Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA CA 24 008

The Innovative Molecular and Cellular Analysis Technologies for Basic and Clinical Cancer Research (R61 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) opportunity (RFA-CA-24-008) is a National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute (NCI) funding announcement aimed at early-stage, exploratory technology development. The central goal is to spark the creation of highly innovative tools that enable new ways to analyze cancer at the molecular and cellular levels. This is not a call for routine method optimization or incremental upgrades; it is geared toward technical leaps that can open up brand-new capabilities for targeting, probing, measuring, or otherwise characterizing fundamental features of cancer biology in research settings that may be basic or clinically oriented.

Projects that fit well are those developing technologies that improve how researchers can characterize cancer-related molecular and cellular features, with the expectation that these new capabilities could meaningfully accelerate progress across multiple cancer research and public health needs. The announcement explicitly connects the desired technology advances to downstream impact areas such as understanding cancer biology, improving early detection and screening approaches, strengthening clinical diagnosis, informing or monitoring treatment, supporting cancer control and epidemiology, and addressing challenges related to cancer health disparities. Technologies can be broadly applicable across cancer types or use cases, but they must remain clearly anchored in improving molecular and/or cellular characterization of cancer biology rather than general-purpose toolbuilding without a cancer-focused rationale.

This funding opportunity sits within the NCI-sponsored Innovative Molecular Analysis Technologies (IMAT) Program, which is known for supporting novel measurement and analysis technologies that can transform what is feasible in cancer research. The mechanism specified is the R61, which is typically used for exploratory, early development activities where the emphasis is on establishing feasibility and demonstrating the core innovation. As the title notes, clinical trials are not allowed under this announcement, meaning applicants should not propose studies that meet NIH definitions of a clinical trial; the work should remain on technology development and validation consistent with preclinical, analytical, or non-trial clinical research contexts.

In terms of eligibility, the NOFO is broadly open across many organization types, reflecting an intent to attract innovation from academia, government, nonprofits, and industry. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations other than federally recognized governments; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (outside higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The opportunity also highlights additional eligible groups such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and non-U.S. (foreign) organizations. This broad eligibility suggests NCI is seeking strong, unconventional technical ideas wherever they originate, including from communities and institutions positioned to contribute to equity-focused cancer research.

Key administrative details provided include the funding activity category (Education, Health), CFDA number 93.394, and the original application closing date of 2024-10-01. The listed award ceiling is $150,000. The synopsis does not specify the exact number of expected awards in the provided fields, indicating that applicants should consult the full NOFO text for any additional budget, project period, or award volume details not captured in the summary record. Overall, the program is best understood as a focused push to create next-generation molecular and cellular analysis technologies that can change what cancer researchers can measure, see, and interpret, ultimately enabling faster and more effective advances in understanding and addressing cancer.

  • The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Innovative Molecular and Cellular Analysis Technologies for Basic and Clinical Cancer Research (R61 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.394.
  • This funding opportunity was created on 2023-11-28.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-10-01. (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 $150,000.00 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.
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FAQs: Innovative Molecular and Cellular Analysis Technologies for Basic and Clinical Cancer Research (R61; Clinical Trial Not Allowed) - RFA-CA-24-008

What is the purpose of this funding opportunity?

The opportunity supports early-stage, exploratory development of highly innovative molecular and cellular analysis technologies for cancer research. The aim is to spark technology breakthroughs that enable new ways to analyze cancer biology at molecular and cellular levels, rather than funding routine method optimization or incremental upgrades.

What agency is offering this grant?

This funding announcement is offered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), specifically the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

What is the program this opportunity is associated with?

The announcement sits within the NCI-sponsored Innovative Molecular Analysis Technologies (IMAT) Program, which supports novel measurement and analysis technologies intended to transform what is feasible in cancer research.

What grant mechanism is used for this opportunity?

The mechanism is an R61, which is typically used for exploratory, early development activities where the emphasis is on establishing feasibility and demonstrating the core innovation.

Are clinical trials allowed under this opportunity?

No. The announcement explicitly states "Clinical Trial Not Allowed." Applicants should not propose studies that meet the NIH definition of a clinical trial. The work should remain focused on technology development and validation consistent with preclinical, analytical, or non-trial clinical research contexts.

What kinds of projects are a good fit?

Projects are a good fit when they develop technologies that materially improve how researchers can characterize cancer-related molecular and cellular features. The emphasis is on technical leaps that open brand-new capabilities for targeting, probing, measuring, or otherwise characterizing fundamental features of cancer biology in basic or clinically oriented research settings.

What kinds of projects are not the focus of this announcement?

The opportunity is not aimed at routine method optimization or incremental upgrades. It is also not intended for general-purpose toolbuilding that lacks a clear cancer-focused rationale tied to molecular and/or cellular characterization of cancer biology.

Does the technology need to be tied to cancer specifically?

Yes. While the technology can be broadly applicable across cancer types or use cases, it must remain clearly anchored in improving molecular and/or cellular characterization of cancer biology, rather than being a generic platform without a cancer-focused justification.

What types of downstream impacts does NCI expect these technologies to enable?

The announcement connects desired technology advances to downstream impact areas including: understanding cancer biology, improving early detection and screening approaches, strengthening clinical diagnosis, informing or monitoring treatment, supporting cancer control and epidemiology, and helping address challenges related to cancer health disparities.

Is this opportunity intended for basic research, clinical research, or both?

It supports technology development relevant to both basic and clinically oriented cancer research settings, as long as the proposed studies do not qualify as clinical trials under NIH definitions.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes many organization types across academia, government, nonprofits, and industry. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations other than federally recognized governments; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (outside higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses.

Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible?

Yes. The eligibility list explicitly includes non-U.S. (foreign) organizations.

Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?

Yes. The opportunity highlights eligibility for U.S. territories or possessions.

Are minority-serving institutions specifically included as eligible applicants?

Yes. The opportunity highlights additional eligible groups including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs).

Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?

Yes. Faith-based or community-based organizations are explicitly listed among the additional eligible groups.

Are federal agencies eligible to apply?

Yes. The opportunity lists eligible federal agencies among the additional eligible groups.

What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?

The CFDA number provided is 93.394.

What is the funding activity category?

The funding activity category is listed as Education and Health.

What is the application due date listed in the synopsis?

The original application closing date provided is 2024-10-01.

What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling) listed?

The listed award ceiling is $150,000.

How many awards will be made?

The synopsis does not specify the number of expected awards in the provided fields. Applicants are expected to consult the full NOFO for details that may not be included in the summary record.

Does the synopsis provide full budget and project period details?

Not in the information provided here. The synopsis notes that some details (such as budget specifics, project period, or award volume) may require consulting the full NOFO text.

What is the central theme of the technologies being sought?

The central theme is enabling new molecular and cellular analysis capabilities for cancer research: tools that change what researchers can measure, see, and interpret about cancer biology, and that can accelerate progress across multiple cancer research and public health needs.

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