Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA CA 14 005
Apply for RFA CA 14 005
- The National Institutes of Health in the education health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Early Stage Development of Innovative Technologies for Biospecimen Science (R21)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.393 Cancer Cause and Prevention Research 93.394 Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research 93.395 Cancer Treatment Research.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 20, 2013 and posted on Dec 20, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 18, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $800,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) State governments County governments Special district governments Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) For profit organizations other than small businesses Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Small businesses Independent school districts Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Private institutions of higher education Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities City or township governments Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs) Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government Faith based or Community based Organizations Hispanic serving Institutions Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized) Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) Regional Organizations Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) U.S. Territory or Possession.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Early Stage Development of Innovative Technologies for Biospecimen Science (R21) opportunity (RFA-CA-14-005) is a National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute (NCI) funding announcement aimed at supporting early, technically innovative feasibility studies that improve how cancer-relevant biospecimens are collected and managed before analysis. The central problem it targets is pre-analytical variation: the unwanted differences introduced during collection, processing, handling, and storage of biospecimens (and their derivatives) that can distort downstream molecular measurements and reduce the reliability, comparability, and clinical usefulness of results. The overarching goal is to help develop new technologies that can interrogate biospecimen quality and/or maximize the integrity and utility of samples so that subsequent analyses are more accurate and reproducible.
The FOA is specifically interested in early-stage technology development rather than large-scale validation or late-stage product deployment. It supports the creation and proof-of-feasibility of tools, devices, instrumentation, and enabling methods that can (1) assess sample quality in a practical, quantitative way, (2) preserve or protect sample integrity across real-world conditions, and (3) establish verification criteria that can serve as objective quality assessment and quality control benchmarks. In other words, the program is looking for innovations that either measure quality problems early (so compromised samples can be flagged or excluded) or prevent those problems from happening in the first place (so more samples remain usable for sensitive assays such as genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and other molecular analyses).
A key expectation of this grant mechanism is that projects define and pursue quantitative milestones. Applicants are required to include clear technical metrics that indicate whether the proposed aims have been achieved. This milestone-driven emphasis signals that the agency wants measurable progress that demonstrates feasibility and performance, such as sensitivity and specificity for quality indicators, stability improvements over time or temperature ranges, reproducibility across operators or sites, or other objective criteria tied to biospecimen integrity and downstream analytic performance.
In terms of impact, the FOA frames biospecimen quality as a foundational issue that affects many areas of cancer research and care. By reducing pre-analytical variability, the supported technologies are expected to accelerate and strengthen studies in cancer biology, early detection and screening, clinical diagnosis, treatment decision-making, epidemiology, and research on cancer health disparities. The underlying idea is that better-controlled biospecimens lead to cleaner data, fewer false signals, improved comparability across studies and institutions, and ultimately more credible findings that can translate into clinical and public health advances.
This funding opportunity is part of the NCI-sponsored Innovative Molecular Analysis Technologies (IMAT) Program, positioning it within a broader portfolio focused on advancing technology that enables better molecular analysis. While this specific FOA centers on the biospecimen side of the pipeline, it is aligned with IMATs larger goal of improving the technical foundations that make modern cancer research and diagnostics possible.
Administratively, this is a discretionary grant opportunity using the NIH R21 mechanism, which is commonly used for exploratory and developmental research. The announcement anticipated approximately 4 awards, with an estimated total funding level of about $800,000 and an award ceiling of $200,000. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement. The original posting date was December 20, 2013, with a closing date of September 18, 2014, and an archive date of October 19, 2014.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of organizations. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township, and special district governments; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public and private institutions of higher education; independent school districts; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3) nonprofits and certain nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status); for-profit organizations (including those other than small businesses); small businesses; and a range of mission-focused institutions and community-based entities. The eligibility list also explicitly includes groups such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions (AANAPISIs), as well as eligible federal agencies. Non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations), regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions are also indicated as eligible, reflecting an intent to encourage broad participation where strong technical ideas exist.
For applicants seeking full details, the FOA was posted on the NIH Grants Guide under RFA-CA-14-005, and the archived announcement includes the complete requirements, review criteria, and submission instructions. The source notice also provides NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster contact information for access or linking issues.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name and ID of this grant opportunity?
The funding opportunity is titled Early Stage Development of Innovative Technologies for Biospecimen Science (R21) and the FOA number is RFA-CA-14-005.
Which agency is offering this opportunity?
This is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding announcement from the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
What grant mechanism does this FOA use?
The opportunity uses the NIH R21 mechanism, which is intended for exploratory and developmental research, especially early-stage feasibility work.
What problem is this FOA trying to solve?
It targets pre-analytical variation, meaning unwanted differences introduced during biospecimen collection, processing, handling, and storage that can distort downstream molecular measurements and reduce reliability and comparability of results.
What kinds of biospecimens or research areas does it relate to?
The focus is on cancer-relevant biospecimens and improving how those samples are managed before analysis so that downstream molecular analyses (for example genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and other molecular measurements) are more accurate and reproducible.
What is the overarching goal of the program?
The goal is to support early, technically innovative feasibility studies that develop technologies to interrogate biospecimen quality and/or maximize the integrity and utility of biospecimens so later analyses are more trustworthy and reproducible.
Is this FOA focused on early-stage development or later-stage validation and deployment?
It is specifically focused on early-stage technology development and proof-of-feasibility, not large-scale validation studies or late-stage product deployment.
What types of projects and technologies are encouraged?
The FOA supports the creation and proof-of-feasibility of tools, devices, instrumentation, and enabling methods that improve biospecimen collection and management prior to analysis.
What are the main technology objectives this FOA is looking for?
The FOA highlights innovations that can: (1) assess sample quality in a practical, quantitative way; (2) preserve or protect sample integrity across real-world conditions; and (3) establish verification criteria that can serve as objective quality assessment and quality control benchmarks.
Does the FOA emphasize detecting problems, preventing them, or both?
Both. It seeks innovations that can measure quality problems early so compromised samples can be flagged or excluded, and/or prevent quality problems so more samples remain usable for sensitive downstream assays.
What are “verification criteria” in the context of this FOA?
In this FOA, verification criteria refer to objective, measurable benchmarks that can be used for biospecimen quality assessment and quality control (QC), helping standardize decisions about whether a specimen is fit for a given molecular analysis.
Are applicants expected to include milestones?
Yes. A key expectation is that projects define and pursue quantitative milestones. Applicants are required to include clear technical metrics that indicate whether the proposed aims have been achieved.
What kinds of quantitative metrics does the FOA expect?
Examples referenced in the description include measurable performance indicators such as sensitivity and specificity for quality indicators, stability improvements over time or temperature ranges, reproducibility across operators or sites, and other objective criteria tied to biospecimen integrity and downstream analytic performance.
How does improving biospecimen quality impact cancer research and care?
By reducing pre-analytical variability, the FOA expects supported technologies to strengthen cancer research and care areas including cancer biology, early detection and screening, clinical diagnosis, treatment decision-making, epidemiology, and research on cancer health disparities. Better-controlled biospecimens can lead to cleaner data, fewer false signals, and improved comparability across studies and institutions.
Is this opportunity part of a larger program?
Yes. This FOA is part of the NCI-sponsored Innovative Molecular Analysis Technologies (IMAT) Program. While this specific opportunity centers on biospecimen-related technology, it aligns with IMATs broader goal of improving the technical foundations of modern cancer research and diagnostics.
How many awards were anticipated and what was the expected total funding level?
The announcement anticipated approximately 4 awards, with an estimated total funding level of about $800,000.
What was the award ceiling for individual projects?
The award ceiling was $200,000.
Is cost-sharing or matching required?
No. The FOA states there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
What were the key dates for this FOA?
The original posting date was December 20, 2013. The closing date was September 18, 2014. The archive date was October 19, 2014.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many organization types, including various levels of government (state, county, city or township, special districts), tribal governments and tribal organizations, public and private higher education institutions, independent school districts, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3) and certain nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations, small businesses, and other mission-focused or community-based entities. The eligibility list also includes eligible federal agencies.
Are minority-serving institutions explicitly included in eligibility?
Yes. The eligibility list explicitly includes Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions (AANAPISIs).
Are non-U.S. organizations eligible?
Yes. The eligibility information indicates that non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations), as well as regional organizations and U.S. territories or possessions, are eligible.
Where can applicants find the official FOA details and instructions?
The FOA was posted on the NIH Grants Guide under RFA-CA-14-005. The archived announcement contains the complete requirements, review criteria, and submission instructions.
Who should be contacted for technical issues accessing the FOA posting?
The source notice references NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster contact information for access or linking issues.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Education Health
Next opportunity: Validation and Advanced Development of Emerging Technologies for Biospecimen Science (R33)
Previous opportunity: Early Stage Innovative Molecular Analysis Technology Development for Cancer Research (R21)
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