Forecast to Publish a Funding Opportunity Announcement for Early-Stage Development of Informatics Technologies for Cancer Research and Management (U01 Clinical Trial Optional)

The Early-Stage Development of Informatics Technologies for Cancer Research and Management funding opportunity is administered by the National Cancer Institute within the National Institutes of Health, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This program operates under the Informatics Technology for Cancer Research initiative, which is designed to advance the development of computational and data-driven tools that support the full continuum of cancer research. The initiative emphasizes innovation in informatics technologies that improve the acquisition, management, analysis, and sharing of cancer-related data, ultimately supporting scientific discovery, clinical advancement, and improved patient outcomes. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to support early-stage development of informatics technologies, including prototyping and significant modifications to existing tools for new applications. The program prioritizes technologies that demonstrate strong potential to advance cancer research broadly, including discovery biology, epidemiology, clinical research, and translational science. Projects must present a compelling rationale for their proposed technology, demonstrate novelty, and include clear plans for engaging end users throughout development to ensure usability and impact. Funding is provided through a cooperative agreement mechanism, indicating substantial involvement from NIH program staff during the project period. Applicants may request up to 300000 dollars in direct costs per year for a maximum project period of three years. The total anticipated funding for the program is approximately 2400000 dollars to support an estimated five awards. Awardees are required to allocate a portion of their budget toward collaborative activities and must participate in annual program meetings and broader initiative activities. Cost sharing is not required for this opportunity. Eligibility is broad and includes higher education institutions, nonprofit organizations, for-profit entities, and various levels of government, including tribal and international organizations. Both domestic and non-domestic entities are eligible to apply, though foreign subawards are not permitted under this announcement. Applicants must complete required federal registrations including SAM, Grants.gov, and eRA Commons prior to submission. Principal investigators must also maintain ORCID identifiers linked to their profiles. Applications must be submitted electronically through approved federal systems such as Grants.gov or NIH ASSIST. Required components include a detailed research strategy, plans for user engagement, validation methods, timelines, and software sharing plans. Projects involving machine learning must include detailed model documentation. Additional requirements include a data management and sharing plan, letters of support, and compliance with NIH application instructions. Applications are evaluated based on scientific merit, innovation, feasibility, investigator expertise, and alignment with program priorities. The application timeline includes multiple submission cycles with due dates beginning July 1, 2026, followed by October 19, 2026, June 11, 2027, and October 19, 2027. Applications must be submitted by 5:00 PM local time on the due date. The earliest project start date for the first cycle is April 2027. The funding opportunity expires on October 20, 2027, and does not indicate recurring issuance beyond this cycle. Applicants are encouraged to submit early to allow time for corrections and compliance verification during the submission process. For additional information or assistance, applicants may contact the National Cancer Institute through the provided program email address. The program reflects a strong emphasis on collaboration, open science, and the development of broadly usable tools that enhance the cancer research ecosystem.

Emphasize innovation and clear user need demonstrate strong validation methods include end-user engagement plans and ensure feasibility with realistic milestones