Title:
Applications of Emerging Technologies for Cancer Research (R21/R33, R33)

Contact:
Gregory J. Downing, D.O., Ph.D.
Office of Technology and Industrial Relations
National Cancer Institute
Telephone: (301) 496-1550
E-mail: downingg@mail.nih.gov

Objective of Project:

This initiative is part of a broader technology development program within the NCI to develop and integrate novel technologies focused on the molecular analysis of cancers and their micro-environment in support of cancer research, diagnosis, and treatment. This specific initiative will serve as a tool to develop emerging technologies in an appropriate biological or clinical context. Research projects should be designed to evaluate the usefulness of emerging technologies that are ready for initial application to clinical or biological questions in cancer research and should demonstrate that the technologies are robust and yield reproducible measurements.

Description of Project:

Though this RFA, the NCI request the submission of applications that describe the adaptations refinements, and utilization of only those technologies which have achieved technical feasibility and technical functionality but have not yet been shown to function reproducibly in the biological context proposed in the grant application. Researchers may propose to continue to refine newly developed technologies, adapt existing technologies to new uses, and generate limited preliminary biological data to prove that the technology functions reproducibly and effectively in the chosen biological context. These projects should provide investigators with sufficient data to demonstrate the capabilities of the technology in a biologically relevant setting. This data could then be used by the investigator or by others to propose new projects using the technology to answer biological or clinical questions, through other existing program announcements or as investigator-initiated R01 applications. The data generated could also be used by technology developers to partner with clinical or biological investigators with questions that the new technology could elucidate or to partner with industry to further refine the technology into a commercial product. The initiative will utilize the NIH R21, R21/R33, and R33 mechanisms. A companion initiative, utilizing the SBIR/STTR mechanisms, will also issued.