Precision Approaches in Radiation Synthetic Combinations (PAIRS, R01 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 22 198

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 22 198

Precision Approaches in Radiation Synthetic Combinations (PAIRS) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number PAR-22-198) that supports R01 research projects focused on improving cancer treatment by pairing radiation therapy with carefully selected, biology-driven combination strategies. The central idea is to find "actionable synthetic vulnerabilities" in tumors, meaning weaknesses that can be exploited only under certain conditions, such as when a tumor is exposed to radiation. Projects are expected to investigate how radiation creates or reveals these vulnerabilities and how they can be targeted with additional interventions (for example, drugs, biologics, or other therapeutic approaches) to produce stronger, more selective anticancer effects than radiation alone. While the FOA is listed as "Clinical Trial Optional," applicants can propose studies that include clinical trials if appropriate, but they are not required to do so.

The overall goal of the PAIRS program is to accelerate the development of radiation-synthetic combination strategies and help move them into the precision medicine toolkit. In practical terms, this means encouraging research that does more than test combinations in a general way; it should aim to connect tumor response to radiation with specific, testable mechanisms and biomarkers that can guide patient selection or treatment tailoring. The emphasis on "precision approaches" signals an interest in combinations that are rationally chosen based on tumor genetics, tumor microenvironment features, DNA damage response pathways, immune context, or other identifiable tumor characteristics that predict when a given combination will work best.

This opportunity is offered as an R01 grant mechanism, which generally supports substantial, hypothesis-driven research programs. The funding activity category is listed under Education and Health, and the CFDA number associated with the program is 93.395. The FOA was created on June 14, 2022, and the original closing date provided is September 7, 2025. The source data does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, so applicants should plan their budgets and scope according to typical NIH R01 expectations and any additional constraints described in the full FOA text and NIH policy guidance.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of domestic U.S. organizations and certain non-U.S. entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, 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 that are not federally recognized tribal governments; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (outside of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The FOA also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicants such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs); Hispanic-serving institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs); eligible federal government agencies; faith-based or community-based organizations; regional organizations; U.S. territories or possessions; and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities, meaning foreign organizations can apply where permitted by NIH rules.

Taken together, PAIRS is aimed at research that makes radiation therapy more effective and more personalized by identifying the right synthetic combination partners and the tumor contexts in which they will be most beneficial. The program’s intent is translational in spirit: it prioritizes mechanistic insight that can lead to practical combination strategies and clearer paths toward adoption in precision oncology, whether through advanced preclinical validation, biomarker development, or optionally through clinical evaluation.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Precision Approaches in Radiation Synthetic Combinations (PAIRS, 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): 93.395.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2022-06-14.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-09-07. (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 22 198

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: