Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA CA 09 010
Apply for RFA CA 09 010
- The National Institutes of Health in the education health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Genome Characterization Centers and Genome Data Analysis Centers for The Cancer Genome Atlas Research Network (TCGA)U24" 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 93.396 Cancer Biology Research 93.397 Cancer Centers Support Grants 93.398 Cancer Research Manpower 93.399 Cancer Control.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 7, 2009 and posted on Jan 7, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 13, 2009. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $18,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Eligible applicants include: Private institutions of higher education 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 Public and State controlled institutions of higher education For profit organizations other than small businesses Small businesses Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations).
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Opportunity Summary:
This NIH National Cancer Institute funding opportunity (RFA-CA-09-010) supports the next phase of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) research network through U24 cooperative agreements. The central aim is to generate genome-wide catalogs of the major molecular and genomic alterations found across roughly 20 to 25 different human cancer types. The intent is strongly translational: by mapping these alterations comprehensively and consistently across many tumors, TCGA data can help speed up the discovery of new diagnostic and prognostic markers, reveal targets for drug development, and point toward better prevention and treatment strategies.
The FOA invites applications for two complementary kinds of centers that together form the engine of TCGA production and discovery. The first are Genome Characterization Centers (GCCs), which are responsible for generating large-scale, high-quality molecular datasets from tumor specimens. The second are Genome Data Analysis Centers (GDACs), which take the datasets produced by GCCs and other TCGA components and turn them into integrated analyses, computational tools, and interpretable biological insights. For GDACs, the announcement specifies that applicants must orient their work around one of two permissible analytical pipeline types, meaning applications need to clearly fit into an allowed analysis model rather than proposing an unrelated or ad hoc approach.
GCCs are essentially the high-throughput measurement and profiling hubs. They are expected to use novel, high-throughput, high-resolution technologies to detect genome-wide abnormalities across multiple molecular layers. The announcement highlights several major categories of cancer-relevant alterations GCCs should be capable of capturing, including chromosome segment copy-number changes, structural rearrangements such as translocations, loss of heterozygosity, epigenomic changes such as altered DNA methylation patterns, and transcriptome changes reflected in gene expression differences. In practical terms, GCCs are being asked to produce comprehensive, standardized data at scale, across many tumor samples and tumor types, in ways that allow meaningful cross-study comparisons and downstream integration.
GDACs are positioned as the informatics and discovery layer of TCGA. Their role is to integrate and analyze the diverse data streams generated by GCCs and other parts of the network, and to develop innovative bioinformatics and computational methods that make those data usable by the broader community. The FOA emphasizes advanced analytical work, including systems biology approaches, pathway analysis and modeling, integrative multi-omic analysis methods, and visualization tools that help researchers see complex genomic patterns. The end goal for GDAC activity is not only producing results for individual datasets, but building integrated cancer biology and translational discovery models that deepen understanding of cancer as a disease process and highlight actionable hypotheses for diagnostics and therapeutics.
The program is structured as a cooperative agreement (U24), which typically means substantial NIH programmatic involvement compared with a standard research grant. In practice, that cooperative structure usually reflects a coordinated network environment where awardees are expected to follow shared standards, participate in cross-center planning, meet agreed-upon milestones, and ensure that data and analyses are produced in a consistent and timely manner to support the whole TCGA enterprise.
On eligibility and participation, the FOA is broad and intentionally inclusive. It allows applications from a wide range of organizations, including public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (including those with and without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (including small businesses), eligible federal agencies, and non-U.S. (foreign) entities. Importantly, prior participation in the earlier TCGA Pilot Project is not required; the announcement explicitly encourages all qualified institutions and individuals to apply, signaling an interest in bringing new capacity, new technologies, and new analytic thinking into the network.
Key administrative details provide the context for timing and scale. The opportunity was posted January 7, 2009, with an original and current closing date of March 13, 2009, and an archive date of April 13, 2009. The estimated total funding amount listed is $18,000,000, and there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement. The FOA is associated with multiple CFDA program areas across cancer research, reflecting how TCGA cuts across prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment, basic biology, and cancer centers infrastructure.
Overall, this FOA is about building and sustaining a coordinated national (and potentially international) capability to produce comprehensive, genome-wide cancer datasets and to transform those datasets into integrated analyses, tools, and biologically meaningful models. GCCs supply the standardized, high-resolution molecular measurements across many cancers, while GDACs supply the computational pipelines, integration frameworks, and interpretive analyses that convert raw profiles into usable knowledge for the research and clinical translation communities.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is a National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Cancer Institute (NCI) funding opportunity announcement (FOA) identified as RFA-CA-09-010. It supports the next phase of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) research network through U24 cooperative agreements.
What is the overall goal of this FOA?
The central aim is to generate genome-wide catalogs of the major molecular and genomic alterations found across roughly 20 to 25 different human cancer types. The intent is strongly translational: comprehensive, consistent mapping of alterations across many tumors is meant to speed discovery of diagnostic and prognostic markers, reveal targets for drug development, and inform better prevention and treatment strategies.
What kinds of awards are being made?
Awards are cooperative agreements under the U24 activity code. This structure generally reflects substantial NIH programmatic involvement and a coordinated network environment with shared standards, cross-center planning, and agreed-upon milestones.
What does a cooperative agreement (U24) imply for awardees?
This FOA describes a coordinated network in which awardees are expected to participate in cross-center planning, follow shared standards, meet agreed-upon milestones, and produce data and analyses consistently and on a timely basis to support the broader TCGA enterprise.
What types of centers does the FOA invite applications for?
The FOA invites applications for two complementary types of centers that work together within TCGA:
- Genome Characterization Centers (GCCs), which generate large-scale, high-quality molecular datasets from tumor specimens.
- Genome Data Analysis Centers (GDACs), which integrate and analyze datasets produced by GCCs and other TCGA components and develop tools and insights from those data.
What is the role of a Genome Characterization Center (GCC)?
GCCs are high-throughput measurement and profiling hubs. They are responsible for generating large-scale, standardized molecular datasets from tumor specimens using novel, high-throughput, high-resolution technologies, enabling cross-study comparisons and downstream integration across many tumor samples and tumor types.
What kinds of molecular and genomic alterations are GCCs expected to capture?
The FOA highlights several major categories of cancer-relevant alterations GCCs should be capable of detecting on a genome-wide basis, including:
- Chromosome segment copy-number changes
- Structural rearrangements (such as translocations)
- Loss of heterozygosity
- Epigenomic changes (such as altered DNA methylation patterns)
- Transcriptome changes reflected in gene expression differences
What is the role of a Genome Data Analysis Center (GDAC)?
GDACs provide the informatics and discovery layer for TCGA. They integrate and analyze diverse data streams generated by GCCs and other network components, and they develop bioinformatics and computational methods, visualization tools, and integrated analyses that make TCGA data usable and biologically interpretable by the broader community.
What analytical approaches are emphasized for GDACs?
The FOA emphasizes advanced analytical work such as systems biology approaches, pathway analysis and modeling, integrative multi-omic analysis methods, and visualization tools to help interpret complex genomic patterns. The goal is to build integrated cancer biology and translational discovery models that deepen understanding of cancer and highlight actionable hypotheses for diagnostics and therapeutics.
Are there constraints on what kind of analysis pipeline a GDAC can propose?
Yes. The FOA specifies that GDAC applicants must orient their work around one of two permissible analytical pipeline types. Applications need to clearly fit into an allowed analysis model rather than proposing an unrelated or ad hoc approach.
How do GCCs and GDACs work together within TCGA?
GCCs produce comprehensive, standardized, high-resolution molecular datasets from tumor specimens. GDACs then take these datasets (and data from other TCGA components) and perform integration, analysis, tool development, and interpretation so the data can yield biological insights and translational hypotheses.
How many cancer types is TCGA aiming to cover under this effort?
The FOA states the aim is to generate genome-wide catalogs across roughly 20 to 25 different human cancer types.
Is prior participation in the earlier TCGA Pilot Project required?
No. The FOA explicitly states that prior participation in the earlier TCGA Pilot Project is not required and encourages all qualified institutions and individuals to apply.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad. The FOA allows applications from a wide range of organizations, including:
- Public and private institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits (with and without 501(c)(3) status)
- For-profit organizations (including small businesses)
- Eligible federal agencies
- Non-U.S. (foreign) entities
Does the FOA allow applications from non-U.S. (foreign) organizations?
Yes. The FOA explicitly includes non-U.S. (foreign) entities among eligible applicants.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The FOA states that there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
What is the estimated total funding amount for this FOA?
The estimated total funding amount listed is $18,000,000.
What are the key dates for this opportunity?
The FOA was posted on January 7, 2009. The original and current closing date is March 13, 2009. The archive date is April 13, 2009.
What does the FOA say about the translational intent of TCGA?
The FOA describes the effort as strongly translational. By comprehensively and consistently mapping major molecular and genomic alterations across many tumors, TCGA data are intended to accelerate discovery of diagnostic and prognostic markers, identify targets for drug development, and guide improved prevention and treatment strategies.
What kinds of outputs are expected from GDAC activities?
Based on the FOA description, GDAC outputs include integrated analyses of multi-source data, computational and bioinformatics methods, visualization tools, and interpretable biological insights. The end goal extends beyond single-dataset results to integrated cancer biology and translational discovery models.
What does the FOA indicate about standardization and comparability of data?
The FOA emphasizes that GCCs are expected to produce comprehensive, standardized data at scale across many tumor samples and tumor types in ways that allow meaningful cross-study comparisons and downstream integration.
How does this FOA relate to broader cancer research areas?
The FOA is associated with multiple CFDA program areas across cancer research, reflecting that TCGA spans prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment, basic biology, and cancer centers infrastructure.
In one sentence, what is this FOA building?
It is building and sustaining a coordinated capability to produce comprehensive genome-wide cancer datasets (via GCCs) and transform them into integrated analyses, tools, and biologically meaningful models (via GDACs) for research and clinical translation communities.
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