Advanced Development and Validation of Emerging Technologies for Basic and Clinical Cancer Research (R33 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

HHS-NIH11 RFA-CA-27-002
Posted: Jun 03, 2026 12:00:00 AM EDT
Closes: 11/10/2026

Funding Information

Estimated Total Funding
$5,900,000
Award Ceiling
$300,000
Expected Number of Awards
13

Description

Through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) invites grant applications proposing exploratory research projects focused on further development and technical validation of emerging technologies offering novel capabilities for the molecular or cellular characterization of cancer or for improved handling and quality control of biospecimens used for basic, clinical, or epidemiological cancer research. This NOFO solicits R33 applications where major feasibility gaps for the technology or methodology have been overcome, as demonstrated with supportive preliminary data, but still require further development and rigorous technical validation to encourage adoption by the research community. Well-suited applications must propose the development of technologies that offer the potential to accelerate and/or enhance research in the areas of cancer biology, early detection and screening, clinical diagnosis, treatment, cancer control, epidemiology. Technologies proposed for development may have potential for widespread applicability but must be focused in this proposal on cancer-relevant use cases. Projects proposing to apply or use existing technologies for hypothesis-driven research where the novelty resides in the biological or clinical target/question being pursued are not responsive to this solicitation and will not be reviewed.This funding opportunity is part of a broader NCI-sponsored Innovative Molecular Analysis Technologies (IMAT) Program.

Synopsis

Through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) invites grant applications proposing exploratory research projects focused on further development and technical validation of emerging technologies offering novel capabilities for the molecular or cellular characterization of cancer or for improved handling and quality control of biospecimens used for basic, clinical, or epidemiological cancer research. This NOFO solicits R33 applications where major feasibility gaps for the technology or methodology have been overcome, as demonstrated with supportive preliminary data, but still require further development and rigorous technical validation to encourage adoption by the research community. Well-suited applications must propose the development of technologies that offer the potential to accelerate and/or enhance research in the areas of cancer biology, early detection and screening, clinical diagnosis, treatment, cancer control, epidemiology. Technologies proposed for development may have potential for widespread applicability but must be focused in this proposal on cancer-relevant use cases. Projects proposing to apply or use existing technologies for hypothesis-driven research where the novelty resides in the biological or clinical target/question being pursued are not responsive to this solicitation and will not be reviewed.This funding opportunity is part of a broader NCI-sponsored Innovative Molecular Analysis Technologies (IMAT) Program.

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants:
Special district governments Independent school districts Private institutions of higher education Small businesses Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) State governments Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education County governments Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education City or township governments Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) For profit organizations other than small businesses Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
Refer to Section III. Eligibility Information in the NOFO for additional information on eligibility.Foreign Organizations/International Collaborations:Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) are eligible to apply.Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are eligible to apply.Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed.

Funding Activity Categories

Health

CFDA Numbers

  • 93.394 - Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research

Contact Information

Agency: National Institutes of Health
Contact: National Institutes of Health
Phone: 301-402-2541
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
NCI-IMAT@nih.gov

Additional Information

Document Type: synopsis
Opportunity Category: Discretionary
Version: 1
Last Updated: Jun 03, 2026 03:28:13 PM EDT

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