Human Tumor Atlases (HTA) Precancer Atlas Research Centers (U2C) | RFA CA 17 035

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA CA 17 035

The Human Tumor Atlases (HTA) Precancer Atlas Research Centers (U2C) funding opportunity (RFA-CA-17-035) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) cooperative agreement designed to support research centers that can build detailed, multidimensional “atlases” of human tumors, with a strong emphasis on understanding precancer and early disease development. It sits under the Beau Biden Cancer MoonshotSM Initiative, which was created to speed up progress in cancer research by backing projects that generate broadly useful, high-impact resources and knowledge. In practical terms, the FOA is aiming to fund teams that can capture how tumors and their surrounding environments change over time, across space within tissues, and across multiple biological measurement types, rather than treating a tumor as a static or one-dimensional entity.

The scientific goal is a comprehensive view of the dynamic tumor ecosystem. That means characterizing not only cancer cells, but also the surrounding immune cells, stromal cells, blood vessels, signaling molecules, and physical tissue architecture that together shape how a lesion forms, evolves, and potentially becomes invasive or metastatic. The “multidimensional” aspect signals the expectation that awardees will integrate multiple data layers, such as cellular composition, molecular profiles, spatial organization, and temporal progression, in a way that produces an atlas-like reference map that other researchers can use. The focus aligns with a priority identified by the Cancer Moonshot Blue Ribbon Panel (BRP): the Generation of Human Tumor Atlases. By centering on precancer, these centers are meant to illuminate the earliest steps of tumorigenesis, including the transitions from normal tissue to premalignant lesions and on to cancer, which is often where prevention, early detection, and interception strategies can have the biggest payoff.

Because the mechanism is a cooperative agreement (U2C), the program is structured around substantial NIH involvement compared with a typical investigator-initiated grant. Cooperative agreements generally imply closer coordination with NIH program staff and potentially with other funded groups to ensure that the resulting atlases and datasets are interoperable, comparable, and broadly useful. The “research center” framing also suggests an emphasis on coordinated, team-based work that can combine clinical access to human specimens, advanced measurement technologies, computational analysis, and data-sharing practices into a single integrated effort.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and governmental entities. Eligible applicants listed include state, county, city or township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other organizations. The FOA explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant categories 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), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal government agencies, regional organizations, Indian/Native American tribal governments other than federally recognized, and U.S. territories or possessions. This emphasis signals an intent to broaden participation and encourage applications from diverse institutional settings, including those serving historically underrepresented populations.

Foreign participation is restricted in a specific way. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply as the primary applicant organization. However, “foreign components,” as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed. In other words, the core applicant and administrative home must be U.S.-based, but certain international collaborations can still be included when they meet NIH’s definition and requirements for foreign components, which typically relates to discrete elements of the project being conducted outside the U.S. under the U.S. award.

From the administrative details provided, the opportunity falls under the “Discretionary” category, uses the cooperative agreement funding instrument, and is associated with health and education activity categories. The CFDA numbers tied to it are 93.393, 93.394, 93.395, 93.396, and 93.399, reflecting NIH cancer-related assistance programs. The FOA was created on October 20, 2017, with an original closing date of January 18, 2018. The listed award ceiling is $1,600,000, indicating the maximum expected funding level per award under the announcement as provided in the source summary. The expected number of awards is not specified in the excerpted data.

Overall, this FOA is best understood as an NIH effort to fund coordinated research centers that can generate high-resolution, integrative maps of how human cancers emerge and evolve from precancerous states within their native tissue context. The expected deliverable is not just individual findings, but atlas-style resources and integrated datasets that can accelerate downstream discoveries in prevention, early detection, and therapy by giving the research community a richer, more precise picture of tumor development as a dynamic biological system.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Human Tumor Atlases (HTA) Precancer Atlas Research Centers (U2C)" 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 2017-10-20.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-01-18. (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 $1,600,000.00 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 17 035

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