Mechanistic links between diet, lipid metabolism, and tumor growth and progression (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR 25 119

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 25 119

The NIH funding opportunity PAR-25-119, titled "Mechanistic links between diet, lipid metabolism, and tumor growth and progression (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)," supports research aimed at uncovering how diet-driven changes in lipid metabolism influence cancer biology. The central emphasis is on mechanistic, hypothesis-driven studies that can identify and define the molecular pathways through which lipids and lipid metabolic processes contribute to tumor growth and progression. Rather than focusing on broad dietary associations or population-level correlations, the program is geared toward fundamental investigations that explain cause-and-effect links at the biochemical, cellular, and molecular levels, with lipids positioned as the key bridge connecting nutrition to tumor behavior.

A major goal of this NOFO is to help close a long-standing gap between the fields of nutrition science and molecular metabolism by encouraging projects that integrate both perspectives. The NIH is specifically signaling interest in research that treats lipid metabolism not as a secondary outcome of cancer, but as a central driver or regulator of tumor progression that can be shaped by dietary inputs. Because lipid biochemistry is unusually complex, the announcement also highlights a need for tool and method development that can make this area more tractable, such as improved approaches for measuring lipid species, tracing lipid flux, mapping lipid-driven signaling, or characterizing lipid remodeling in tumors and their microenvironments. The intent is to stimulate an emerging research area where progress often depends on better analytical platforms, shared resources, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

The award mechanism is a U01 cooperative agreement, which typically means NIH staff will have substantial scientific involvement during the project period compared with a standard investigator-initiated grant. The activity is categorized under education and health, and it falls under multiple NIH CFDA numbers (93.393, 93.394, 93.395, 93.396, 93.399), reflecting participation across NIH cancer and related biomedical research portfolios. Importantly, the opportunity is labeled "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," so applications should not propose clinical trials as defined by NIH policy; the work should remain in the realm of preclinical, mechanistic, and foundational research rather than testing interventions in human participants under a clinical trial framework.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and government entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, city, township, and 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; other Native American tribal organizations; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The NOFO also explicitly calls out additional eligible applicant categories such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), as well as faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and eligible federal agencies.

Foreign eligibility is restricted in a way that is common for NIH opportunities. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities are not eligible to apply as the primary applicant organization, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. However, "foreign components" are allowed as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, meaning a U.S.-based applicant may include certain foreign collaborations or project elements if they meet NIH policy requirements and are well-justified scientifically.

The opportunity was created on October 30, 2024, and lists an original closing date of October 23, 2025. The posted award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided source information, so applicants would need to consult the full NOFO text and any linked budget guidance to understand typical award sizes, project period expectations, and programmatic priorities.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Mechanistic links between diet, lipid metabolism, and tumor growth and progression (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): 93.393, 93.394, 93.395, 93.396, 93.399.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-10-30.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-10-23. (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.

Apply for PAR 25 119

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