Advanced Development and Validation of Emerging Molecular and Cellular Analysis Technologies for Basic and Clinical Cancer Research (R33 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA CA 25 002

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA CA 25 002

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is offering this grant opportunity to support projects that push promising new molecular and cellular analysis technologies closer to real-world use in cancer research. The focus is not on discovering new biology with today s tools, but on strengthening the tools themselves. Specifically, the NOFO invites R33 applications for emerging technologies that already have credible preliminary data and have cleared the biggest feasibility hurdles, yet still need additional development, optimization, and rigorous validation before the broader research community can confidently adopt them. The goal is to help these technologies mature to the point where they can reliably target, probe, or measure molecular and cellular features that matter in cancer, whether the eventual use case is basic science or clinically oriented research.

Projects are expected to deliver genuinely novel or substantially improved technological capabilities for characterizing cancer at the molecular or cellular level. A strong fit would be a platform, assay, imaging method, single cell or spatial approach, computational measurement framework, sample handling workflow, or other analytical technology that makes it possible to see something new, measure something more accurately, or do so faster, cheaper, more reproducibly, or with less sample, in ways that meaningfully expand what cancer researchers can study. NCI is looking for work that can accelerate or improve research across areas such as cancer biology, early detection and screening, clinical diagnosis, treatment and therapeutic decision making, cancer control, epidemiology, and research that addresses cancer health disparities. While a technology may ultimately be broadly applicable beyond cancer, the proposed development in this NOFO must be clearly centered on improving cancer relevant molecular and or cellular characterization.

A key boundary in this solicitation is that it is not meant to fund projects where the technology is already established and the main novelty is simply applying it to a new tumor type, biomarker, pathway, patient cohort, or clinical question. If the tool is basically off the shelf and the innovation sits primarily in the biological target, the proposal is considered out of scope and will not be reviewed. In other words, the scientific emphasis must stay on advancing the technology and providing the kind of validation that makes others trust it: analytical performance, robustness, reproducibility, limitations, use conditions, and evidence that it works as intended across relevant sample types or settings. Because the FOA is labeled Clinical Trial Not Allowed, the work can support clinically relevant research and use clinical specimens, but it cannot be structured as a clinical trial.

This opportunity sits within NCI s broader Innovative Molecular Analysis Technologies (IMAT) Program, which is designed to cultivate next generation measurement and analysis methods that can transform cancer research. The funding instrument is an NIH grant using the R33 mechanism, and the program expects to make about 10 awards. The listed award ceiling is 300,000 (as provided in the source summary). The opportunity number is RFA-CA-25-002, under CFDA 93.394, and it is categorized under Education and Health. The original closing date is 2025-10-03.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of organizations. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local 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; other tribal organizations; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education institutions); for profit organizations (other than small businesses) as well as small businesses; and other categories. The NOFO also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicants such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions, Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, faith based or community based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, non U.S. (foreign) entities, tribal governments that are not federally recognized, and U.S. territories or possessions. Overall, the intent is to attract applicants who can demonstrate a credible technology base plus a clear, technically rigorous plan to finish development and produce convincing validation that will enable widespread use in cancer research.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Advanced Development and Validation of Emerging Molecular and Cellular Analysis Technologies for Basic and Clinical Cancer Research (R33 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 2024-12-16.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-10-03. (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 $300,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
• 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 RFA CA 25 002

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