Perception and Cognition Research to Inform Cancer Image Interpretation (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 19 389

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 19 389

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity PAR-19-389, titled "Perception and Cognition Research to Inform Cancer Image Interpretation (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)," supports exploratory, early-stage research aimed at improving how cancer is detected and diagnosed from medical images. The central idea is that accuracy in radiology and pathology is not driven only by better scanners, stains, or algorithms, but also by how human observers actually see, interpret, and decide based on what is in front of them. This FOA is designed to encourage studies that dig into the perceptual and cognitive processes that shape image interpretation performance, with the practical goal of reducing errors, improving diagnostic accuracy, and ultimately strengthening cancer detection and diagnostic decision-making.

Projects funded under this announcement are expected to focus on understanding and potentially improving the human side of image interpretation. That can include research on visual perception (what features observers notice or miss, how attention is deployed, how image quality and presentation change what is perceived), cognition and decision-making (how observers form judgments under uncertainty, how expertise develops, how memory and expectations influence conclusions, and how biases or heuristics may contribute to misses or false alarms), and workflow or contextual factors that influence performance in real settings. The opportunity is relevant to both radiology and pathology observers, which broadly covers clinicians and others who interpret cancer-related images, including studies that compare different levels of experience or training, or that examine how interpretation changes with different case mixes, time pressure, fatigue, or the way images and clinical information are presented.

The award mechanism is the NIH R21, which is commonly used for exploratory, proof-of-concept, or hypothesis-generating work. In the source details provided, the award ceiling is listed as $200,000, indicating a relatively modest budget compared to large-scale clinical research, consistent with R21 goals of enabling innovative pilot work and establishing feasibility for future larger studies. The FOA is labeled "Clinical Trial Optional," meaning applicants may propose studies that include a clinical trial component if it is appropriate for the research question, but a clinical trial is not required. This flexibility allows for a range of study types, from controlled lab-based observer experiments to applied studies that test interventions intended to improve interpretation, provided the work aligns with the intent of understanding and improving perceptual and cognitive factors in cancer image reading.

A wide range of organizations can apply, reflecting NIH's broad eligibility for many grant programs. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled universities; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions where relevant); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. The FOA also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, eligible federal agencies, and even non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations). In practice, that means the program is open to a diverse applicant pool, including academic labs, medical centers, research institutes, community organizations with relevant expertise, and international groups positioned to study observer performance in cancer imaging contexts.

In terms of administrative identifiers, the opportunity is a discretionary grant program in the education and health activity categories, associated with CFDA numbers 93.394 and 93.395. It was created on 2019-10-02, and the original closing date listed in the provided record is 2023-01-07. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as NIH support for innovative, observer-focused cancer imaging research that connects human perception and cognition to real-world diagnostic performance, with the expectation that insights from this work can inform better training, better interpretation strategies, improved display or workflow approaches, and other interventions that help clinicians and image readers make more accurate cancer-related decisions.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Perception and Cognition Research to Inform Cancer Image Interpretation (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.394, 93.395.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2019-10-02.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-01-07. (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 $200,000.00 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 19 389

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