Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA CA 17 049
The Collaborative Research Network for Fusion Oncoproteins in Childhood Cancers (U54) funding opportunity (RFA-CA-17-049) is a National Institutes of Health cooperative agreement created under the Beau Biden Cancer Moonshot Initiative, a federal push meant to speed up progress in cancer research. The core aim is to substantially expand and coordinate research on fusion oncoproteins in pediatric cancers, an area viewed as both highly important and historically underdeveloped. Fusion oncoproteins are abnormal proteins formed when parts of two different genes become joined through chromosomal rearrangements; in many childhood cancers these fusions are not just markers of disease but direct drivers of tumor formation and maintenance. Because these fusions can act as central engines of cancer biology, they represent attractive targets for therapies that could be more effective and less toxic than many conventional treatments used in children.
This FOA aligns with the Cancer Moonshot Blue Ribbon Panel (BRP) Recommendation E, which calls for intensifying research on the major biological drivers of childhood cancers. In practical terms, the announcement is designed to build a consortium, referred to as the Fusion Oncoproteins in Childhood Cancers (FusOnC2) Consortium, made up of multiple collaborating research teams. Rather than funding disconnected projects, the U54 mechanism emphasizes coordinated, network-style science where groups share resources, align research goals, and collectively tackle problems that would be difficult for a single lab or institution to solve alone. As a cooperative agreement, NIH is expected to have substantial involvement, meaning there is typically closer scientific and programmatic coordination with NIH staff than in standard investigator-initiated grants.
Scientifically, the program focuses on two tightly linked needs: first, improving fundamental understanding of how fusion oncoproteins work in pediatric cancers (their biology, their downstream mechanisms, how they rewire gene regulation and cell behavior, and why they are so potent in developing tissues), and second, using that knowledge to enable therapy development. A major emphasis is placed on new or improved preclinical models that better capture the realities of fusion-driven childhood tumors. Better models are intended to support the discovery and testing of inhibitors that can directly or indirectly target fusion oncoproteins, including approaches that may not be feasible with older model systems. The broader promise is that a clearer map of fusion oncoprotein mechanisms, paired with more predictive preclinical testing platforms, will make it easier to identify actionable vulnerabilities and translate them into targeted therapeutic strategies.
From an applicant and eligibility standpoint, the opportunity is broad across U.S.-based organizations and includes many types of institutions that commonly participate in NIH funding: public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (with and without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, and multiple levels of government (state, county, city/township, special districts), as well as independent school districts and public housing/Indian housing authorities. It also explicitly encourages participation from diverse institution types 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), along with faith-based or community-based organizations and eligible federal agencies. U.S. territories and possessions are included as eligible applicants. At the same time, non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and non-U.S. institutions are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible. However, foreign components as defined under the NIH Grants Policy Statement are allowed, which typically means U.S.-led projects can include certain well-justified international collaborations or activities when they are integral to the research.
Administratively, the FOA is categorized as discretionary funding and uses the U54 cooperative agreement mechanism under the health-related activity category (CFDA 93.396). The posted award ceiling is $2,500,000, indicating support at a scale suitable for multi-project, consortium-driven work rather than a single-lab effort. The original closing date listed is November 15, 2017, and the FOA was created on August 4, 2017. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as an NIH effort to organize and accelerate a field: bringing together a coordinated network to decode fusion oncoprotein biology in pediatric cancers and to convert those insights into realistic, model-supported paths toward targeted treatments that could ultimately improve outcomes while reducing long-term side effects for children.Apply for RFA CA 17 049
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Collaborative Research Network for Fusion Oncoproteins in Childhood Cancers (U54)" 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 2017-08-04.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-11-15. (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 $2,500,000.00 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)
What is this funding opportunity?
This opportunity is the NIH "Collaborative Research Network for Fusion Oncoproteins in Childhood Cancers (U54)" funding opportunity announcement (FOA), RFA-CA-17-049. It supports a coordinated research network focused on fusion oncoproteins in pediatric cancers.
What initiative is this FOA associated with?
The FOA was created under the Beau Biden Cancer Moonshot Initiative, a federal effort intended to accelerate progress in cancer research.
What is the main goal of the program?
The core aim is to substantially expand and coordinate research on fusion oncoproteins in childhood cancers. The program is designed to strengthen a field described as highly important but historically underdeveloped.
What are fusion oncoproteins, as described in the FOA summary?
Fusion oncoproteins are abnormal proteins formed when parts of two different genes become joined due to chromosomal rearrangements. In many pediatric cancers, these fusions can be more than markers of disease; they can directly drive tumor formation and maintenance.
Why does the FOA emphasize fusion oncoproteins in childhood cancers?
Because fusion oncoproteins can act as central "engines" of cancer biology, they are considered attractive therapeutic targets. The FOA highlights the potential for therapies that could be more effective and less toxic than many conventional treatments used in children.
How does this FOA relate to the Cancer Moonshot Blue Ribbon Panel recommendations?
This FOA aligns with the Cancer Moonshot Blue Ribbon Panel (BRP) Recommendation E, which calls for intensifying research on the major biological drivers of childhood cancers.
What is the FusOnC2 Consortium?
The FOA is designed to build a consortium called the Fusion Oncoproteins in Childhood Cancers (FusOnC2) Consortium. It is intended to be a group of multiple collaborating research teams working in a coordinated way.
Why does the FOA use a consortium/network approach instead of separate projects?
Rather than funding disconnected projects, the U54 mechanism emphasizes coordinated, network-style science where groups share resources, align research goals, and address problems that would be difficult for a single lab or institution to solve alone.
What does it mean that this is a U54 cooperative agreement?
The FOA uses the U54 cooperative agreement mechanism, which typically includes substantial NIH involvement. Compared with standard investigator-initiated grants, a cooperative agreement generally implies closer scientific and programmatic coordination with NIH staff.
What scientific needs does the program focus on?
The program focuses on two tightly linked needs: (1) improving fundamental understanding of how fusion oncoproteins function in pediatric cancers, and (2) using that knowledge to enable therapy development.
What kinds of basic research questions are emphasized?
The FOA summary emphasizes understanding fusion oncoprotein biology and downstream mechanisms, including how these fusions rewire gene regulation and cell behavior and why they are particularly potent in developing tissues.
How does the FOA connect basic biology to therapy development?
The FOA emphasizes translating mechanistic understanding into therapy development by enabling the discovery and testing of inhibitors that can directly or indirectly target fusion oncoproteins.
Why are preclinical models a major emphasis of the program?
A major emphasis is placed on developing new or improved preclinical models that better capture the realities of fusion-driven childhood tumors. The intent is that better models will support more predictive discovery and testing of therapeutic approaches.
What is the intended benefit of improved preclinical models in this program?
The FOA summary suggests that more realistic and predictive models should make it easier to identify actionable vulnerabilities and translate them into targeted therapeutic strategies.
What types of therapeutic approaches are in scope, based on the summary provided?
The summary indicates interest in inhibitors that can target fusion oncoproteins directly or indirectly, including approaches that may not be feasible with older model systems.
Who can apply as an eligible applicant organization?
Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations and includes: public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; state, county, city/township, and special district governments; independent school districts; and public housing/Indian housing authorities. Eligible federal agencies are also mentioned.
Are U.S. territories and possessions eligible to apply?
Yes. U.S. territories and possessions are included as eligible applicants.
Does the FOA encourage participation from specific types of institutions?
Yes. The FOA explicitly encourages participation from diverse institution types including HBCUs, Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), and also faith-based or community-based organizations.
Can a non-U.S. (non-domestic) organization apply as the applicant?
No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and non-U.S. institutions are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization.
Are non-domestic components of U.S. organizations eligible?
No. The summary specifies that non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible.
Are foreign components allowed at all?
Yes. Foreign components (as defined under the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are allowed, which typically means U.S.-led projects may include well-justified international collaborations or activities when integral to the research.
What type of funding is this categorized as?
The FOA is categorized as discretionary funding.
What is the award mechanism and activity category?
The mechanism is a U54 cooperative agreement, and the activity category is health-related.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The summary lists CFDA 93.396.
What is the posted award ceiling?
The posted award ceiling is $2,500,000.
What does the posted award ceiling suggest about the scale of work expected?
The summary indicates that the ceiling reflects support at a scale suitable for multi-project, consortium-driven work rather than a single-lab effort.
When was the FOA created and what is the listed closing date?
The FOA was created on August 4, 2017, and the original closing date listed is November 15, 2017.
In one sentence, what is the overall purpose of this opportunity?
Overall, the opportunity is an NIH effort to organize and accelerate research on fusion oncoproteins in pediatric cancers by building a coordinated network to decode fusion biology and convert those insights into model-supported paths toward targeted treatments with the potential to improve outcomes and reduce long-term side effects for children.
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