The Metastasis Research Network (MetNet): MetNet Research Projects (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR 22 234

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 22 234

The Metastasis Research Network (MetNet): MetNet Research Projects (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) is an NIH funding opportunity designed to support research projects that tackle metastasis using systems-level thinking. The core idea behind MetNet is that metastasis is not a simple, linear chain of events, but a complex, dynamic process that unfolds over time and across multiple biological scales. Instead of focusing narrowly on a single pathway, cell type, or isolated step, this program encourages approaches that can explain how metastasis emerges from interacting components in the body, including feedback loops, changing microenvironments, and time-dependent behaviors. In practical terms, the network aims to help the field build a more integrated, whole-body picture of how metastasis starts, progresses, and adapts, with the expectation that this kind of integrated understanding will reveal new points of intervention and sharpen how metastasis is conceptualized as a systems problem.

This opportunity uses the cooperative agreement mechanism (U01), which typically means NIH expects substantial programmatic involvement during the life of the award compared with a standard research grant. Projects funded under this announcement would generally be expected to operate as part of a coordinated research network, contributing insights and outputs that fit into a broader, collective effort rather than functioning as completely standalone studies. The activity area is health and education, and the program is associated with CFDA number 93.396. Clinical trials are explicitly not allowed under this particular announcement, so proposed work should be structured as non-clinical-trial research, even if it involves human-derived data or specimens, provided it does not meet NIH's definition of a clinical trial.

Eligibility is broad and includes many common applicant types across government, academia, nonprofit, and industry. 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; Native American tribal governments (federally recognized); Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other eligible entities. The announcement 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, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, tribal governments that are not federally recognized, and non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations). This wide eligibility scope is meant to allow participation from diverse institutions and organizational structures, including international collaborators, as long as they meet the opportunity requirements.

Key administrative details from the listing include the funding opportunity title and number (PAR 22 234), the agency (National Institutes of Health), and that the opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding. The original closing date listed is 2025-06-20. The award ceiling shown is $500,000, indicating the maximum amount expected per award under the parameters provided in the listing. The source data does not specify the exact number of expected awards, but it indicates awards are anticipated. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as support for research projects that contribute to a coordinated network effort to model, measure, and explain metastasis as an evolving system across time and biological scale, using approaches that can capture nonlinearity, dynamics, and emergent behavior without proposing a clinical trial.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "The Metastasis Research Network (MetNet): MetNet Research Projects (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" 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 2022-08-25.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-06-20. (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 $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.

Apply for PAR 22 234

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