Early-Stage Innovative Technology Development for Basic and Clinical Cancer Research (R61 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

The Early-Stage Innovative Technology Development for Basic and Clinical Cancer Research funding opportunity is issued by the National Institutes of Health through the National Cancer Institute. This program is part of the Innovative Molecular Analysis Technologies program, which has historically focused on advancing novel technologies that improve the understanding, detection, and treatment of cancer. The initiative emphasizes early-stage, high-risk, high-reward projects that aim to create new technical capabilities rather than apply existing tools to biological questions. The program reflects a long-standing federal investment in building foundational research tools that can accelerate discoveries across cancer biology, epidemiology, and clinical practice. The primary purpose of this opportunity is to support exploratory and developmental research projects that demonstrate proof of concept for innovative technologies. These technologies must enable new or improved methods for molecular or cellular characterization of cancer or improve the handling and quality control of biospecimens. The funding specifically targets projects at the conceptual or early development stage where feasibility has not yet been established. Projects are expected to focus on technical innovation, with a strong emphasis on developing tools such as assays, platforms, devices, or instrumentation that could be broadly applicable to cancer research. Funding is provided through the R61 mechanism, which supports early-stage feasibility testing. Applicants may request up to one hundred fifty thousand dollars per year in direct costs for a project period not to exceed three years. The program anticipates approximately twenty awards with a total funding pool of about five million one hundred thousand dollars. Funds are intended to support research activities directly tied to the development and validation of new technologies, including design, testing, and refinement. Clinical trials are not allowed under this funding opportunity, though certain human subject activities that do not meet the definition of a clinical trial may be included. Eligibility is broad and includes higher education institutions, nonprofit organizations, for profit entities, small businesses, and various levels of government including state, local, and tribal entities. Foreign organizations are also eligible to apply, although restrictions apply to foreign subawards and subcontract arrangements. Individual principal investigators must possess the skills and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research and must be affiliated with an eligible organization. Required registrations include SAM, Grants.gov, and eRA Commons, all of which must be completed prior to submission. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov or related NIH systems such as ASSIST or institutional system to system solutions. The application must follow NIH Research Instructions and include detailed research plans, performance measures, and required documentation such as a Data Management and Sharing Plan. Applicants must define quantitative performance benchmarks that demonstrate the feasibility and success of the proposed technology. Submissions undergo peer review based on significance, innovation, rigor, feasibility, and investigator expertise, followed by advisory council review before final funding decisions are made. The timeline includes an open date of June 10, 2026, with multiple application deadlines including July 10, 2026 and November 10, 2026. Applications are due by five oclock local time on the submission date, and late applications are not accepted. Review cycles follow each submission, with scientific review occurring within months and earliest project start dates projected for April 2027 or July 2027 depending on the submission cycle. The funding opportunity expires on November 11, 2026, and while multiple submission dates are offered within the cycle, no explicit recurring annual cycle is stated.

Ensure quantitative performance measures are clearly defined with numerical targets as applications lacking them will not be reviewed