Revision Applications for Incorporation of Novel NCI-Supported Technology to Accelerate Cancer Research (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA CA 25 005

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA CA 25 005

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), through the National Cancer Institute (NCI), is offering a discretionary grant opportunity titled "Revision Applications for Incorporation of Novel NCI-Supported Technology to Accelerate Cancer Research (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)." This funding opportunity (RFA-CA-25-005) is specifically designed for investigators who already hold an active, currently funded NCI R01 research project and want to submit a revision application (formerly known as a competing revision). The central idea is to help ongoing R01 projects move faster or reach further by integrating a new technology or device that was developed with support from NCI's Innovative Molecular Analysis Technologies (IMAT) program.

The goal of the NOFO is not to fund entirely new, stand-alone projects, but to expand or strengthen the scope and impact of an existing NCI R01 study. Applicants are expected to propose additions that build directly on the parent award's research questions or meaningfully accelerate progress toward the parent study's objectives. What makes this opportunity distinctive is the required connection to IMAT: the revision should incorporate an IMAT-supported technical approach, tool, method, or device, using it to advance the cancer research aims of the funded R01. By doing this, NCI aims to bridge the common gap between promising technology development and widespread, real-world adoption in research settings.

A major emphasis of the program is independent validation and faster uptake of emerging technologies. In practice, that means these awards are intended to motivate research teams who were not necessarily the original technology developers to test, validate, and demonstrate the utility of IMAT-enabled tools in appropriate cancer research contexts. The expectation is that successful projects will provide credible evidence that a novel technology works as claimed, is fit for purpose in real research workflows, and can be adopted by broader scientific communities. This validation-and-adoption focus helps ensure that innovative molecular and analytical technologies do not remain confined to early prototypes or single-lab demonstrations, but instead become usable, trusted tools that can accelerate discovery across the field.

This NOFO also reflects IMAT's broader mission of encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration. IMAT technologies often sit at the intersection of engineering, computational methods, molecular biology, and clinical or translational research. By funding revisions that bring these technologies into active cancer research projects, NCI is encouraging teams to combine expertise across disciplines and to integrate cutting-edge measurement and analysis capabilities into ongoing studies. The "Clinical Trial Optional" designation means clinical trials may be included if appropriate for the proposed revision, but they are not required; applicants can propose either trial or non-trial research activities as long as they align with the parent R01 and the technology integration goals.

In terms of eligibility, the opportunity is open to a wide range of organization types that can hold NIH grants. Eligible applicants include various levels of government (state, county, city/township, and special district governments), federally recognized Native American tribal governments, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, independent school districts, and both public/state-controlled and private institutions of higher education. It also includes nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses, along with additional categories such as eligible federal agencies. The NOFO explicitly highlights a broad set of "other eligible applicants" as well, including 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), tribal governments that are not federally recognized, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations), and U.S. territories or possessions. This breadth signals an intent to make the technology adoption and validation effort accessible across many institutional settings and research communities.

Key administrative details provided include a listed award ceiling of $150,000 and an original application closing date of 2025-10-03. The opportunity falls under CFDA number 93.394 and is categorized under education and health-related funding activities, reflecting NIH's broader mission and the cancer research focus. Overall, this NOFO is best understood as a targeted supplement-style revision mechanism for active NCI R01 awardees who can credibly add an IMAT-supported technology to their ongoing project in a way that expands the science, speeds progress, and helps validate and disseminate high-potential tools to the larger cancer research community.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Revision Applications for Incorporation of Novel NCI-Supported Technology to Accelerate Cancer Research (R01 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 2024-12-31.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-10-03. (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 $150,000.00 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 25 005

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