Comprehensive Partnerships to Advance Cancer Health Equity (CPACHE) (U54) | PAR 18 361

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 18 361

The Comprehensive Partnerships to Advance Cancer Health Equity (CPACHE) (U54) funding opportunity, issued by the National Institutes of Health through the National Cancer Institute, supports the creation and long-term operation of strong, collaborative partnerships between two types of institutions: NCI-designated Cancer Centers (CCs) and institutions that serve underserved health disparity populations and educate underrepresented students, often referred to as ISUPSs. The overall purpose is to strengthen the national cancer research enterprise by directly addressing persistent gaps in cancer outcomes and research participation among underserved communities, while also building durable institutional capacity for cancer research, training, and community-focused outreach. Because this is a U54 cooperative agreement, it is structured as an active partnership with NIH involvement, typically meaning recipients should be prepared for substantial coordination, shared planning, and milestone-driven program management rather than operating as a fully independent research grant.

At the core of CPACHE is the expectation that each funded partnership will be comprehensive, mutually beneficial, and sustained over time. The opportunity is not framed as a short, one-off project; instead, it is meant to help institutions build infrastructure, shared programs, and pipelines that last beyond a single funding cycle. The program emphasizes doing this work jointly: the ISUPS and the Cancer Center are expected to plan, implement, and evaluate their activities together, aligning institutional strengths to tackle cancer health disparities more effectively than either partner could alone.

The solicitation lays out four major, interconnected goals that partnerships are expected to pursue. First, partnerships should increase the cancer research and cancer research education capacity of ISUPS institutions. In practical terms, this often means strengthening research infrastructure and mentorship, expanding access to research training and experiences, improving grant readiness, and developing programs that make it easier for students and faculty at ISUPSs to participate meaningfully in cancer research. Second, partnerships should increase the number of students and investigators from underrepresented populations who are engaged in cancer research. This is a workforce and training pipeline objective, focused on expanding representation in cancer science by supporting trainees and early-stage investigators through structured research opportunities, mentoring networks, and professional development tied to cancer research careers.

Third, CPACHE aims to improve the Cancer Centers themselves by increasing their effectiveness in developing and sustaining research programs focused on cancer health disparities. This includes growing both the depth and continuity of disparities-focused research at CCs and increasing the number of investigators and students who conduct cancer health disparities research. The intent is not only to help ISUPSs build capacity, but also to ensure CCs expand and strengthen their disparities research programs in ways that are scientifically rigorous, community-informed, and sustainable. Fourth, partnerships are expected to develop and implement cancer-related activities that directly benefit surrounding underserved communities. This community-facing component emphasizes education, outreach, engagement, and other initiatives that respond to local needs and improve the relevance and impact of the partnership’s work for the populations experiencing disproportionate cancer burden.

Eligibility for the opportunity is broad across U.S.-based organizational types, reflecting the program’s emphasis on building networks that connect academic, governmental, and community resources. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; public and private institutions of higher education; independent school districts; special district governments; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); and for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), as well as small businesses. The opportunity also explicitly highlights additional applicant categories often central to this work, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs). Faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions are also identified among eligible participant types, reinforcing the program’s focus on reaching communities that are frequently underserved.

Foreign participation is explicitly restricted. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply. In addition, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement are not allowed. This keeps the program focused on building U.S.-based institutional partnerships and community impact.

Administratively, the opportunity is identified as PAR-18-361, categorized as discretionary funding, and uses the cooperative agreement mechanism. It falls under education and health activity categories and is associated with multiple CFDA listings (93.393 through 93.399), reflecting NCI’s broad programmatic footprint. The source data lists an original closing date of April 30, 2018, and does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards in the provided excerpt. Overall, CPACHE is best understood as an institutional partnership and capacity-building program designed to expand cancer research participation, strengthen disparities-focused science, and translate those efforts into real benefits for underserved communities through coordinated research, education, and outreach.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Comprehensive Partnerships to Advance Cancer Health Equity (CPACHE) (U54)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.393, 93.394, 93.395, 93.396, 93.397, 93.398, 93.399.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-11-15.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-04-30. (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 18 361

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