Development of Innovative Informatics Methods and Algorithms for Cancer Research and Management (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA CA 20 007

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA CA 20 007

The grant opportunity titled "Development of Innovative Informatics Methods and Algorithms for Cancer Research and Management (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)" is a National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Cancer Institute (NCI) funding announcement under the Informatics Technology for Cancer Research (ITCR) Program. It supports exploratory and early-stage projects that create genuinely new computational methods, algorithms, and analytic approaches that can move cancer research forward. The emphasis is on innovation in biomedical computing, informatics, and data science that addresses clear, high-priority needs across the full cancer research continuum, rather than incremental tweaks to existing tools. The mechanism is an R21, which is designed for developmental work where a promising concept needs initial validation, proof of feasibility, or early performance evidence.

In practical terms, the FOA is looking for novel computational, mathematical, and statistical methods that can substantially improve how cancer-related data and knowledge are acquired, managed, analyzed, integrated, or shared. That can include approaches relevant to cancer biology (for example, computational interpretation of multi-omics data), cancer treatment and diagnosis (such as decision support or imaging analytics), early detection (including signal detection in screening and longitudinal data), risk assessment and prevention (predictive modeling and risk stratification), cancer control and epidemiology (population-level modeling and surveillance), and cancer health disparities (methods that help measure, understand, and reduce inequities in cancer outcomes). While a clinical trial is optional, the core expectation is that the informatics method or algorithm is clearly defined, technically innovative, and positioned to produce a meaningful benefit for cancer research or cancer care knowledge generation.

Because this opportunity sits within ITCR, the intent is to fund research-driven informatics technology at a stage where the main contribution is the new method itself: the conceptual advance, algorithmic novelty, and evidence that it can work and matter in a cancer-relevant setting. Competitive applications generally need a strong rationale that explains what is new about the approach, why existing methods are not sufficient, and what specific cancer research bottleneck the proposed work will address. The announcement also signals that applicants whose goals are further along the development pipeline (for example, building a full prototype product, hardening software for broad deployment, or adapting and scaling an existing platform) should look to companion FOAs that are structured for downstream technology maturation rather than exploratory method creation.

Administratively, this is a discretionary grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-CA-20-007) managed by the Department of Health and Human Services through NIH/NCI. The listed award ceiling is $200,000, with an expected number of about 6 awards. The original posting dates indicate it was created on January 23, 2020, with an original closing date of November 18, 2020. Eligibility is broad and includes many organization types: public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (including small businesses, but not limited to them), and various government entities (state, county, city/township, special districts), as well as Native American tribal governments and tribal organizations, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, and other applicants as specified in the full eligibility text. The funding is associated with multiple CFDA numbers (93.393, 93.394, 93.395, 93.396, 93.399), reflecting NCI program areas that can support this kind of informatics innovation.

Overall, the opportunity is best understood as seed funding for high-impact informatics ideas in cancer: projects that introduce new algorithms or methodological frameworks, demonstrate early feasibility with appropriate cancer-relevant data or use cases, and lay the groundwork for later-stage development and broader dissemination through other ITCR-aligned funding paths.

• The Department of Health and Human Services, 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 Jan 23, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 18, 2020. (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 $200,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 candidate(s).
• 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 (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for RFA CA 20 007

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