Continuation and Expansion of the National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank for Translational Research (U24)

The Continuation and Expansion of the National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank for Translational Research (U24) is a federal funding opportunity administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This program builds upon the National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank (NMVB), originally established in 2006 to support biomedical and clinical research focused on malignant mesothelioma. The NMVB serves as a centralized, internet-based repository and registry designed to facilitate access to biospecimens and associated data for researchers studying this rare and aggressive cancer. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to continue and expand the NMVB’s capabilities as a national resource. The program aims to enhance the availability and diversity of biospecimens, including fresh frozen tumor samples, paraffin-embedded tissues, blood, DNA, RNA, and protein samples. In addition to biological materials, the NMVB aggregates detailed demographic and clinical data such as patient age, sex, race, occupational history, disease stage, treatment outcomes, and survival information. These combined datasets are intended to accelerate translational research and improve understanding of mesothelioma development, progression, and treatment. Funding will support the maintenance, expansion, and improvement of a virtual registry and tissue bank infrastructure. Awardees are expected to operate a centralized system that allows participating institutions to contribute and access mesothelioma-related biospecimens and data. The platform must support secure data sharing, integration of genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic datasets, and accessibility for qualified investigators. Allowable uses of funds include data collection, storage, curation, system enhancements, and coordination among participating institutions. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement associated with this opportunity. Eligibility for this cooperative agreement is broad but includes a critical technical requirement. Applicants must already possess an established registry and tissue bank capable of functioning as a national virtual registry for mesothelioma. This includes the ability to aggregate biospecimens from multiple institutions and provide centralized access through an online system. Eligible entities include various levels of government, institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit entities, provided they meet the operational and technical requirements. Foreign entities and foreign components of U.S. organizations are explicitly excluded. The application process is expected to follow standard federal grant submission procedures through electronic systems, with applications required to be submitted by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the specified due dates. Two application deadlines are anticipated for this funding cycle: November 2, 2026 and March 2, 2027. The opportunity is currently forecasted, with an estimated posting date of September 2, 2026. Applicants should prepare comprehensive proposals detailing their technical capabilities, infrastructure, data management systems, and plans for expanding the NMVB resource. Applications will likely be evaluated based on scientific and technical merit, the applicant’s ability to manage and expand a national registry, data quality and accessibility, and the potential impact on mesothelioma research. The cooperative agreement structure indicates ongoing collaboration with the CDC. The estimated award date is August 1, 2027, with a project start date of September 1, 2027. The program is expected to fund one award with total program funding of 5,500,000 dollars. For additional information, applicants may contact the Scientific Program Official, Bridgette Garrett, via email or phone as provided in the opportunity listing.