Notice of Intent to Publish a Funding Opportunity Announcement for Cooperative Agreements to Develop Targeted Agents for Use with Systemic Agents Plus Radiotherapy (U01)

Notice Number: NOT-CA-16-005

Key Dates
Release Date: December 16, 2015
Estimated Publication Date of Announcement: Spring 2016
First Estimated Application Due Date: June/July 2016
Earliest Estimated Award Date: January 2017
Earliest Estimated Start Date: April 2017

Related Announcements
None

Issued by
National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Purpose

The National Cancer Institute intends to promote a new initiative by publishing a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to solicit applications for research on in vivo and in vitro testing of Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program (CTEP) investigational, molecularly targeted anti-tumor drugs as integral components of chemo-radiotherapy. The Consortium to be established through this initiative will be expected to develop a rigorous preclinical testing program for these agents when combined with radiation and systemic chemotherapy. Developing pilot studies aimed at defining mechanisms of activity for combinatorial treatments will be encouraged. The goal of the individual projects will be to generate reliable data that can be validated within the Consortium. The overarching purpose of the initiative is to inform new agent prioritization decisions, and clinical trial design in order to increase the likelihood of positive clinical trials. The goal is to develop more effective treatments for cancers treated with chemo-radiation.

This Notice is being provided to allow potential applicants sufficient time to develop meaningful collaborations and well-designed projects that address the goals of this FOA.

The FOA is expected to be published in the Spring of 2016 with an expected application due date in early Summer 2016.

This FOA will utilize the U01 activity code. Details of the planned FOA are provided below.

Research Initiative Details

This Notice encourages investigators with expertise and insights into the area of Translational Radiation Oncology to begin to consider applying for this new upcoming FOA. In addition, collaborative investigations will be encouraged. These collaborations may bring together expertise in radiobiology, tumor biology, pharmacology, in vitro and in vivo models imaging and statistical analysis as applied to preclinical testing of radiation-drug interactions. Collaborative study investigators should also begin considering applying for this application. Foreign components to domestic applications will be allowed.

This FOA will emphasize the highest standards of design, execution, validation and reporting of the preclinical testing results. All projects will be required to use standardized radiation dosimetry, consistent with National Institutes of Standards and Technology (NIST) certifications.
The areas of research encouraged in this initiative are Translational Radiobiology and Radiation Oncology research examining the mechanisms that underlie the effects of radiation combined with chemotherapy and molecularly targeted drugs. The particular focus is on research designed to improve the translation of new strategies for the treatment of cancer with radiotherapy.

APPLICATIONS ARE NOT BEING SOLICITED AT THIS TIME.

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Eric J. Bernhard
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Telephone: 240-276-5704
Email: bernhardej@mail.nih.gov