Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPOREs) in Human Cancers for Years 2027, 2028, and 2029 (P50 Clinical Trial Required)

Updated Oct 20, 2026

Grant from the National Institutes of Health, open to small businesses. Closes Sep 25, 2029, 1071 days left.

Opportunity number	PAR-28-022
Agency	National Institutes of Health
Funding type	Grant
Field	Health
Expected number of awards	10
Total program funding	$1.4 million
Cost sharing or matching	Not required
Assistance listing	93.121, 93.395
Posted	Oct 14, 2026
Closes	Sep 25, 2029 (1071 days left)
Add the deadline to	Google Calendar

Who can apply

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 and Indian housing authorities
Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments)
Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status, other than institutions of higher education
Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status, other than institutions of higher education
Private institutions of higher education
For-profit organizations other than small businesses
Small businesses
Others (see the eligibility notes)

Refer to Section III. Eligibility Information in the NOFO for additional information on eligibility.Foreign Organizations/International Collaborations:Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organization) are not eligible to apply.Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply.Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed.

Description

Through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) invites applications for P50 Research Center Grants for Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPOREs). Based on the proposed research, applications may be jointly funded with the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR). This is a re-issuance of PAR-23-284.

The program will fund P50 SPORE grants to support state-of-the-art investigator-initiated translational research that will contribute to improved prevention, early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of an organ-specific cancer or a highly related group of cancers. The research supported through this program must be translational and be based on human biology research using cellular, molecular, structural, biochemical, and/or genetic experimental approaches.

SPORE projects must reach a translational human endpoint within the project period of the grant.

Full announcement and how to apply on Grants.gov

Health grants right now

There are 350 open federal grants in health that small businesses may apply for; 33 close within 30 days. The median award ceiling is $500,000. The agencies offering the most are National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - ERA and Centers for Disease Control - NCBDDD. Grants in this field stay open a median of 1031 days; this one is open for 1077 days.

Who has won this program before

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center $443.7 million · from Jun 29, 2006
University Of Washington $83.6 million · from Mar 1, 1997
Regents Of The University Of California, SAN Francisco, The $82.5 million · from Mar 1, 1997
President And Fellows Of Harvard College $76.7 million · from Jul 1, 2004
University Of Alabama AT Birmingham $69.9 million · from Mar 30, 1988

The largest grants and cooperative agreements under assistance listing 93.121, 93.395 with funding activity since Oct 1, 2025, from USAspending.gov. Amounts are each award's total.