Forecast to Publish a Funding Opportunity Announcement for Sustained Support for Informatics Technologies for Cancer Research and Management (U24 Clinical Trial Optional)

The Sustained Support for Informatics Technologies for Cancer Research and Management funding opportunity is issued by the National Institutes of Health through the National Cancer Institute as part of its Informatics Technology for Cancer Research program. This initiative is designed to support the continued operation, maintenance, and evolution of established informatics tools that have already demonstrated value within the cancer research ecosystem. The program reflects the agency’s broader mission to advance cancer research through improved data acquisition, management, analysis, and dissemination, spanning the full cancer research continuum from basic biology to clinical and population-level studies. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to ensure that widely adopted informatics resources remain functional, relevant, and impactful over time. Unlike programs that fund early-stage or exploratory development, this opportunity specifically targets mature tools that have proven their utility and are actively used by the research community. Applicants must demonstrate that their technology has had measurable impact on cancer research and provide a strong justification for continued support. Emphasis is placed on maintaining scientific relevance, adapting to emerging research needs, and fostering ongoing engagement with end users. Funding supports a range of allowable activities focused on sustainment rather than initial creation. These include maintaining software infrastructure, improving system performance and security, expanding functionality, supporting interoperability with other systems, and providing user services such as documentation, training, and help desk support. Projects are expected to include structured plans for user engagement and feedback collection, ensuring that the resource continues to evolve in alignment with the needs of the cancer research community. Certain activities are explicitly restricted, including projects that primarily generate new data beyond a limited threshold or those focused solely on applying existing analysis methods. Eligibility for this opportunity is broad and includes a wide range of organizational types such as institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, for-profit entities, government agencies, and international organizations. Individual researchers must be affiliated with an eligible organization and possess the expertise and resources necessary to lead the project. Applicants must complete required federal registrations and submit applications through designated federal systems such as Grants.gov and eRA Commons. The application process requires adherence to detailed NIH submission guidelines and includes components such as a research strategy, budget justification, and plans for software sharing and data management. Applications are evaluated through a rigorous peer review process based on criteria including significance, investigator qualifications, innovation, approach, and environment. Reviewers assess the demonstrated impact of the proposed resource, the robustness of plans for sustainment and user engagement, and the potential for continued contribution to cancer research. Additional considerations include security, interoperability, and long-term sustainability beyond the funding period. Funding decisions also consider alignment with program priorities and availability of funds. The timeline for this funding opportunity includes an opening date of June 1, 2026, with application due dates on July 1, 2026 and October 19, 2026. Applications must be submitted by 5:00 PM local time of the applicant organization. Peer review and advisory council review occur in subsequent months, with earliest project start dates projected for April 2027 and July 2027 depending on the submission cycle. The opportunity expires on October 20, 2026, and does not indicate a recurring cycle. Awards are issued as cooperative agreements with substantial involvement from NIH staff in project coordination and oversight. The program anticipates funding two awards with a total budget of $1,800,000 for fiscal year 2027, with individual project budgets capped at $600,000 in direct costs per year for up to five years. Recipients are required to participate in collaborative activities, attend annual meetings, and adhere to data sharing and software dissemination policies. These requirements ensure that funded resources remain accessible, interoperable, and beneficial to the broader cancer research community over the long term.

Strongly demonstrate prior impact and active usage of the tool provide clear sustainment plans and user engagement strategies and emphasize interoperability and community benefit