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EGRP Cancer Epidemiology News
March 2026
- What Are NIH Highlighted Topics?
- Funding Announcements
- Grants Policy Notices
- Requests for Information
- Research Resources
- NCI & NIH News
What Are NIH Highlighted Topics?
NIH Highlighted Topics describe potentially timely, new, and/or emerging research priority areas for applicants to consider. These topics are a tool that NIH Institutes, Centers, or Offices may use to inform the research community about particular areas of scientific interest to NIH.
How Do Highlighted Topics Work?
If a particular topic is of interest, researchers must develop an investigator-initiated application through one of NIH’s Parent Announcements or other broad NIH funding opportunities available on Grants.gov.
Researchers can reach out to the appropriate scientific contacts to discuss how their research idea may align with the topics, appropriate funding opportunities, and other application-related questions. Once submitted, the application will undergo peer review.
The number of awards for topic areas will depend on availability of funds, the number of meritorious applications, and competing priorities. There may or may not be dedicated funding for NIH Highlighted Topics.
Examples of Cancer-Related Highlighted Topics
Active NIH Highlighted Topics with NCI involvement include:
- Advancing the use of genomic information into clinical care*
- Optimal interprofessional teaming and care coordination strategies for cancer care quality and outcomes*
- Research in rare cancers across the cancer control continuum*
- Strengthening biomedical research, promoting trust, and improving health through bioethics research bioethics research*
- Technology development for genomics*
- Accelerating research in celiac disease
- Advancing autoimmune disease research: integrating genetic, environmental, and immunological factors to improve diagnosis and treatment
- Advancing microbiome science through multidisciplinary mechanistic investigations of the human microbiome in health and disease
- Advancing nanotechnology research to improve diagnosis and treatment options
- Advancing treatment options using targeted degrader technologies
- Implementation science to optimize HIV prevention and treatment
*These topics have scientific contacts within NCI’s Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, which includes the Epidemiology and Genomics Research Program.
Stay Informed
Researchers are encouraged to check the NIH Highlighted Topics list regularly and subscribe to receive email alerts when new topics are added.
Learn More
- What Are the Differences Between Highlighted Topics and Funding Opportunities?
- FAQs: Highlighted Topics
- Highlighted Topics Spotlight: Cancer Research
Funding Announcements
- PAR-26-091, Assay Validation of High-Quality Markers for Clinical Studies in Cancer (UH2/UH3, Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- The Point-of-Care Technology Research Network (POCTRN) Announces Six New Innovation Award Opportunities
- DCCPS Topics of Interest for Administrative Supplements in FY26
Grants Policy Notices
- NOT-OD-26-037, ICorps at NIH – An Entrepreneurship Program to Support Commercialization Training for Phase I SBIR/STTR Awardees
- NOT-OD-26-046, Updated Elements of an NIH Data Management and Sharing Plan
- NOT-OD-26-057, Publication of the Revised NIH Grants Policy Statement (Rev. March 2026) for Fiscal Year 2026
- NOT-OD-26-062, Prior Approval Requirement for Changes to Domestic Subawards
- NOT-CA-26-009, Notice of National Cancer Institute’s Participation in PA-25-305, NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01, Clinical Trial Required)
Requests for Information
- Provide Feedback to Inform a Draft Policy for Sharing Summary Level Study Results (responses are due by May 25, 2026)
- A webinar for stakeholders to provide feedback to inform the development of this policy will take place on April 27, 2026, 1:00-2:30 p.m. ET.
- Request for Information (RFI): Inviting Comments and Suggestions on a Framework for the NIH-Wide Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2027-2031 (responses are due by May 26, 2026)
- NIH will hold a webinar on the strategic planning process on April 8, 2026 from 2:30-3:30 p.m. ET.
- NIH will hold a webinar on the strategic planning process
- Sequencing Strategies for Population and Cancer Epidemiology Studies (SeqSPACE) Call for Abstracts (abstract submissions are due by June 5, 2026)
Research Resources
NCI & NIH News
- Fiscal Year 2025 By the Numbers: Extramural Grant Investments in Research
- NIH Institute and Center Director Perspectives on Implementing the NIH Unified Funding Strategy
- What Are the Components of a Collaborative International Research Project (PF5) Application and What Should Be Included?
- What Should I Know About the New Biographical Sketch Common Form?
- Will My Application Be Withdrawn if I Don’t Use the Common Forms?
- New NIH FAQ for Basic Experimental Studies with Humans (BESH)
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EGRP staff can answer questions on grant funding, policies, and research resources. If you do not know who to contact we will do our best to connect you with someone who can help you.
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