Fundamental Mechanisms of Affective and Decisional Processes in Cancer Control (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 18 681

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 18 681

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity PAR-18-681, titled "Fundamental Mechanisms of Affective and Decisional Processes in Cancer Control (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)," supports R01 research projects aimed at building foundational, mechanistic knowledge about how affective processes (for example, emotions, feelings, stress responses, worry, anticipated regret, fear, or affect-laden perceptions of risk) shape decisions and behaviors that matter for cancer prevention and cancer control. The emphasis is on basic affective science that can explain why people make certain cancer-related choices, and how those choices unfold over time, in ways that can ultimately inform better strategies across the cancer control continuum.

A central theme of the FOA is understanding affect as a driver of both single-event decisions and repeated or ongoing decision patterns. Single-event decisions might include choosing whether to get screened for cancer, follow up after an abnormal test, vaccinate (when applicable), or pursue genetic counseling or testing. Multi-event decisions and behaviors include recurring or sustained actions like adhering to an oral chemotherapy regimen, sticking with survivorship care plans, maintaining lifestyle changes relevant to risk reduction, attending repeated appointments, or continuing symptom monitoring and reporting. By calling out both one-time and repeated decisions, the opportunity highlights the reality that cancer-related behavior is often not a single choice but a series of linked decisions influenced by shifting emotional states and contexts.

The FOA also aims to bring together cancer control researchers with investigators from disciplines not traditionally tied to cancer control applications, specifically naming areas such as affective and cognitive neuroscience, decision science, and consumer science. The goal of these cross-disciplinary collaborations is to tackle persistent and understudied puzzles in affective and decision sciences that have downstream implications for cancer prevention and control. In practice, this could include research that clarifies mechanisms like how emotional responses interact with cognition and attention, how people weigh immediate emotional costs against long-term health benefits, how affect influences information seeking or avoidance, or how context (clinical settings, family dynamics, media exposure, financial stress) shapes emotional processing and ultimately health choices.

From an applicant and project design standpoint, this is a discretionary NIH grant using the R01 mechanism, with clinical trials allowed but not required (clinical trial optional). That means applicants can propose purely basic/mechanistic studies, observational or experimental behavioral research, or clinical trial components when appropriate, as long as the work is aligned with generating fundamental knowledge about affective and decisional processes that matter to cancer control outcomes. The activity category is listed under education and health, and the CFDA number associated with the opportunity is 93.393.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and government entities, such as 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; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (outside institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The announcement also explicitly calls out additional eligible applicants, including 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, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations). This breadth signals an intent to encourage wide participation, including organizations that serve populations disproportionately affected by cancer burden and disparities.

Key administrative details included in the source data are the opportunity number (PAR-18-681), the creation date (2018-02-27), and an original closing date listed as 2019-10-11. The award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided data. Overall, the opportunity is best read as NIH investing in the underlying science of emotion and decision-making as it relates to cancer-related choices, with the expectation that stronger mechanistic insight will eventually translate into more effective cancer prevention and control strategies, interventions, and communication approaches.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Fundamental Mechanisms of Affective and Decisional Processes in Cancer Control (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.393.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2018-02-27.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-10-11. (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 18 681

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