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

FAQs: NIH/NCI Funding Opportunity RFA-CA-20-023 (U54 Cooperative Agreement Revision)

What is RFA-CA-20-023?

RFA-CA-20-023 is a National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Cancer Institute (NCI) funding opportunity that uses the cooperative agreement mechanism and is focused on revision applications to existing NCI-funded U54 Resource-Related Research Projects.

Is this funding meant for brand-new projects?

No. This opportunity is specifically intended for revision (formerly called competing revision) applications to an already active NCI-funded U54 award. It is designed to add a clearly defined new element to the parent award rather than start an unrelated new project.

Who is the intended applicant for this opportunity?

The intended applicant is a team or organization that already holds an active NCI U54 award and is seeking additional support through a formal revision application.

What is the main purpose of this revision funding?

The main purpose 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.

What kinds of activities should the revision propose?

The proposed work is expected to either expand the original research questions of the parent U54 project or materially accelerate progress on the parent study by integrating an IMAT-developed technology or instrument.

What role do IMAT-supported technologies play in this announcement?

IMAT-supported tools are central to the announcement. The revision is intended to help move promising, emerging IMAT-developed technologies more quickly toward practical use in cancer research settings.

Is independent validation a key expectation?

Yes. A key emphasis is independent validation by groups beyond the original technology developers. The goal is for outside groups to test, evaluate, and demonstrate performance, usefulness, and readiness of IMAT-developed technologies in real research environments.

Why does the announcement emphasize validation by groups beyond the technology developers?

The rationale is to shorten the time between technology development and wider adoption by the appropriate research communities by demonstrating that the technology performs well and is ready for broader use when tested by independent teams.

What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement (U54)?

Because the mechanism is a cooperative agreement, the program is structured for substantial involvement by NCI in the conduct and oversight of funded activities, consistent with how U54 mechanisms typically operate.

Are clinical trials required under this opportunity?

No. The opportunity is designated as "Clinical Trial Optional," meaning a clinical trial component may be included if appropriate for the proposed validation or application of the technology, but it is not required.

What is the award ceiling for this opportunity?

The stated award ceiling is $150,000. This suggests the revisions are intended as targeted support to add or validate the IMAT-enabled technology component rather than fund an entirely new, large-scale program.

What types of organizations are eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad across many U.S.-based organization types, including various levels of government (state, county, city, township, special district), 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.

Are minority-serving institutions specifically included as eligible applicants?

Yes. 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).

Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?

Yes. The opportunity explicitly notes eligibility for faith-based or community-based organizations, along with regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions, as long as they meet NIH eligibility rules.

Can foreign organizations apply as the applicant?

No. Non-U.S. (non-domestic) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply as applicants under this opportunity.

Are non-domestic components of U.S. organizations eligible?

No. The announcement states that non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible.

Are any international activities allowed at all?

Yes, in a limited way. Foreign components (as defined under the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are allowed. This 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.

What is the assistance listing (CFDA) number for this opportunity?

The NIH assistance listing (CFDA) number provided for this opportunity is 93.394.

What general activity category does this opportunity fall under?

The opportunity is described as sitting within the health and education activity category.

When was this FOA created and what was the original closing date?

The FOA was created on December 20, 2019, and it listed an original application closing date of September 29, 2020.

How should applicants think about the overall intent of the program?

The announcement can be understood as a bridge between cutting-edge technology development funded through IMAT and on-the-ground cancer research projects funded through NCI U54 awards, with the purpose of accelerating adoption, demonstrating readiness, and promoting interdisciplinary collaboration around innovative tools and methods.

What is the relationship between the revision project and the parent U54 award?

The revision is meant to add a new, clearly defined element that strengthens the parent U54 award by integrating an IMAT-developed technology, either by expanding the parent project’s research questions or by speeding up progress toward the parent project’s goals.