Mechanisms of Support

The IMAT Program utilizes the R21 and R33 mechanisms to fund high-risk, high-innovation technology platforms and approaches. IMAT Program RFAs thus solicit applications under these funding mechanisms for three rounds of review each year.

R21 mechanism – constitutes exploratory/pilot phase of a research project grant; requires innovative technology/approach and appropriate quantitative milestones; preliminary data, while not required, is allowable; Research plan limited to 15 pages
R33 mechanism – constitutes developmental phase of a research project grant; requires feasibility data; Research plan limited to 25 pages
R43/44 mechanisms – constitute SBIR Phase I and Phase II mechanisms; innovative technology/approach, quantitative milestones, and satisfaction of SBIR requirements required for Phase I; feasibility data, commercialization plans, and successful completion of Phase I project required for Phase II; Phase I research plan limited to 15 pages; Phase II research plan limited to 25 pages
R41/42 mechanisms - STTR Phase I and Phase II mechanisms; innovative technology/approach, quantitative milestones, and satisfaction of STTR requirements required for Phase I; feasibility data, commercialization plans, and successful completion of Phase I project required for Phase II; Phase I research plan limited to 15 pages; Phase II research plan limited to 25 pages

In the first or R21 phase of the program, applicants are asked to submit a grant application which includes a description of the proposed study followed by a set of quantitative milestones that are used to judge feasibility. Included in this application is a one-page description of the relevance of the technology with respect to cancer. The description may be that of a novel cancer research tool, a new detection methodology or platform, or a treatment technology which may be used in either a research setting or directly for clinical care.

Successful applicants to Phase I of this process will receive an R21 award. The R21 award will be of modest budget and limited time (i.e., $275,000 for up to 2 years in length with no more than $200,000 being requested in a single year). To assure that innovative technologies are able to continue toward development, funded R21 projects that prove to be feasible are eligible to apply for an R33 grant or transition. Feasibility and the R33 phase are reviewed differently from the original IMAT Program.

The R33 application will include the final set of negotiated milestones together with an adequate description of the completion of the milestones. This portion of the application will be followed by a thorough description of the plan for developing the technology and a description of the perceived impact the technology will have on cancer. Peer-reviewers for these applications will be asked first to triage applications based on completion (or lack thereof) of milestones. Those applicants found not to have demonstrated feasibility, as judged by their milestones, will be ineligible for further discussion and thus triaged from further review. Those applications which have demonstrated completion of the milestones will then be discussed by the review group with an emphasis on the development plan and the importance and timeliness of the problem to be addressed by the technology.

For a complete list of current IMAT Program funding opportunities, please click here.