the NOFO encourage integrated or multimodal imaging approaches?

Yes. The NOFO highlights integrated imaging strategies and explicitly mentions combining complementary imaging modalities as an example of the kinds of approaches that could be responsive.

Is cross-disciplinary collaboration expected?

Yes. The NOFO strongly encourages cross-disciplinary collaboration, specifically pairing cancer basic science expertise with imaging science and technology development. The intent is to produce imaging approaches that are technically strong and closely tied to meaningful cancer biology questions about inflammation.

What makes a project "responsive" in spirit to this NOFO?

Based on the description provided, responsive projects are expected to advance understanding of cancer-inflammation interactions by designing or refining imaging methods that interrogate these processes in vivo in a mechanistically informative, quantitatively robust, and biologically relevant way (focused on the living tumor microenvironment rather than isolated samples alone).

What is the award ceiling?

The listed award ceiling is $500,000.

What are the CFDA numbers associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity falls under CFDA numbers 93.394, 93.395, and 93.396.

What is the closing date for PAR-24-311?

The original closing date listed is January 7, 2028. This indicates a multi-year window during which applications may be accepted according to NIH submission cycles and the NOFO's stated due dates.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of domestic (U.S.-based) applicants, including public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses; and state, county, city/township, and special district governments.

Are school districts and housing authorities eligible?

Yes. The eligible applicant types listed include independent school districts and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities.

Are Native American tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?

Yes. The NOFO includes Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) and other tribal organizations among eligible applicants.

Are minority-serving institutions explicitly included?

Yes. The NOFO highlights additional eligible applicants such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISI institutions, Hispanic-serving institutions, HBCUs, and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities.

Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?

Yes. The NOFO explicitly lists faith-based or community-based organizations among additional eligible applicants.

Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?

Yes. The NOFO includes U.S. territories or possessions among eligible applicants.

Are non-U.S. (non-domestic) entities eligible to apply?

No. The NOFO states that non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities are not eligible to apply.

Can a U.S. organization include a non-domestic component in the project?

No. The NOFO makes clear that non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible, reinforcing that the applicant organization and its components must be U.S.-based.

What is the overall vision or long-term purpose of the program?

The opportunity is designed to push the field toward more precise, dynamic, and mechanistically grounded imaging of inflammation in cancer in vivo. The longer-term payoff described is stronger biological understanding and a better foundation for future diagnostic and therapeutic advances.