Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA CA 20 009
The Advanced Development of Informatics Technologies for Cancer Research and Management (U24 Clinical Trial Optional) funding opportunity (RFA-CA-20-009) is a National Cancer Institute (NCI) cooperative agreement program designed to push promising cancer informatics tools beyond the early prototype stage and into more mature, broadly useful technologies. The focus is on advanced development and enhancement of emerging informatics technologies that can strengthen how cancer-related data and knowledge are acquired, managed, analyzed, and shared across the full cancer research continuum. This includes work spanning cancer biology, diagnostics and treatment, early detection, risk assessment and prevention, cancer control and epidemiology, and efforts addressing cancer health disparities. The overall intent is not to start from scratch, but to build on an existing technology that already shows real potential and is ready for substantive improvement, scaling, validation, and broader usability.
This FOA sits within NCI's Informatics Technology for Cancer Research (ITCR) Program, which supports informatics technology development across a lifecycle, from early concepts through wider adoption. For this particular announcement, "emerging" technology is defined in a specific way: it must have moved past initial prototyping and pilot development, it must have demonstrated the potential for significant impact beyond a narrow niche, and there must be convincing reasons that further enhancement will materially improve its utility or adoption. At the same time, the tool should not already be widely adopted across the cancer research community, since the program is aimed at enabling the next leap forward that could unlock broader use. In practical terms, NCI is looking for projects where there is evidence the technology works in a limited or initial setting, but where additional development is necessary to improve performance, robustness, interoperability, usability, documentation, dissemination pathways, or other capabilities needed for uptake by the broader community.
Because this is a cooperative agreement (U24), applicants should expect substantial programmatic involvement from NCI compared with a standard grant. That structure typically reflects a partnership model in which the awardee leads the technical work while coordinating closely with NCI on milestones, priorities, and progress. A successful application needs to clearly explain why the proposed technology is needed, what specific gap or bottleneck it solves in cancer research, and how the enhanced tool will benefit the field in a concrete, credible way. The FOA also emphasizes that development should be guided by the real needs of end users. Applicants are expected to build in mechanisms to continuously solicit and incorporate feedback from users and collaborators throughout the development process, rather than treating user engagement as an afterthought. This typically implies active collaborations, structured user testing, iterative refinement, and clear plans for dissemination and community engagement.
The opportunity is open to a wide range of applicant organizations, reflecting the cross-cutting nature of cancer informatics. Eligible applicants include various levels of government (state, county, city/township, special districts), public and private institutions of higher education, federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses, with additional eligibility details referenced in the full announcement. The awarding agency is the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the National Institutes of Health (NIH), specifically NCI. The funding is categorized under Education and Health and is associated with CFDA number 93.394.
From a funding perspective, the FOA listed an award ceiling of $600,000 and anticipated making about four awards. The announcement was created on January 23, 2020, with an original closing date of November 18, 2020. The "Clinical Trial Optional" designation means applicants may propose a clinical trial if it is appropriate for the technology development goals, but a clinical trial is not required. Finally, the FOA notes that organizations seeking support for earlier-stage informatics development or long-term sustainment of existing informatics resources should look to the companion ITCR funding announcements, since this U24 is specifically tuned for advanced development and enhancement of tools that are poised for broader impact but are not yet widely adopted.Apply for RFA CA 20 009
- The Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Advanced Development of Informatics Technologies for Cancer Research and Management (U24 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 Jan 23, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 18, 2020. (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 $600,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 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 (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Advanced Development of Informatics Technologies for Cancer Research and Management (U24 Clinical Trial Optional)." It is identified as RFA-CA-20-009.
Which agency is offering this grant?
The awarding agency is the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the National Institutes of Health (NIH), specifically the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
What type of award mechanism is this?
This is a cooperative agreement under the U24 activity code. A cooperative agreement typically involves substantial programmatic involvement from NCI compared with a standard grant.
What does "cooperative agreement" mean for applicants?
Because this is a U24 cooperative agreement, applicants should plan for a partnership-style relationship where the awardee leads the technical work while coordinating closely with NCI on milestones, priorities, and progress. The application should be prepared with the expectation of ongoing collaboration and reporting aligned to agreed-upon development goals.
What is the main purpose of this FOA?
The goal is to push promising cancer informatics tools beyond the early prototype stage into more mature, broadly useful technologies. The emphasis is on advanced development and enhancement so the technology can be improved, validated, scaled, and made more usable by the wider cancer research community.
What kinds of technologies are in scope?
Informatics technologies that strengthen how cancer-related data and knowledge are acquired, managed, analyzed, and shared across the cancer research continuum are in scope. This includes technologies supporting cancer biology, diagnostics and treatment, early detection, risk assessment and prevention, cancer control and epidemiology, and work addressing cancer health disparities.
Is this FOA intended for brand-new tools built from scratch?
No. The intent is to build on an existing technology that already shows real potential and is ready for substantive improvement, scaling, validation, and broader usability rather than starting from scratch.
How does this FOA define an "emerging" technology?
For this announcement, an "emerging" technology is one that has moved past initial prototyping and pilot development, has shown potential for significant impact beyond a narrow niche, and has convincing reasons that further enhancement will materially improve its utility or adoption.
Does the technology need to already be widely used in the cancer research community?
No. The FOA indicates the tool should not already be widely adopted. The program aims to enable the next leap forward that could unlock broader use.
What kinds of improvements or enhancements does NCI expect?
The FOA highlights the need for additional development to improve things like performance, robustness, interoperability, usability, documentation, dissemination pathways, or other capabilities required for broader uptake by the cancer research community.
How important is user engagement in the proposed project?
User needs are central to this FOA. Applicants are expected to include mechanisms to continuously solicit and incorporate feedback from users and collaborators throughout the development process, such as structured user testing, iterative refinement, active collaborations, and clear community engagement and dissemination plans.
What should a strong application clearly explain?
A competitive application should clearly describe why the technology is needed, what gap or bottleneck it addresses in cancer research, and how the enhanced tool will benefit the field in a concrete and credible way. It should also demonstrate readiness for advanced development (beyond early prototypes) and a plan to drive broader usability and adoption.
What program is this FOA associated with?
This opportunity sits within NCI's Informatics Technology for Cancer Research (ITCR) Program, which supports informatics technology development across a lifecycle from early concepts through wider adoption.
Who is eligible to apply?
The FOA is open to a broad range of organizations, including state, county, city/township, special district governments; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. Additional eligibility details are referenced in the full announcement.
Are small businesses eligible?
Yes. Small businesses are listed among eligible applicants (with additional eligibility details referenced in the full announcement).
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. For-profit organizations are eligible, including those other than small businesses, and small businesses are also eligible (with additional eligibility details referenced in the full announcement).
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations are included in the eligible applicant types.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The FOA is associated with CFDA number 93.394.
How is the funding categorized?
The funding is categorized under Education and Health.
What is the award ceiling for this FOA?
The FOA lists an award ceiling of $600,000.
How many awards were anticipated?
The FOA anticipated making about four awards.
When was the announcement created?
The announcement was created on January 23, 2020.
What was the original closing date?
The original closing date was November 18, 2020.
What does "Clinical Trial Optional" mean?
"Clinical Trial Optional" means applicants may propose a clinical trial if it is appropriate for the technology development goals, but proposing a clinical trial is not required.
If our project is earlier-stage (prototype/pilot), is this the right FOA?
This FOA is aimed at projects that have moved beyond early prototype and pilot stages. The FOA notes that organizations seeking support for earlier-stage informatics development should look to companion ITCR funding announcements.
If our work is focused on long-term sustainment of an existing informatics resource, is this the right FOA?
This FOA is specifically tuned for advanced development and enhancement of tools poised for broader impact but not yet widely adopted. The FOA notes that organizations seeking long-term sustainment of existing informatics resources should look to companion ITCR funding announcements.
What stage of maturity is NCI trying to fund through this U24?
The FOA targets technologies that have evidence they work in a limited or initial setting and are ready for substantive improvement, scaling, validation, and broader usability to support broader community uptake.
What is the overarching problem this FOA aims to address?
The FOA aims to reduce informatics bottlenecks that limit how cancer-related data and knowledge are acquired, managed, analyzed, and shared across the full cancer research continuum, by advancing tools that can become broadly useful technologies for the community.
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| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Sustained Support for Informatics Technologies for Cancer Research and Management (U24 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA CA 20 010 Funding Number: RFA CA 20 010 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Revision Applications to Support the Application of Informatics Technology for Cancer Research (R01 Clinical Trials Optional) Apply for RFA CA 20 011 Funding Number: RFA CA 20 011 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Revision Applications to Support the Application of Informatics Technology for Cancer Research (U01 Clinical Trials Optional) Apply for RFA CA 20 012 Funding Number: RFA CA 20 012 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Revision Applications to Support the Application of Informatics Technology for Cancer Research (U24 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA CA 20 013 Funding Number: RFA CA 20 013 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| FY 2018 American Schools and Hospitals Abroad (ASHA) Program Apply for 72ASHA18RFA00001 Funding Number: 72ASHA18RFA00001 Agency: Agency for International Development Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| Utilizing Cohort Studies to Address Health Outcomes in Cancer Survivors (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA CA 20 030 Funding Number: RFA CA 20 030 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| Strengthening Institutional Capacity to Conduct Global Cancer Research in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (D43 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA CA 20 031 Funding Number: RFA CA 20 031 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Metastasis Research Network (U54 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA CA 20 029 Funding Number: RFA CA 20 029 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $1,200,000 |
| Improving Smoking Cessation Interventions among People Living with HIV (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA CA 20 035 Funding Number: RFA CA 20 035 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Improving Smoking Cessation Interventions among People Living with HIV (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA CA 20 036 Funding Number: RFA CA 20 036 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Emergency Awards: Exosome-based Non-traditional Technologies Towards Multi-Parametric and Integrated Approaches for SARS-CoV-2 (U18 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA OD 20 018 Funding Number: RFA OD 20 018 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NLM Grants for Scholarly Works in Biomedicine and Health (G13 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 21 046 Funding Number: PAR 21 046 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Advanced Development of Informatics Technologies for Cancer Research and Management (U24 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA CA 21 015 Funding Number: RFA CA 21 015 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $600,000 |
| Sustained Support for Informatics Technologies for Cancer Research and Management (U24 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA CA 21 016 Funding Number: RFA CA 21 016 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Revision Applications to Support the Application of Informatics Technology for Cancer Research (U01 Clinical Trials Optional) Apply for RFA CA 21 018 Funding Number: RFA CA 21 018 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Development of Innovative Informatics Methods and Algorithms for Cancer Research and Management (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA CA 21 013 Funding Number: RFA CA 21 013 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Revision Applications to Support the Application of Informatics Technology for Cancer Research (R01 Clinical Trials Optional) Apply for RFA CA 21 017 Funding Number: RFA CA 21 017 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Revision Applications to Support the Application of Informatics Technology for Cancer Research (U24 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA CA 21 019 Funding Number: RFA CA 21 019 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| NIDA Translational Avant-Garde Award for Development of Medication to Treat Substance Use Disorders (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 21 092 Funding Number: PAR 21 092 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| HEAL Initiative: Integrative Management of chronic Pain and OUD for Whole Recovery (IMPOWR): Coordination and Dissemination Center (R24 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA DA 21 029 Funding Number: RFA DA 21 029 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $575,000 |
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