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.Apply for PAR 22 198
- 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.
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Precision Approaches in Radiation Synthetic Combinations (PAIRS) - FAQs
1) What is the PAIRS funding opportunity?
Precision Approaches in Radiation Synthetic Combinations (PAIRS) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number PAR-22-198). It supports R01 research projects aimed at improving cancer treatment by pairing radiation therapy with carefully selected, biology-driven combination strategies.
2) What is the main purpose of PAIRS?
The program aims to accelerate the development of radiation-synthetic combination strategies and help move them into the precision medicine toolkit. In practice, this means supporting research that links tumor response to radiation with specific mechanisms and biomarkers that can guide patient selection or treatment tailoring.
3) What does "radiation synthetic combinations" mean in this FOA?
In this context, it refers to treatment strategies where radiation therapy is combined with another intervention (such as a drug, biologic, or other therapeutic approach) in a way that creates stronger and more selective anticancer effects than radiation alone, based on tumor biology.
4) What are "actionable synthetic vulnerabilities"?
They are tumor weaknesses that can be exploited only under specific conditions, such as when a tumor is exposed to radiation. PAIRS-supported projects are expected to investigate how radiation creates or reveals these vulnerabilities and how to target them with additional interventions.
5) What kinds of research projects are encouraged?
The opportunity emphasizes hypothesis-driven R01 research that goes beyond simply testing combinations. Projects are expected to connect radiation response to specific, testable mechanisms and identify biomarkers or other predictors that clarify when a combination is likely to work best.
6) What does the FOA mean by "precision approaches"?
"Precision approaches" signals an interest in combinations that are rationally chosen based on identifiable tumor characteristics that predict benefit. Examples mentioned include tumor genetics, tumor microenvironment features, DNA damage response pathways, immune context, or other measurable tumor features.
7) Are clinical trials required under this opportunity?
No. The FOA is listed as "Clinical Trial Optional," which means applicants may propose studies that include clinical trials if appropriate, but clinical trials are not required.
8) What NIH grant mechanism is used for PAIRS?
PAIRS is offered under the R01 grant mechanism, which generally supports substantial, hypothesis-driven research programs.
9) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for PAIRS?
The Funding Opportunity Number is PAR-22-198.
10) What is the CFDA number associated with this program?
The CFDA number listed for the program is 93.395.
11) When was this FOA created?
The FOA was created on June 14, 2022.
12) What is the closing date for the opportunity?
The original closing date provided is September 7, 2025.
13) Does the source information provide an award ceiling or the expected number of awards?
No. The source data does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards.
14) How should applicants think about budgets and project scope given the missing award details?
Because an award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided information, applicants are expected to plan budgets and scope according to typical NIH R01 expectations and any additional constraints described in the full FOA text and NIH policy guidance.
15) What is the funding activity category listed for PAIRS?
The funding activity category is listed under Education and Health.
16) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of domestic U.S. organizations and certain non-U.S. entities, as permitted by NIH rules.
17) Which U.S. government entities are eligible?
Eligible applicants include state governments; county governments; city or township governments; and special district governments.
18) Are schools and universities eligible?
Yes. Eligible applicants include independent school districts, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, and private institutions of higher education.
19) Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Eligible applicants include federally recognized Native American tribal governments, as well as Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments.
20) Are housing authorities eligible to apply?
Yes. Public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities are listed as eligible applicants.
21) Are nonprofit organizations eligible?
Yes. Nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (outside of higher education) are listed as eligible.
22) Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. For-profit organizations other than small businesses are listed as eligible, and small businesses are also listed as eligible.
23) Are federally recognized minority-serving institutions specifically highlighted?
Yes. The FOA explicitly highlights eligibility for 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); and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs).
24) Are federal agencies eligible applicants?
Yes. The FOA highlights that eligible federal government agencies can apply.
25) Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. Faith-based or community-based organizations are explicitly highlighted as eligible applicants.
26) Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?
Yes. The FOA highlights eligibility for U.S. territories or possessions.
27) Can foreign (non-U.S.) organizations apply?
Yes. The FOA indicates that non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities may apply where permitted by NIH rules.
28) What kinds of combination partners does PAIRS mention?
The description provides examples such as drugs, biologics, or other therapeutic approaches used alongside radiation to produce stronger and more selective anticancer effects.
29) What makes a project a good fit for PAIRS based on the description?
A good fit is research that is mechanistically grounded and precision-oriented: it investigates how radiation induces or reveals vulnerabilities in tumors, identifies interventions that target those vulnerabilities, and seeks biomarkers or tumor-context features that predict response and support precision oncology adoption.
30) Is PAIRS purely basic science, or does it support translational work?
The program intent is translational in spirit. It prioritizes mechanistic insight that can lead to practical combination strategies and clearer paths toward adoption in precision oncology, including advanced preclinical validation, biomarker development, and optionally clinical evaluation.
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