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Early-Stage Innovative Technology Development for Basic and Clinical Cancer Research (R61 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Agency: National Institutes of Health

Assistance Listings: 93.394 -- Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research

Last Updated: July 14, 2026

Description

Through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) solicits grant applications proposing to develop innovative technologies for cancer research or clinical care. The emphasis of this NOFO is on early-stage projects proposing proof-of-concept/pilot studies to test the technical feasibility of the proposed method, tool, assay, platform, or instrument. 

Well-suited applications must offer a high degree of technical innovation and the potential to accelerate and/or enhance research in the areas of cancer biology, early detection and screening, clinical diagnosis, treatment, cancer control, and/or epidemiology. Projects that are in-scope include technologies with new or significantly improved technical capabilities to measure, analyze, model, or interrogate cancer-related systems. These may include, but are not limited to, advanced molecular and cellular analysis platforms, multi-omic and spatial profiling methods, imaging and sensing technologies, immuno-engineering approaches, and innovations in biospecimen processing, modeling, and quality assessment. Technologies proposed for development may have potential for widespread applicability but must be focused in this proposal on cancer applications. 

This funding opportunity is part of a broader NCI-sponsored Innovative Molecular Analysis Technologies (IMAT) Program. 

Eligibility

Eligible applicants

Business

  • For-profit organizations other than small businesses
  • Small businesses

Miscellaneous

  • Other

Government

  • City or township governments
  • Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
  • County governments
  • State governments
  • Special district governments
  • Public and Indian housing authorities

Nonprofit

  • Other Native American tribal organizations
  • Nonprofits non-higher education with 501(c)(3)
  • Nonprofits non-higher education without 501(c)(3)

Education

  • Independent school districts
  • Public and state institutions of higher education
  • Private institutions of higher education

Additional information

Other Eligible ApplicantsIndian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized);Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government;U.S. Territory or Possession;Faith-based or Community-based Organizations;Regional Organizations;Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions).

Grantor contact information

Description

IMAT Program Contact 240-255-0917

Email

NCI-IMAT@nih.gov

NCI-IMAT@nih.gov

Documents

No documents are currently available.

Link to additional information

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Forecasted

Estimated Post Date:

January 15, 2027

Estimated Application Due Date:

June 4, 2027

Estimated Due Date Description:

Not available

Estimated Award Date:

April 1, 2028

Estimated Project Start Date:

April 15, 2028

Fiscal Year:

2028

Application process

This site is a work in progress. Go to www.grants.gov to apply, track application status, and subscribe to updates.

Award

$5,400,000

Program Funding

23

Expected awards

$--

Award Minimum

$150,000

Award Maximum

Funding opportunity number:

RFA-CA-28-001

Cost sharing or matching requirement:

No

Funding instrument type:

Grant

Opportunity Category:

Discretionary

Opportunity Category Explanation:

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Category of Funding Activity:

Health

Category Explanation:

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History

Version:

1

Forecast posted date:

July 14, 2026

Archive date:

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