Addressing Barriers to Healthcare Transitions for Survivors of Childhood and Adolescent Cancers (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA CA 25 019

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA CA 25 019

The National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health, is soliciting research applications for an R01 grant opportunity focused on improving the transition from pediatric to adult healthcare for survivors of childhood and adolescent cancers. The central idea is that many survivors fall through the cracks when they age out of pediatric oncology follow-up, even though they often need lifelong surveillance and management for late effects of cancer and its treatment. This funding announcement is looking for multi-level intervention studies, meaning projects should address more than just the survivor's individual behaviors or knowledge and should also tackle healthcare system barriers that make transitions difficult, fragmented, or inconsistent. Clinical trials are optional under this R01, so applicants can propose either interventional studies that test strategies in real-world settings or other rigorous study designs that still evaluate interventions and their implementation.

The main goal is to develop and test practical interventions and strategies that lead to high-quality transitional care and sustained engagement in appropriate adult follow-up. In plain terms, NCI wants evidence-backed approaches that help survivors successfully move into adult-oriented care without losing access to recommended screening, risk-based surveillance, preventive services, and ongoing management. The FOA emphasizes producing strong, actionable evidence that can shape best practices and standards of care, with the expectation that successful approaches could be scaled, widely shared, and adopted across different healthcare settings. This focus naturally points toward interventions that are feasible, measurable, and designed with dissemination in mind, not just one-off programs that only work in a single specialized center.

The opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant in the health and education activity area (CFDA 93.399) and uses the NIH R01 mechanism, which typically supports substantial, multi-year research projects. The funding opportunity title is "Addressing Barriers to Healthcare Transitions for Survivors of Childhood and Adolescent Cancers (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)," and the funding opportunity number is RFA-CA-25-019. The original closing date listed is October 17, 2025. While the source information provided does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, the intent statement makes it clear that NCI is prioritizing impactful intervention research capable of improving transition outcomes and continuity of care.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and government entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township 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; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (when not applying as institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The FOA also highlights additional eligible applicants such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs); Hispanic-serving Institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs); faith-based or community-based organizations; regional organizations; eligible federal agencies; and U.S. territories or possessions, indicating an interest in reaching diverse populations and settings where transition barriers may be especially pronounced.

At the same time, the FOA includes important restrictions on foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities are not eligible to apply as applicant organizations, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. However, foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed, which typically means the project can include certain foreign collaborations or elements if they meet NIH definitions and are justified, even though the primary applicant organization must be domestic and eligible.

Overall, this FOA is aimed at building the evidence base for what truly helps childhood and adolescent cancer survivors stay connected to appropriate care as adults. Projects that fit well are likely to be those that identify concrete transition barriers at multiple levels (patient, family, provider, clinic, health system), implement an intervention that directly targets those barriers, and rigorously evaluate whether the approach improves measurable outcomes such as successful transfer to adult care, adherence to recommended surveillance, continuity of follow-up, patient experience, and system performance. The broader payoff NCI is seeking is a set of proven, generalizable transition strategies that can be turned into standards, toolkits, or models of care that health systems can adopt to reduce preventable late complications and improve lifelong health outcomes for survivors.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Addressing Barriers to Healthcare Transitions for Survivors of Childhood and Adolescent Cancers (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): 93.399.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-12-16.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-10-17. (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 RFA CA 25 019

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