This U01 cooperative agreement supports fundamental, mechanistic studies to define how dietary factors influence lipid metabolism in tumors and the microenvironment, and how those lipid-mediated changes drive cancer growth and progression. Projects should bridge nutrition science and tumor biology by elucidating molecular pathways linking specific diets (e.g., high-fat, ketogenic, or nutrient-restricted regimens) to alterations in lipid uptake, synthesis, signaling, or stromal interactions that affect tumor behavior.
Eligibility Criteria
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Eligible organizations: U.S. higher-education institutions (public/state‐controlled or private), nonprofits (501(c)(3) or not), for-profit entities (including small businesses), local/state/county governments, Native American tribal governments/organizations, faith-based or community organizations.
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Foreign (non-U.S.) organizations are not eligible; foreign components as collaborations are allowed.
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PD/PI must have expertise in both nutrition (or dietetics) and cancer biology; co-Investigator or MPI structure is strongly encouraged to ensure transdisciplinary expertise.
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Applications must propose mechanistic (not descriptive) investigations of dietary variables on tumor lipid metabolism; inclusion of clinical translation aims is optional but not required.
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No clinical trials or human intervention studies.
Funding Details
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Application budgets: up to $500,000 direct costs per year.
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Project period: up to 5 years.
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Mechanism: U01 Research Project – Cooperative Agreement (substantial NIH involvement via an NCI project scientist and consortial working groups).
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Expected consortium activities: annual virtual meetings, data/tool sharing, collaborative working groups.
Key Deadlines
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Letter of intent (recommended): 30 days before application due date.
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Application due dates (by 5:00 PM local time):
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October 23, 2025 (for earliest start July 2026)
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Expiration: October 24, 2025