Toward Translation of Nanotechnology Cancer Interventions (TTNCI; R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
🏛 National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH11)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 16, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for researchers and research institutions seeking to advance nanotechnology-based cancer interventions toward clinical application and translation. Eligibility typically includes academic institutions, medical schools, hospitals, research institutes, federal laboratories, and nonprofit research organizations. Applicants must have demonstrated capacity in cancer research and nanotechnology development. The program supports projects that move nanotechnology innovations from basic science or preclinical stages toward human application, excluding investigator-initiated clinical trials. Geographic scope is open to U.S. and foreign-based institutions with appropriate NIH registration. Activities supported include preclinical research, translational studies, technology development, feasibility studies, and investigator-initiated non-trial human studies that advance nanotech-based cancer interventions.
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Program description
Through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), entitled “Toward Translation of Nanotechnology Cancer Interventions” (TTNCI), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) encourages applications for advanced pre-clinical research, supporting translation of nanotechnology-based cancer diagnostics and therapeutics. TTNCI awards are designed to mature experimental nanomedicines relying on nanoparticles and nano-devices which demonstrate strong potential to improve cancer treatment effectiveness due to the combination of nanoparticle/nano-device structural design and/or therapeutic/diagnostic cargo which is delivered. TTNCI awards are expected to enable further development of proposed nanotechnology-based interventions to the stage in which they could continue on a developmental path towards the NCI Experimental Therapeutics (NExT) and other NCI translational programs.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- SF-424 (R&R) Application for Federal Assistance
- Project Narrative (typically 15 pages): Research strategy including Significance, Innovation, and Approach sections addressing translational pathway
- Specific Aims (1 page)
- Research Strategy detailing preliminary data, feasibility, and translational milestones
- Budget and Budget Justification (including detailed justification for years 1-5)
- Biographical Sketches for all key personnel (NIH format, typically 4-5 pages each)
- Institutional Supporting Documents: letters of institutional commitment, facilities documentation
- Collaborative Letters from partners, industry liaisons, or regulatory consultants if applicable
- Protection of Human Subjects documentation (if non-trial human studies proposed)
- Conflict of Interest disclosures
- Data Management and Sharing Plan
Program contact
- 👤 National Institutes of Health
- 📧 grantsinfo@nih.gov
- 📞 301-402-2541
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.395 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
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$353,109,533
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$226,323,195
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$180,463,644
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$148,820,579
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$143,093,026
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$125,672,442
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$124,513,663
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$112,462,142
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$109,067,856
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$104,790,648
Top States by Funding
- CA 10 awards $871.7M
- PA 5 awards $513.3M
- NY 7 awards $462.6M
- MA 7 awards $282.7M
- IL 3 awards $274.4M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.395). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $1,298,551,504 | |
| 2025 | $1,414,965,434 | |
| 2026 est. | $926,626,977 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for TTNCI grants?
Researchers at accredited U.S. and foreign institutions, including universities, medical schools, hospitals, and nonprofit research organizations with active NIH registration. Individual investigators must have an M.D., Ph.D., or equivalent degree and institutional affiliation.
What are the typical funding amounts and project duration?
R01 grants under this mechanism typically support 3-5 year projects. Funding amounts vary but standard R01s generally range from $150,000-$500,000 annually, though actual amounts depend on the scope of work and review outcomes.
Can I propose a clinical trial for this grant?
No. The "Clinical Trial Not Allowed" designation explicitly prohibits investigator-initiated clinical trials. However, non-trial human studies that advance nanotechnology development may be considered.
What activities are supported?
Supported activities include nanotechnology development, preclinical testing, translational research, biocompatibility studies, manufacturing feasibility, mechanism-of-action studies, and early human research phases that bridge basic science toward clinical application.
How competitive is this grant mechanism?
NIH R01s are highly competitive. Success rates for NIH typically range from 20-25% across mechanisms. Strong preliminary data, clear translational pathway, experienced team, and innovation are critical factors.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Establish a clear translational pathway: Show specific steps bridging your nanotechnology innovation from current stage to potential clinical use. Reviewers want to see realistic milestones and go/no-go decision points.
- Emphasize preliminary data and feasibility: Include robust preclinical results, characterization data for your nanotech platform, safety/toxicology studies, and evidence that your approach is technically sound and advantageous over existing methods.
- Assemble a multidisciplinary team: Include expertise in nanotechnology, cancer biology, pharmacology, biocompatibility, manufacturing, regulatory affairs, and clinical oncology. Clearly define roles and complementary strengths.
- Address regulatory and commercialization pathway: Describe how your work will facilitate FDA approval or regulatory clearance. Include engagement with regulatory consultants or industry partnerships when relevant.
- Focus on cancer unmet need: Clearly articulate the clinical problem your nanotechnology solves—why existing treatments fall short and how your approach offers distinct advantages in efficacy, safety, or patient outcomes.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications often fail due to weak or insufficient preliminary data to support feasibility claims, making reviewers uncertain whether the technology will work as proposed. A second common issue is an unclear or overly ambitious translational pathway that doesn't realistically bridge preclinical to clinical stages, or that proposes clinical trials when the mechanism explicitly excludes them. Third, many applicants underestimate regulatory and manufacturing complexity, failing to address how their nanotechnology will actually be manufactured at clinical scale or meet FDA requirements.
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