Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA CA 13 003
Apply for RFA CA 13 003
- 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 Nov 9, 2012 and posted on Nov 9, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 20, 2013. (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: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) County governments Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Private institutions of higher education City or township governments Small businesses Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Independent school districts Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Special district governments Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities For profit organizations other than small businesses Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education State 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 Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are eligible to apply. Non domestic (non U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are eligible to apply. Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Early Stage Development of Innovative Technologies for Biospecimen Science (R21) funding opportunity (RFA-CA-13-003) is a National Cancer Institute (NCI), NIH grant program aimed at supporting early, feasibility-focused technology development that improves the quality and reliability of cancer-relevant biospecimens. The central problem the FOA is trying to solve is pre-analytical variation: the unintentional differences introduced before a sample is analyzed, such as how a specimen is collected, processed, handled, transported, and stored. Because these steps can quietly change the molecular and cellular composition of a specimen, they can distort downstream research findings and clinical insights. This FOA seeks technically innovative concepts that can either interrogate sample quality (measure it, flag problems, or quantify degradation) and/or maximize it (protect, stabilize, or preserve specimens so that downstream assays are more accurate and comparable).
Projects supported under this R21 mechanism are expected to be early stage and development-oriented, emphasizing proof-of-concept and feasibility rather than large-scale validation. NCI is looking for new tools, devices, instrumentation, and related methods that can be practically applied to biospecimens or biospecimen-derived samples. In concrete terms, that could mean technologies that monitor critical variables during collection and storage, methods that preserve DNA/RNA/protein integrity, approaches that reduce degradation or contamination, or systems that provide rapid and objective quality assessment. A major emphasis is on establishing verification criteria for quality assessment and quality control, including under diverse real-world conditions where specimens may experience variable delays, temperatures, handling practices, or storage environments. The expectation is that better control and measurement of these pre-analytical factors will improve the utility of specimens for downstream analyses and, in turn, strengthen research in cancer biology, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, epidemiology, and cancer health disparities.
A key requirement is that every project include quantitative milestones. Applicants must define technical metrics that clearly indicate whether the proposed aims have been achieved, so progress can be measured objectively. This milestone-driven structure fits the purpose of an R21 feasibility award: demonstrating that an innovative technical approach can meet defined performance targets and is ready to be advanced to later-stage development and broader testing.
From an administrative and funding standpoint, this is a discretionary NIH grant opportunity in the broad areas of education and health research, tied to cancer cause and prevention, detection and diagnosis, and treatment (CFDA 93.393, 93.394, and 93.395). NCI anticipated making about four awards, with an estimated total funding level of $800,000 and an award ceiling of $200,000. The FOA does not require cost sharing or matching. The opportunity was posted on November 9, 2012, with an original and final closing date of September 20, 2013, and it was archived on October 21, 2013.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of domestic U.S. organizations such as public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (including those with and without 501(c)(3) status), small businesses, for-profit entities (including those other than small businesses), state and local governments, tribal governments and tribal organizations, school districts, special district governments, and housing authorities. The FOA also explicitly allows participation by foreign organizations and foreign components, as well as U.S. territories and possessions, and highlights inclusion of various minority-serving institutions and community- or faith-based organizations. Overall, the program is designed to attract a wide range of innovators, from academic labs and biobanking experts to engineers, device developers, and translational teams working on practical solutions to improve biospecimen quality and comparability across studies and settings.
For full details, the FOA is available via the NIH Grants Guide at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-CA-13-003.html and the NIH Office of Extramural Research webmaster contact is FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV for access or linking issues.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Early Stage Development of Innovative Technologies for Biospecimen Science (R21)" and is identified as RFA-CA-13-003.
Which agency is offering this grant?
This is a National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity.
What is the main problem this FOA is trying to address?
The FOA is focused on reducing and managing pre-analytical variation, meaning unintentional differences introduced before a biospecimen is analyzed (for example, differences in collection, processing, handling, transportation, and storage).
Why does pre-analytical variation matter for cancer research?
Because pre-analytical steps can change a specimen's molecular and cellular composition, they can distort downstream research results and clinical insights. The FOA aims to improve the quality and reliability of cancer-relevant biospecimens so downstream assays are more accurate and comparable.
What types of projects does this R21 support?
This R21 supports early-stage, feasibility-focused, development-oriented projects that emphasize proof-of-concept rather than large-scale validation.
What kinds of technologies is NCI looking for under this FOA?
NCI is seeking technically innovative concepts such as new tools, devices, instrumentation, and related methods that can be practically applied to biospecimens or biospecimen-derived samples.
What does "interrogate sample quality" mean in this FOA?
It refers to technologies that can measure biospecimen quality, flag problems, quantify degradation, or otherwise provide an objective assessment of whether a sample is fit for downstream analysis.
What does "maximize sample quality" mean in this FOA?
It refers to approaches that protect, stabilize, or preserve biospecimens to reduce degradation, contamination, or other changes that can affect downstream molecular and cellular assays.
What are some concrete examples of the types of approaches described?
Examples described include technologies that monitor critical variables during collection and storage, methods that preserve DNA/RNA/protein integrity, approaches that reduce degradation or contamination, and systems that provide rapid and objective quality assessment.
Is there an emphasis on real-world operating conditions?
Yes. The FOA emphasizes verification criteria for quality assessment and quality control under diverse real-world conditions, including variable delays, temperatures, handling practices, and storage environments.
How does this FOA connect to downstream cancer research and clinical work?
The FOA states that better control and measurement of pre-analytical factors should improve the utility of specimens for downstream analyses and strengthen research in cancer biology, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, epidemiology, and cancer health disparities.
Are quantitative milestones required?
Yes. Every project must include quantitative milestones, meaning applicants must define technical metrics that objectively indicate whether the proposed aims have been achieved.
Why does the FOA require milestone-driven plans?
The FOA frames milestones as a fit for an R21 feasibility award because they help demonstrate that an innovative technical approach can meet defined performance targets and is ready to advance to later-stage development and broader testing.
How many awards were expected to be made?
NCI anticipated making about four awards under this FOA.
What was the estimated total funding level and maximum award amount?
The FOA listed an estimated total funding level of $800,000 and an award ceiling of $200,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The FOA states that cost sharing or matching is not required.
What is the funding mechanism used?
The FOA uses the NIH R21 mechanism and is positioned as an early-stage, feasibility-oriented award.
What subject areas does the FOA relate to?
Administratively, it is described as a discretionary NIH opportunity in the broad areas of education and health research tied to cancer cause and prevention, detection and diagnosis, and treatment.
Which CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?
The FOA references CFDA 93.393, 93.394, and 93.395.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of domestic U.S. organizations, including public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), small businesses, for-profit entities (including those other than small businesses), state and local governments, tribal governments and tribal organizations, school districts, special district governments, and housing authorities.
Are foreign organizations allowed to participate?
Yes. The FOA explicitly allows participation by foreign organizations and foreign components.
Are U.S. territories and possessions included?
Yes. The FOA explicitly includes U.S. territories and possessions.
Does the FOA mention minority-serving institutions or community-based groups?
Yes. It highlights inclusion of various minority-serving institutions and community- or faith-based organizations.
When was this opportunity posted and when did it close?
The FOA was posted on November 9, 2012. The original and final closing date listed was September 20, 2013, and the opportunity was archived on October 21, 2013.
Where can applicants find the full FOA text?
The FOA is available via the NIH Grants Guide at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-CA-13-003.html
Who should be contacted for access or linking issues related to the FOA page?
The NIH Office of Extramural Research webmaster contact listed is FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV for access or linking issues.
What types of teams is this FOA trying to attract?
The FOA is designed to attract a wide range of innovators, including academic labs, biobanking experts, engineers, device developers, and translational teams focused on practical solutions to improve biospecimen quality and comparability across studies and settings.
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