Early-Stage Innovative Technology Development for Basic and Clinical Cancer Research (R61 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Can you apply?
This grant is for researchers and research institutions seeking to develop innovative early-stage technologies with potential applications in basic and clinical cancer research. Eligible applicants typically include universities, medical schools, teaching hospitals, nonprofit research organizations, and other non-profit institutions with a strong research infrastructure. Applicants must have a qualified research team with relevant expertise in cancer biology, technology development, or related fields. This program specifically does not allow clinical trials as part of the proposed research activities. The research should focus on developing novel technological platforms, tools, or methodologies that could advance cancer research and potentially lead to future clinical applications. Domestic U.S. institutions with active research programs in cancer science are generally preferred.
Key dates
- Jun 3, 2026 Applications open
- Nov 10, 2026 Application deadline in 157 days
- Dec 1, 2026 Award announced
- Dec 1, 2026 Project start
This grant is for researchers and research institutions seeking to develop innovative early-stage technologies with potential applications in basic and clinical cancer research. Eligible applicants typically include universities, medical schools, teaching hospitals, nonprofit research organizations, and other non-profit institutions with a strong research infrastructure. Applicants must have a qualified research team with relevant expertise in cancer biology, technology development, or related fields. This program specifically does not allow clinical trials as part of the proposed research activities. The research should focus on developing novel technological platforms, tools, or methodologies that could advance cancer research and potentially lead to future clinical applications. Domestic U.S. institutions with active research programs in cancer science are generally preferred.
Program description
Through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) solicits grant applications proposing to develop innovative technologies for analyzing, targeting, probing, handling, or quality control of biospecimens used in cancer research or clinical care. The emphasis of this NOFO is on early-stage projects proposing proof-of-concept/pilot studies to test the 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, epidemiology, and/or address issues associated with cancer health disparities. 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.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- City / Municipal Government
- Colleges (all higher ed)
- County Government
- Hospital
- Nonprofits
- Private University
- Public Authority
- Public K-12 School
- Public University
- Small Business (SBA-defined)
- Special District
- State Government
- Tribal Nation
- Tribal Organization
Details
This grant is for researchers and research institutions seeking to develop innovative early-stage technologies with potential applications in basic and clinical cancer research. Eligible applicants typically include universities, medical schools, teaching hospitals, nonprofit research organizations, and other non-profit institutions with a strong research infrastructure. Applicants must have a qualified research team with relevant expertise in cancer biology, technology development, or related fields. This program specifically does not allow clinical trials as part of the proposed research activities. The research should focus on developing novel technological platforms, tools, or methodologies that could advance cancer research and potentially lead to future clinical applications. Domestic U.S. institutions with active research programs in cancer science are generally preferred.
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (R&R) Application for Federal Assistance
- Project Narrative/Research Plan (typically 15 pages)
- Specific Aims page
- Background and Significance section
- Innovation section
- Approach/Methodology section
- Budget and Budget Justification (Form 424)
- Biographical Sketches (biosketches) of key personnel
- Institutional Resources and Environment documentation
- Letters of Support (if applicable)
- Data Management Plan
- Protection of Human Subjects documentation (if applicable)
Program contact
- 👤 Kelly Crotty, Ph.D.
- 📧 Kelly.crotty@nih.gov
- 📞 240-255-0917
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.394 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$67,679,289
-
$42,479,238
-
$38,139,324
-
$37,524,148
-
$36,939,788
-
$35,037,695
-
$30,393,940
-
$30,179,102
-
$18,143,614
-
$16,667,828
Top States by Funding
- PA 9 awards $127.6M
- WA 5 awards $103.0M
- CA 11 awards $101.7M
- TX 8 awards $91.8M
- OH 5 awards $73.1M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.394). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $540,918,671 | |
| 2025 | $602,293,691 | |
| 2026 est. | $716,748,079 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for this grant?
Research institutions including universities, medical schools, teaching hospitals, and nonprofit research organizations are eligible. Applicants should demonstrate institutional research capacity and have qualified research personnel with expertise in relevant cancer research areas.
Are clinical trials allowed as part of the proposed project?
No. This grant explicitly does not support clinical trials. The research must focus on technology development and basic/translational cancer research rather than direct human subject testing.
What types of research activities are supported?
This program supports development of innovative early-stage technologies such as diagnostic tools, computational platforms, imaging techniques, laboratory methodologies, and other novel approaches that could advance cancer research.
How competitive is this program?
NIH R61 grants are moderately to highly competitive. Success typically requires a clear innovation, strong preliminary data, experienced research team, and realistic project timeline. Expect competition from established research institutions.
What is the typical funding range?
R61 phase grants typically provide $200,000-$400,000 per year for 2 years, though specific amounts vary. Applicants should consult the current program announcement for exact funding parameters.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Focus on the technological innovation: Clearly articulate what is novel about your proposed technology and how it meaningfully advances cancer research beyond existing approaches. Reviewers want to see genuine innovation, not incremental improvements.
- Provide strong preliminary data: Include proof-of-concept results demonstrating feasibility. Even for early-stage work, evidence that your technology approach works in preliminary form significantly strengthens competitiveness.
- Build a multidisciplinary team: Cancer technology development benefits from diverse expertise. Include collaborators with complementary skills (e.g., engineers, oncologists, bioinformaticians, statisticians) to demonstrate comprehensive capacity.
- Clearly avoid clinical trials: Explicitly state that your research focuses on technology development and basic/translational science. Even tangential clinical components can trigger concerns about grant compliance.
- Address scalability and impact: Explain not just that your technology works, but how it could be scaled, adopted by other laboratories, and create broader impact in the cancer research field. Reviewers assess long-term potential.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications frequently fail because they lack sufficient preliminary data or proof-of-concept, leaving reviewers uncertain whether the technology is actually feasible. Another common issue is proposing activities that blur into clinical trial territory despite the explicit restriction—even if unintentional, this can lead to immediate rejection. Finally, many applications underestimate the importance of demonstrating clear innovation; projects that appear incremental improvements rather than genuinely novel approaches face significant reviewer skepticism and low priority scores.
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