Revision Applications to Support the Application of Informatics Technology for Cancer Research (R01 Clinical Trials Optional) | RFA CA 19 062

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA CA 19 062

This grant opportunity, titled "Revision Applications to Support the Application of Informatics Technology for Cancer Research (R01 Clinical Trials Optional)" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-CA-19-062), is a National Cancer Institute (NCI) funding announcement designed specifically for projects that already have an active NCI-funded R01 award. The focus is not on starting a brand-new standalone project, but on submitting a revision application (formerly called a competing revision) that meaningfully expands the scope of the parent R01 or speeds up its progress. The core expectation is that the revision will incorporate informatics methods, tools, or resources that were developed under the NCI Informatics Technology for Cancer Research (ITCR) Program, whether those ITCR resources are from current or past ITCR support.

At its center, the FOA is meant to push practical, real-world adoption of ITCR-supported technologies by cancer research teams that may not have created those tools themselves. The NCI is using this mechanism to encourage new collaborations between investigators running existing R01 studies and informatics groups or resources associated with ITCR. In other words, it is intended to move informatics innovations off the shelf and into active cancer research workflows, where they can directly improve research execution, broaden analytic capabilities, or unlock new lines of investigation connected to the original R01 aims. The announcement emphasizes adoption, adaptation, and integration, which signals that applicants are expected to do more than simply cite a tool; they should show how the ITCR technology will be implemented in their study context, what adjustments or enhancements may be needed, and how that integration will accelerate or strengthen the scientific output of the parent project.

The program also reflects NCI priorities around interdisciplinary, team-based science. Informatics work often sits at the intersection of computer science, data science, clinical research, and domain-specific cancer biology. This FOA explicitly aims to promote those cross-disciplinary partnerships so that innovative computational methods and software resources can be used effectively by the broader cancer research community. While the title notes "Clinical Trials Optional," the mechanism does not require a clinical trial; it allows them when appropriate, meaning the revision could involve clinical trial-related components if they fit the parent award and comply with NIH definitions and requirements.

From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary grant program under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health. The activity is categorized under Education and Health, and it is associated with CFDA number 93.396. The funding details listed for this opportunity include an award ceiling of $100,000 and an expected number of awards of 4, indicating a relatively small, targeted funding pool meant to catalyze a limited number of high-impact integrations rather than support large expansions. The original posting date is July 31, 2019, with an original closing date of November 20, 2019.

Eligibility is broad in terms of institution types, which is typical for NIH opportunities, but the practical eligibility constraint is that applicants must be positioned to submit a revision to an existing NCI R01 parent award. Eligible applicant organizations include various levels of government (state, county, city/township), special districts, independent school districts, public and state-controlled higher education institutions, private higher education institutions, federally recognized tribal governments, other tribal organizations, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, and other entities as described in the opportunity materials. This wide eligibility list mainly reflects who can generally apply for NIH grants; for this particular FOA, the key deciding factor is whether the organization holds the relevant active NCI R01 award that can be revised.

In practical terms, a strong application under this FOA would clearly explain (1) the parent R01 project and its current trajectory, (2) the specific ITCR-developed informatics tool(s) or resource(s) being brought in, (3) what new capabilities the tool enables for the cancer research questions already being pursued, and (4) how the revision will concretely accelerate progress or expand the research aims in a way that remains coherent with the parent award. Because the intent is to incentivize integration and collaboration, reviewers would typically expect a credible plan for implementation, appropriate expertise on the team (or through collaboration), and a clear description of how the informatics component will be adopted and used by the relevant research community rather than remaining a one-off demonstration.

• The Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Revision Applications to Support the Application of Informatics Technology for Cancer Research (R01 Clinical Trials Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.396.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jul 31, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 20, 2019. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $100,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 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 (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for RFA CA 19 062

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