Revision Applications for Incorporation of Novel NCI-Supported Technology to Accelerate Cancer Research (U54 Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA CA 20 023

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA CA 20 023

This funding opportunity, RFA-CA-20-023, is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Cancer Institute (NCI) cooperative agreement aimed specifically at revision applications to existing NCI-funded U54 Resource-Related Research Projects. In other words, it is not designed to start brand-new, unrelated projects; it is meant for teams that already hold an active NCI U54 award and want to submit a formal revision (formerly called a competing revision) that adds a clearly defined new element to the parent award. The central goal is to speed up and strengthen the parent U54 project by incorporating a novel technology or technical approach that was originally developed with support from the NCI Innovative Molecular Analysis Technologies (IMAT) program.

At the heart of the announcement is the idea of taking promising, emerging IMAT-supported tools and moving them more quickly toward practical use in cancer research settings. Applicants are expected to propose work that either expands the original research questions of the parent U54 project or materially accelerates progress on the parent study by integrating one of these IMAT-developed technologies or instruments. A key emphasis is on independent validation: the revision award is intended to motivate outside groups (beyond the original technology developers) to test, evaluate, and demonstrate the performance, usefulness, and readiness of these new technologies in real research environments. The broader rationale is to shorten the time between technology development and wider adoption by the appropriate research communities.

Because this is structured as a cooperative agreement (U54), the program is set up for substantial involvement by NCI in the conduct and oversight of the funded activities, consistent with how U54 mechanisms typically operate. The opportunity is also designated as "Clinical Trial Optional," meaning applicants may include a clinical trial component if it is appropriate for the proposed validation or application of the technology, but a clinical trial is not required.

Eligibility is broad across many U.S.-based organization types, including state, county, city, township, and special district governments; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses; and other organizations that meet NIH eligibility rules. The announcement explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant categories such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), as well as faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions. At the same time, it draws clear boundaries around foreign participation: non-U.S. (non-domestic) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply as applicants, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible. However, foreign components as defined under the NIH Grants Policy Statement are allowed, which typically means certain parts of the work may be carried out internationally under an eligible U.S. applicant when justified and compliant with NIH policy.

Administratively, the opportunity falls under the NIH assistance listing (CFDA) number 93.394 and sits within the health and education activity category. The FOA was created on December 20, 2019, and listed an original application closing date of September 29, 2020. The stated award ceiling is $150,000, indicating these revision awards are intended to be targeted infusions of support to add or validate the IMAT-enabled technology component rather than to fund an entirely new, large-scale program. Overall, the announcement is best understood as a bridge between cutting-edge technology development funded through IMAT and the on-the-ground cancer research projects funded through NCI U54 awards, with the explicit purpose of accelerating adoption, demonstrating readiness, and promoting interdisciplinary collaboration around innovative tools and methods that can drive faster scientific discovery in cancer research.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Revision Applications for Incorporation of Novel NCI-Supported Technology to Accelerate Cancer Research (U54 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.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2019-12-20.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-09-29. (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.

Apply for RFA CA 20 023

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