Advanced Development of Informatics Technologies for Cancer Research and Management (U24 Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA CA 24 018

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA CA 24 018

Advanced Development of Informatics Technologies for Cancer Research and Management (U24 Clinical Trial Optional), RFA-CA-24-018, is a National Institutes of Health opportunity under the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Informatics Technology for Cancer Research (ITCR) Program. It uses a Cooperative Agreement (U24) mechanism, which means awardees should expect an active partnership with NIH/NCI staff rather than a hands-off grant. The overall goal is to push promising cancer-focused informatics tools beyond the early prototype stage and into more mature, broadly usable technologies that can make a real difference across the cancer research continuum.

The FOA is centered on "advanced development and enhancement" of emerging informatics technologies that improve how cancer-related data and knowledge are acquired, managed, analyzed, and shared. It targets needs spanning many domains, including cancer biology, treatment and diagnosis, early detection, risk assessment and prevention, cancer control and epidemiology, and cancer health disparities. In practical terms, this could include software, platforms, analytic methods, knowledge management approaches, or other data-centric technologies that help researchers and clinicians handle complex cancer data more effectively and turn it into usable insights.

A key requirement is that the proposed technology must be "emerging" in a specific sense: it should have already moved past initial prototyping and pilot development, shown clear potential for significant and broader impact, and still have compelling reasons for further improvement. At the same time, the technology should not yet be widely adopted in the cancer research field. This positions the program to invest in tools that are promising but need substantial development work to become robust, scalable, usable, and ready for broader community uptake, rather than funding very early experiments or simply paying to keep an existing resource running.

Because the ITCR program emphasizes research-driven technology development across the full lifecycle, applications need to make a clear, evidence-based case for why the technology is needed and how it will benefit cancer research users. The FOA also expects a thoughtful development plan that includes ongoing mechanisms to gather feedback from real users and collaborators throughout the project. In other words, it is not enough to propose new features or improvements; the project should show how the team will engage the intended community, validate priorities, and iteratively improve the tool based on user experience and adoption barriers.

Clinical trials are optional under this FOA ("U24 Clinical Trial Optional"), which signals that a project may include a clinical trial component if it is appropriate for evaluating the informatics technology, but it is not required. Applicants whose work is better suited to earlier-stage informatics development or to long-term sustainment of an established informatics resource are directed to look at related companion FOAs rather than this one.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of organizations. Eligible applicants listed include state, county, and local governments; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses; and other entities. The FOA also explicitly calls out additional eligible applicants such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), eligible federal agencies, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and non-U.S. (foreign) organizations.

Key administrative details provided include an original application closing date of 2024-11-15 and an award ceiling of $600,000. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding, with activity categories in education and health, and it references CFDA numbers 93.393, 93.394, 93.395, 93.396, and 93.399. The posting indicates a creation date of 2023-12-14.

• The 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): 93.393, 93.394, 93.395, 93.396, 93.399.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-12-14.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-11-15. (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.
• 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 24 018

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