Development of Innovative Informatics Methods and Algorithms for Cancer Research and Management (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA CA 24 016

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA CA 24 016

Development of Innovative Informatics Methods and Algorithms for Cancer Research and Management (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) is a National Institutes of Health funding opportunity from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) under the Informatics Technology for Cancer Research (ITCR) Program. It supports exploratory and developmental projects that create genuinely new informatics methods or algorithms intended to strengthen how cancer data are collected, analyzed, visualized, and interpreted. The overall aim is to produce innovative computational capabilities that can accelerate discovery and improve decision-making across the full cancer research and care spectrum, rather than simply funding routine software updates or straightforward applications of existing techniques.

The scope is intentionally broad across the cancer research continuum. Proposed work can focus on cancer biology, diagnosis and treatment, early detection, risk assessment and prevention, cancer control and epidemiology, and research addressing cancer health disparities. What ties these areas together is the emphasis on informatics innovation: applicants are expected to propose a method or algorithm that materially improves the way cancer-related data are handled or understood. This can include advances that make it easier to acquire data, more powerful ways to integrate or analyze complex datasets, better approaches to visualization that improve human interpretation, or new computational techniques that enable insights that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to obtain.

A central requirement is a clear and convincing rationale for novelty and field-wide benefit. Competitive applications need to explain what is new about the proposed informatics approach, why the innovation matters, and how it could enable better or faster cancer research outcomes. The announcement draws a firm line on responsiveness: projects that mainly apply existing methods or algorithms, where the only novelty is the biological or clinical question being studied, are considered non-responsive and will not be reviewed. In other words, the informatics contribution must be the primary innovation, not a secondary tool used to answer a different scientific question.

The mechanism is the R21 exploratory/developmental research grant, which is designed for early-stage, high-risk/high-reward ideas that may not yet have extensive preliminary data. Clinical trials are optional, meaning projects may include a clinical trial component if it is appropriate to developing or validating the proposed informatics method, but a clinical trial is not required. The funding instrument type is a grant, and the opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding within education and health-related activity areas.

Key administrative details include the Funding Opportunity Number RFA-CA-24-016, with an original closing date of 2024-11-15. The listed award ceiling is $275,000. The opportunity is associated with multiple CFDA numbers (93.393, 93.394, 93.395, 93.396, 93.399), reflecting alignment with several NCI program areas.

Eligibility is expansive and includes many types of organizations. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations and tribal governments that are not federally recognized in certain categories; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The announcement also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), eligible federal agencies, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations), and U.S. territories or possessions.

In practical terms, this opportunity is best suited for teams proposing a distinctly new computational approach that can be generalized or adapted beyond a single study, with a clear plan to demonstrate why the method improves upon current practice in cancer research or management. The ITCR emphasis signals that NCI is looking for informatics advances that can become enabling technologies for the broader community, helping researchers and clinicians work more effectively with the growing scale and complexity of cancer data.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Development of Innovative Informatics Methods and Algorithms for Cancer Research and Management (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.393, 93.394, 93.395, 93.396, 93.399.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-12-14.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-11-15. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $275,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for RFA CA 24 016

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