I Announcement

January 8, 2009

NCI ANNOUNCES NEW FUNDING OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT THE CANCER GENOME ATLAS

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has announced a new funding opportunity to support The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), a joint initiative with the National Human Genome Research Institute. TCGA is a comprehensive and coordinated effort to accelerate our understanding of the molecular basis of cancer through the application of genome analysis technologies. This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is a Request for Applications RFA-CA-09-010 "Genome Characterization Centers and Genome Data Analysis Centers for The Cancer Genome Atlas Research Network (TCGA)[U24]”.

Under this FOA, NCI is soliciting applications for:

• Genome Characterization Centers (GCC) that will utilize high-throughput, high-resolution technologies to detect genomic, epigenomic and transcriptome cancer aberrations in a comprehensive (i.e., genome-wide) manner.
• Genome Data Analysis Centers (GDAC) that will focus on the integration and analysis of data generated by TCGA, the development of innovative bioinformatic and computational tools and the performance of advanced bioinformatic analysis for further application in translational research.

Utilizing the NIH U24 cooperative agreement funding mechanism, NCI intends to support 2-4 GCC and 2-6 GDAC awards. Prior contribution to the TCGA Pilot Project is not required and all qualified institutions and individuals are encouraged to apply. Applicants can propose project periods up to 5 years.

The NCI will hold a pre-application meeting on January 29, 2009, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon at 6001 Executive Boulevard, Conference Room C, Rockville, Maryland 20852, to which all interested prospective applicants are invited (either in person or via web cast at http://videocast.nih.gov). An archived recording of the web cast will be available after the meeting at http://videocast.nih.gov/pastevents.asp. At this pre-application meeting, NCI program and review staff members will make presentations to explain the goals and objectives for TCGA Research Network and to discuss application content, peer review process, and answer questions.  An NCI Grants Management Specialist will be available to answer financial questions.

A meeting notice has been issued in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts and is available at the following web address: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-CA-09-012.html.