Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA CA 09 008
Apply for RFA CA 09 008
- The National Institutes of Health in the education health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Innovative Technology Development for Cancer Research (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 93.396 Cancer Biology Research.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 15, 2008 and posted on Dec 15, 2008.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 30, 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 $3,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education State governments Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) For profit organizations other than small businesses Private institutions of higher education Small businesses Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) U.S. Territory or Possession.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Innovative Technology Development for Cancer Research (R21) opportunity (RFA-CA-09-008) was a National Cancer Institute (NCI), NIH funding announcement designed to spark very early, exploratory work on brand-new technologies for cancer research. The core intent was to support exceptionally innovative, high-risk ideas that might be too unconventional for more traditional grant mechanisms, with a clear focus on projects at the inception and early development stage rather than mature, incremental tool refinement. In practice, applicants were expected to propose original technology concepts that could meaningfully reshape how cancer is studied, measured, or understood, even if substantial technical uncertainty remained.
Scientifically, the emphasis was on technically innovative molecular and cellular analysis tools. That includes technologies aimed at analyzing molecules, cells, and their interactions in ways that are not currently possible, or that dramatically improve key capabilities such as sensitivity, specificity, throughput, spatial or temporal resolution, multiplexing, or interpretability. The announcement highlighted two major ways a proposal could fit: first, by creating a new scientific or technological paradigm or challenging an existing one (for example, enabling an entirely new class of measurements or experimental designs), and second, by overcoming a recognized technological barrier that has been holding back progress in an important area of cancer research. Beyond novelty, the program placed strong weight on the likelihood of broad impact, meaning the technology should have plausible potential to affect a wide area of biomedical or cancer-relevant research rather than a narrow, single-use niche.
This FOA was part of NCI’s broader Innovative Molecular Analysis Technologies (IMAT) Program, which is a family of related solicitations intended to build and accelerate next-generation measurement and analysis approaches for cancer biology and oncology research. Because IMAT uses multiple, closely related announcements and mechanisms, NCI provided a separate NIH Guide notice (NOT-CA-09-007) to compare the IMAT FOAs and help applicants choose the most appropriate fit.
From an administrative and funding perspective, this was a discretionary grant opportunity using the NIH R21 mechanism, which is typically aligned with exploratory, developmental research. The estimated total program funding listed was $3,000,000, with an award ceiling of $200,000 (as stated in the opportunity record). There was no cost sharing or matching requirement. The opportunity was posted on December 15, 2008, and had an original and current closing date of September 30, 2009, with an archive date of October 31, 2009.
Eligibility was broad and included many organization types: public and private institutions of higher education (including public/state-controlled institutions), nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) categories as specified), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, small businesses, and state governments. The eligibility information also indicated additional eligible applicants such as eligible federal agencies, non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations), and U.S. territories or possessions. The CFDA program areas connected to the opportunity spanned major cancer research domains, including cancer cause and prevention (93.393), detection and diagnosis (93.394), treatment (93.395), and cancer biology (93.396), reinforcing that the intended technologies could be relevant across the cancer research pipeline rather than restricted to one subfield.
Operationally, applicants were directed to the full announcement on the NIH grants site (RFA-CA-09-008). For access or linking issues, the contact pathway listed was through the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster (FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV), indicating the standard support channel for technical problems with the posting rather than scientific programmatic questions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Innovative Technology Development for Cancer Research (R21) opportunity (RFA-CA-09-008)?
RFA-CA-09-008 was a National Cancer Institute (NCI), NIH funding opportunity that used the NIH R21 mechanism to support very early, exploratory development of brand-new technologies for cancer research. It was designed to spark exceptionally innovative, high-risk ideas that might be too unconventional for more traditional grant mechanisms.
What was the main goal of this funding announcement?
The core intent was to support projects at the inception and early development stage of a technology concept, rather than mature tools or incremental refinements. The expectation was that applicants would propose original technology concepts that could meaningfully reshape how cancer is studied, measured, or understood, even if substantial technical uncertainty remained.
What type of research stage was this opportunity intended for?
This opportunity emphasized inception and early development of new technologies. It was not positioned as a mechanism for later-stage optimization, routine validation, or incremental tool improvement.
What kinds of technologies were emphasized scientifically?
The scientific emphasis was on technically innovative molecular and cellular analysis tools, including technologies aimed at analyzing molecules, cells, and their interactions in ways that are not currently possible or that dramatically improve key capabilities such as sensitivity, specificity, throughput, spatial or temporal resolution, multiplexing, or interpretability.
How could a proposal fit the program priorities?
The announcement highlighted two major ways a proposal could fit: (1) by creating a new scientific or technological paradigm or challenging an existing one (for example, enabling an entirely new class of measurements or experimental designs), and (2) by overcoming a recognized technological barrier that has been holding back progress in an important area of cancer research.
How important was potential impact beyond novelty?
Beyond novelty, the program placed strong weight on the likelihood of broad impact. The technology was expected to have plausible potential to affect a wide area of biomedical or cancer-relevant research rather than serving a narrow, single-use niche.
Was this opportunity part of a larger program?
Yes. This funding announcement was part of NCI's Innovative Molecular Analysis Technologies (IMAT) Program, a family of related solicitations intended to build and accelerate next-generation measurement and analysis approaches for cancer biology and oncology research.
How were applicants supposed to choose among related IMAT opportunities?
Because IMAT used multiple, closely related announcements and mechanisms, NCI provided a separate NIH Guide notice (NOT-CA-09-007) to compare the IMAT FOAs and help applicants choose the most appropriate fit.
What grant mechanism was used for this opportunity?
This was a discretionary grant opportunity using the NIH R21 mechanism, which is typically aligned with exploratory and developmental research.
How much total funding was estimated for the program?
The estimated total program funding listed was $3,000,000.
What was the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The opportunity record listed an award ceiling of $200,000.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. There was no cost sharing or matching requirement stated for this opportunity.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on December 15, 2008.
What were the closing and archive dates?
The original and current closing date was September 30, 2009, and the archive date was October 31, 2009.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was broad and included public and private institutions of higher education (including public/state-controlled institutions), nonprofit organizations (including both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) categories as specified), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, small businesses, and state governments.
Were non-U.S. organizations eligible?
Yes. The eligibility information indicated that non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) were eligible applicants.
Were U.S. territories or possessions included in eligibility?
Yes. The eligibility information included U.S. territories or possessions.
Were federal agencies eligible to apply?
Yes. The eligibility information indicated that eligible federal agencies could apply.
What cancer research areas did the opportunity connect to?
The CFDA program areas associated with the opportunity spanned major cancer research domains: cancer cause and prevention (93.393), detection and diagnosis (93.394), treatment (93.395), and cancer biology (93.396). This signaled that proposed technologies could be relevant across the cancer research pipeline rather than limited to a single subfield.
Where could applicants find the full announcement?
Applicants were directed to the full announcement on the NIH grants site under RFA-CA-09-008.
Who should be contacted for access or linking issues with the posting?
For access or linking issues, the listed contact pathway was the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster at FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV. This was presented as the standard support channel for technical problems with the posting (not for scientific or programmatic questions).
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (RFA CA 09 008) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| NCI Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award to Promote Diversity (K08) Apply for PAR 09 050 Funding Number: PAR 09 050 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NCI Mentored Patient Oriented Research Career Development Award to Promote Diversity (K23) Apply for PAR 09 051 Funding Number: PAR 09 051 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NCI Mentored Research Scientist Development Award to Promote Diversity (K01) Apply for PAR 09 052 Funding Number: PAR 09 052 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Mechanism for Time Sensitive Research Opportunities (R03) Apply for PAR 06 249 Funding Number: PAR 06 249 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Support Opportunity for Addiction Research (SOAR) for New Investigators (R03) Apply for RFA DA 09 021 Funding Number: RFA DA 09 021 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $25,000 |
| Midcareer Investigator Award in Mouse Pathobiology Research (K26) Apply for PAR 09 053 Funding Number: PAR 09 053 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Tools for Germplasm Cryopreservation (STTR) R41/R42 Apply for PA 09 054 Funding Number: PA 09 054 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Tools for Germplasm Cryopreservation (SBIR) R43/R44 Apply for PA 09 055 Funding Number: PA 09 055 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Pre application for a Biomedical Technology Research Resource (X02) Apply for PAR 08 260 Funding Number: PAR 08 260 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NIH Supported Centers for Population Health and Health Disparities (CPHHD) (P50) Apply for RFA CA 09 001 Funding Number: RFA CA 09 001 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Informatics Training for Global Health (ITGH) (D43) Apply for RFA TW 09 001 Funding Number: RFA TW 09 001 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $230,000 |
| Comprehensive Minority Institution/Cancer Center Partnership (Limited Competition U54) Apply for RFA CA 09 501 Funding Number: RFA CA 09 501 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Cancer Prevention Research Small Grant Program (R03) Apply for PAR 08 055 Funding Number: PAR 08 055 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Genome Characterization Centers and Genome Data Analysis Centers for The Cancer Genome Atlas Research Network (TCGA)U24 Apply for RFA CA 09 010 Funding Number: RFA CA 09 010 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Imaging Science Track Award for Research Transition (I/START) R03 Apply for PAR 09 073 Funding Number: PAR 09 073 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| NINR Mentored Research Scientist Development Award for Underrepresented or Disadvantaged Investigators (K01) Apply for PAR 09 074 Funding Number: PAR 09 074 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $20,000 |
| Institutional Clinical and Translational Science Award (U54) Apply for RFA RM 09 004 Funding Number: RFA RM 09 004 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Transdisciplinary Cancer Genomics Research Post Genome Wide Association (Post GWA) Initiative (U19) Apply for RFA CA 09 002 Funding Number: RFA CA 09 002 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $3,000,000 |
| Cancer Prevention, Control, Behavioral, and Population Sciences Career Development Award (K07) Apply for PAR 09 078 Funding Number: PAR 09 078 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) (P20) Apply for PAR 09 079 Funding Number: PAR 09 079 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
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