Early-Stage Development of Informatics Technologies for Cancer Research and Management (U01 Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA CA 27 019

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA CA 27 019

The National Institutes of Health, through the National Cancer Institute (NCI), is offering a cooperative agreement opportunity under the Informatics Technology for Cancer Research (ITCR) Program to support early-stage development of informatics technologies that can strengthen cancer research and cancer data management. The funding opportunity is titled "Early-Stage Development of Informatics Technologies for Cancer Research and Management (U01 Clinical Trial Optional)" (RFA-CA-27-019). It is aimed at projects that build new software, platforms, computational methods, or data resources, or that substantially adapt existing tools for new cancer-related uses, with the goal of improving how cancer data and knowledge are collected, organized, analyzed, and shared across the full cancer research continuum.

A key point is what "early-stage development" means in this program. This NOFO is meant for work ranging from prototyping through initial dissemination, which generally includes building a functional tool (or major new capability), testing it in realistic settings, and making it available in an initial form to intended users. It is not just about generating ideas or publishing algorithms; the emphasis is on creating enabling technology that can be used by cancer researchers and that addresses a clear, recognized need in the field.

The scope is intentionally broad and includes informatics technology that supports many areas of cancer research and management, such as basic cancer biology, cancer diagnosis and treatment, early detection, risk assessment and prevention, cancer epidemiology, and cancer control. The opportunity encourages user-friendly and impactful tools that can serve discovery research, population-based studies, and clinical or translational research. In practice, this could include technologies for data acquisition and integration, management of complex datasets, advanced analytics and modeling, knowledge representation, data sharing and interoperability, workflow tools, or other informatics approaches that make cancer research more efficient, reproducible, and scalable.

To be competitive, applicants need to do more than propose a technically interesting tool. The NOFO stresses that proposals must clearly explain why the technology is needed, what gap it fills, and how it will benefit cancer research beyond a single lab or a narrow use case. Projects are expected to demonstrate novelty in informatics capabilities for the targeted domain and to show strong potential to advance one or more "driving" cancer research projects as well as the broader research community. Another major requirement is a concrete plan to engage end users throughout development, including processes to solicit feedback from the driving projects and other users so that the technology evolves based on real-world needs rather than developer assumptions.

The program also places weight on execution planning. Applications must include a realistic development timeline and clear milestones, reflecting that this is a cooperative agreement (U01), where NIH/NCI typically has substantial scientific involvement during the project period. While clinical trials are optional under this announcement, the mechanism allows projects that may include clinical trial-related elements if appropriate, but they are not required.

In terms of basic logistics, this is a discretionary funding opportunity using a cooperative agreement funding instrument (U01) within the health activity category, associated with CFDA numbers 93.393, 93.394, 93.395, 93.396, and 93.399. The opportunity lists an award ceiling of $300,000 and anticipates making about 5 awards. The opportunity was created on 2026-05-21, and the listed original closing date is 2027-10-19.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S. organizations and governments, such as state, county, and city governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other eligible tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. Importantly, the NOFO explicitly allows international participation: non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) may apply, non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are eligible, and foreign components are allowed as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

Overall, this NOFO is best understood as support for practical, research-driven cancer informatics engineering at an early but tangible stage: building or significantly adapting tools that solve real problems in cancer research data and knowledge handling, validating them with engaged users, and moving them toward initial adoption and dissemination with clear milestones and a credible development plan.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Early-Stage Development of Informatics Technologies for Cancer Research and Management (U01 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.393, 93.394, 93.395, 93.396, 93.399.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2026-05-21.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2027-10-19.
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $300,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), 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, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for RFA CA 27 019

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