Cancer Cause and Prevention Research

To identify cancer risks and risk reduction strategies, to identify factors that cause cancer in humans, and to discover and develop mechanisms for cancer prevention and preventive interventions in humans. Research programs include: (1) chemical, physical and molecular carcinogenesis; (2) screening, early detection and risk assessment, including biomarker discovery, development and validation; (3) epidemiology; (4) nutrition and bioactive food components; (5) immunology and vaccines; (6) field studies and statistics; (7) cancer chemoprevention and interception; (8) pre-clinical and clinical agent development; (9) organ site studies and clinical trials; (10) health-related quality of life and patient-centered outcomes; and (11) supportive care and management of symptoms and toxicities. Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program: To expand and improve the SBIR program; to stimulate technical innovation; to increase private sector commercialization of innovations derived from Federal research and development funding; to increase small business participation in Federal research and development; and to foster and encourage participation in innovation and entrepreneurship by women and socially/economically disadvantaged persons.
Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program: To stimulate and foster scientific and technological innovation through cooperative research and development carried out between small business concerns and research institutions; to foster technology transfer through cooperative research and development between small business concerns and research institutions; to increase private sector commercialization of innovations derived from Federal research and development funding, and foster participation in innovation and entrepreneurship by women and socially/economically disadvantaged persons.

The awardee will be a university, college, hospital, public agency, nonprofit research institution or for-profit organization that submits an application and receives a grant or cooperative agreement for support of research by a named principal investigator. SBIR grants can be awarded only to domestic small businesses (entities that are independently owned and operated for profit, are not dominant in the field in which research is proposed, and have no more than 500 employees). Primary employment (more than one- half time) of the principal investigator must be with the small business at the time of award and during the conduct of the proposed project. In both Phase I and Phase II, the research must be performed in the U.S. and its possessions. To be eligible for funding, a grant application must be approved for scientific merit and program relevance by a scientific review group and a national advisory council. STTR grants can be awarded only to domestic small business concern (entities that are independently owned and operated for profit, are not dominant in the field in which research is proposed and have no more than 500 employees) which "partner" with a research institution in cooperative research and development. At least 40 percent of the project is to be performed by the small business concern and at least 30 percent by the research institution. In both Phase I and Phase II, the research must be performed in the U.S. and its possessions. To be eligible for funding, a grant application must be approved for scientific merit and program relevance by a scientific review group and a national advisory council.

Grant applications are evaluated by scientific authorities for scientific and technical merit. Applications must also be reviewed by the National Cancer Advisory Board. All competitive applications compete for available funds on the basis of scientific and technical merit, program relevance, and program balance, consistent with NCI and NIH priorities and strategic plans. Initial award provides funds for the first budget period (usually 12 months) and Notice of Grant Award (Form PHS 1533-2) indicates support recommended for the remainder of the project period, allocation of Federal funds by budget categories, and special conditions, if any. All accepted SBIR/STTR applications are evaluated for scientific and technical merit by an appropriate scientific peer review panel and by a national advisory council or board. All applications receiving a priority score compete for available SBIR/STTR set-aside funds on the basis of scientific and technical merit and commercial potential of the proposed research, program relevance, and program balance among the areas of research.

(Grants) Approximately 10 months. SBIR/STTR: About 7-1/2 months.