Revision Applications for Incorporation of Novel NCI- Supported Technology to Accelerate Cancer Research (U01 Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA CA 22 006

FAQs: NIH NCI RFA-CA-22-006 (U01 Competing Revision to Integrate IMAT-Supported Technologies)

What is RFA-CA-22-006?

RFA-CA-22-006 is a National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Cancer Institute (NCI) funding opportunity announcement (FOA) that supports competing revision applications (referred to here as revision applications) to existing, currently funded NCI U01 cooperative agreement projects.

Who is this opportunity intended for?

This FOA is intended for teams that already have an active NCI U01 award and want to expand the scope of their parent project or accelerate progress on the original aims by adding a specific new technology component.

Is this funding for new projects or existing projects?

This is for existing projects only. The application must be a revision to an active, currently funded NCI U01 cooperative agreement (the parent award).

What does the FOA mean by a "revision application"?

In this context, a revision application is a competing request to add work that meaningfully expands the scope of the funded parent U01 project or speeds up progress toward the parent project aims, rather than creating a brand-new standalone project.

What is the main goal of this FOA?

The FOA has two connected goals: (1) accelerate cancer research by enabling funded U01 projects to incorporate cutting-edge methods, platforms, or instruments; and (2) support independent validation of emerging technologies developed with NCI Innovative Molecular Analysis Technologies (IMAT) program support.

What is the central requirement for the proposed expansion?

The proposed expansion must rely on incorporating a novel technical approach, platform, or instrument that was developed with support from the NCI IMAT program.

What kinds of technology additions does NCI appear to be looking for?

Based on the FOA description, NCI is looking for additions that can produce better data, enable new types of measurements, speed up workflows, or otherwise improve insights compared with conventional approaches, specifically by embedding IMAT-originated technologies into active U01 studies.

Why is independent validation emphasized?

Independent validation is emphasized because it tests whether a technology works reliably outside the original developer environment, including use on different samples and by different teams, within the constraints of an active research program. The FOA is designed to help move IMAT-supported technologies from early development toward broader real-world use.

What mechanism is used for awards under this opportunity?

The award mechanism is a U01 cooperative agreement. This generally indicates investigator-driven research with substantial NIH program involvement compared with a standard research grant.

Are clinical trials required?

No. The FOA is labeled "Clinical Trial Optional," meaning clinical trial work may be proposed if appropriate for the parent study and revision aims, but a clinical trial is not required.

What is the award ceiling for this revision opportunity?

The listed award ceiling is $150,000. This suggests the revision budget is intended to be targeted, supporting integration and validation of the IMAT-based component rather than launching an entirely new project.

What type of work is the revision funding intended to support at this budget level?

From the description provided, the budget is meant to support adding a new technology component to an ongoing U01, generating validation data, and integrating a platform, instrument, or approach into the active study to demonstrate value quickly.

What is the assistance listing (CFDA) number associated with this FOA?

The assistance listing (CFDA) number is 93.394, which aligns with NCI research support.

What is the activity area for this opportunity?

The activity area is categorized under education and health.

Which organizations are eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad by organization type, but applicants must have an eligible active NCI U01 parent award to revise. The FOA lists eligible applicants including: public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status); for-profit organizations (including small businesses and other than small businesses); and many government entities (state, county, city/township, special districts, independent school districts), as well as public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities.

Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?

Yes. The FOA includes federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations among eligible applicants.

Does the FOA encourage participation from specific institution types?

Yes. The FOA explicitly highlights a range of additional eligible groups such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISI institutions, Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, and faith-based or community-based organizations.

Are federal agencies eligible to apply?

Yes. The FOA includes eligible federal agencies among the entities that may apply, provided they meet the practical requirement of having an eligible active NCI U01 parent award to revise.

Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?

Yes. The FOA includes U.S. territories or possessions as eligible applicants.

Are non-U.S. (foreign) entities eligible?

Yes. The FOA includes non-U.S. (foreign) entities among eligible applicants, alongside the key practical requirement that the applicant must have an eligible active NCI U01 parent award to revise.

What makes this FOA a "targeted add-on" opportunity?

It is structured as a focused, time-limited revision opportunity to add targeted funds to an active NCI U01 so that a team can credibly integrate an IMAT-supported technology and demonstrate its performance and utility within a real research setting.

What outcomes does NCI appear to want from funded revisions?

The FOA frames desired outcomes as faster scientific progress on the parent U01 questions, plus strong independent evidence that an IMAT-supported tool is robust and ready for broader adoption by the cancer research community.

When was this FOA created and when did it close?

The FOA was created on January 3, 2022, and had an original closing date of September 22, 2022, indicating it was time-limited.

What is the practical eligibility constraint even though organization eligibility is broad?

Even though many organization types are listed as eligible, the practical constraint is that the applicant must already hold an active, currently funded NCI U01 award that can serve as the parent project for the revision.