NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) Community Sites (UG1 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

The National Cancer Institute (NCI), a component of the National Institutes of Health within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is offering funding through the NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) Community Sites initiative. This program is part of a broader federal effort to expand cancer research beyond academic medical centers and into community-based healthcare settings where the majority of cancer care is delivered. The NCORP initiative is designed to increase access to clinical research for diverse populations and improve the generalizability of findings by engaging patients and providers in real-world healthcare environments. This funding opportunity specifically supports Community Sites, which are healthcare systems or consortia capable of contributing to cancer control, prevention, and care delivery research. The primary objective of this program is to support infrastructure and participation in multi-site clinical research focused on cancer prevention, control, and care delivery. While this specific funding opportunity does not allow applicants to propose independent clinical trials, it enables participation in existing trials conducted through NCORP and the National Clinical Trials Network. Funded sites are expected to contribute to patient accrual, data collection, and implementation of research protocols. Activities include engaging community oncologists, enrolling diverse patient populations, and supporting studies related to symptom management, screening, treatment delivery, and quality of life. Funding is provided through a cooperative agreement mechanism, indicating substantial involvement from NIH program staff throughout the project period. The National Cancer Institute intends to commit approximately 73 million dollars in fiscal year 2027 to support up to 50 awards across both Community and Academic Community Site programs. Budgets are not capped but must reflect the actual needs of the proposed activities, including infrastructure and projected patient accrual. The project period is expected to span six years. While cost sharing is not required, applicants must justify their budget based on anticipated research participation and operational needs. Eligible applicants include a wide range of U.S.-based entities such as higher education institutions, nonprofit organizations, for-profit entities, and government agencies, provided they are healthcare delivery organizations or consortia. However, certain institutions are explicitly excluded, including NCI-designated cancer centers and foreign organizations. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to conduct human subjects research, maintain regulatory compliance, and support patient recruitment and data management across affiliated sites. Required registrations include SAM, Grants.gov, eRA Commons, and ORCID for principal investigators. Applications must be submitted electronically through approved federal systems such as Grants.gov or the NIH ASSIST platform. The application process requires strict adherence to NIH guidelines, including detailed research plans, organizational structures, data management strategies, and multiple supporting attachments documenting prior research performance and infrastructure capacity. Evaluation criteria include significance, investigator capability, innovation, approach, and environment, with additional emphasis on the ability to engage community populations and meet accrual targets. Applications undergo a two փուլ review process including peer review and advisory council assessment. Key dates for this funding opportunity include an opening date of August 18, 2026, and a submission deadline of September 18, 2026. Review activities are expected to occur in March 2027, followed by advisory council review in May 2027, with the earliest project start date projected for July 2027. Applicants are encouraged to submit early to allow time for corrections. The program does not specify recurring cycles, and therefore should be treated as a discrete funding opportunity. For inquiries, applicants may contact the NCORP Director via email at NCORP@mail.nih.gov or refer to NIH support services for submission and technical assistance.

Ensure strong demonstration of patient accrual capability, community engagement, and operational infrastructure; clearly align proposed activities with NCORP goals and required research areas; emphasize data quality and regulatory compliance