The National Cancer Institute (NCI), a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' National Institutes of Health (NIH), is planning to release a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) aimed at supporting sustained informatics technologies critical to cancer research and management. This grant opportunity is being forecasted under the opportunity number FOR-CA-25-075 and will utilize the U24 cooperative agreement mechanism. The projected NOFO is expected to be published on August 29, 2025, with an anticipated application deadline of November 21, 2025. Awards are expected to be announced by July 1, 2026, with projects beginning on the same date.
This upcoming NOFO seeks to provide long-term support for high-value, widely-used informatics resources that have had a measurable impact on cancer research. The focus is on the continued development, maintenance, and scientific relevance of tools that enhance data acquisition, management, analysis, and dissemination throughout the cancer research spectrum. Unlike other funding opportunities that support early or advanced development of new technologies, this NOFO is explicitly designed to sustain mature informatics platforms that have already demonstrated utility in cancer research.
Eligible projects must demonstrate the significant contribution the technology has made to date, and outline robust plans to ensure continued relevance and benefit to the cancer research community. Key components of a successful application will include justification for the ongoing support of the technology, evidence of impact on cancer research, detailed user engagement strategies, and documentation or training plans to support the end-user community. Projects should also include mechanisms for assessing and enhancing the resource’s utility, including responsive features to evolving research community needs.
Eligibility for this funding opportunity includes a broad range of entity types such as public and private institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (both federally recognized and non-federally recognized), nonprofits with IRS 501(c)(3) status, state and local government agencies, public housing authorities, independent school districts, and for-profit organizations including small businesses. The grant does not require matching funds, and the number of awards has not yet been specified. The total program funding, as well as the ceiling and floor amounts for individual awards, remain to be determined and are not disclosed in the forecast.
Applications are not currently being accepted as this is a forecasted opportunity. However, the advance notice is intended to provide applicants with time to develop strong proposals and collaborations. The opportunity is categorized under the Health activity area and includes Assistance Listings such as cancer biology, prevention, treatment, detection, control, and disparities. This reflects NCI's broader ITCR (Informatics Technology for Cancer Research) initiative, which seeks to support all phases of informatics technology development aligned with research priorities in cancer.
Interested parties are encouraged to begin considering project plans and partnerships in preparation for the upcoming NOFO. The key contact for this opportunity is Dr. Juli Klemm at the National Cancer Institute. She can be reached at juli.klemm@gmail.com or by phone at 202-853-7889.
