NOT-CA-08-003: Selection of Appropriate Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) for the Continuation of the Innovative Technologies for Molecular Analysis of Cancer (IMAT) Program

Selection of Appropriate Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) for the Continuation of the Innovative Technologies for Molecular Analysis of Cancer (IMAT) Program

Notice Number: NOT-CA-08-003

Key Dates
Release Date: January 8, 2007

Issued by
National Cancer Institute (NCI) (http://www.nci.nih.gov)

The NCI-sponsored Innovative Technologies for Molecular Analysis of Cancer (IMAT) Program, which is aimed at the development and integration of novel and emerging technologies in the support of cancer research, diagnosis, and treatment, now encompasses an array of 9 closely-related Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs). This Notice is designed to help potential IMAT applicants identify appropriate FOAs.

The IMAT Program comprises the following three related thematic components (i.e., themes):

Innovative Technologies for the Molecular Analysis of Cancer, which emphasizes research projects that are centered on the inception and early stage development of new technologies for cancer research;
Application of Emerging Technologies for Cancer Research, which is designed to support research projects evaluating technologies that are ready for initial clinical or laboratory application in cancer research; and
Innovations in Cancer Sample Preparation, which is centered on the development of novel technologies of sample preparation/purification/processing that maximize the quality and utility of biospecimens for molecular analyses of cancer cells and their host environments without compromising donor/patient health.

For each IMAT theme, there are several parallel FOAs that involve different funding mechanisms with distinct submission requirements. In addition to conventional Research Project Grants (RPGs), some IMAT FOAs are directed at small businesses under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) mechanisms. Note that Themes 1 and 2 are merged for SBIR/STTR RFAs.

The individual IMAT FOAs are Requests for Applications (RFAs) focused either on:

Conduct of high-risk exploratory research with an emphasis on innovation (Phase I through use of the R21, R41, or R43 grant mechanisms); or
Further development of a technology/application for which proof of concept has been achieved (Phase II through use of the R33, R42, or R44 grant mechanisms); or
Projects that combine both Phase I and Phase II efforts in one application/award (the SBIR/STTR Fast Track mechanisms).

The complete matrix of 9 IMAT FOAs is provided in Table 1 below along with details regarding the basic requirements and total amounts of set-aside funds for each theme for Fiscal Year 2008. Please note that for comprehensive information on all of the submission requirements, set-aside funds for each FOA, and the anticipated number of awards, it is absolutely essential that every applicant reads the full individual IMAT FOA before preparing and submitting an application in response to the selected FOA. Nonetheless, prospective applicants may use this table and the links to respective individual FOAs as a quick “switchboard” to initially identify which of the closely related active IMAT FOAs might be most appropriate.

Table 1. The matrix of IMAT RFAs and the outline of their characteristics.

Award Type: RPG

Mechanism	Theme and Total Set-Aside Funds	Innovative Technologies $3M	Application of Emerging Technologies $3M	Sample Preparation $1M
Mechanism	Project Type and General Requirements	Innovative Technologies $3M	Application of Emerging Technologies $3M	Sample Preparation $1M
R21	Exploratory-pilot Required: Innovative technology/approach^a; Quantitative milestones^b; Not required (but allowed): Preliminary data.	RFA-CA-08-006	RFA-CA-08-007	RFA-CA-08-009
R33	Developmental Required: Feasibility datac		RFA-CA-08-008	RFA-CA-08-010

Award Type: SBIR/STTR

Mechanism	Theme and Total Set-Aside Funds	Innovative Technologies and Applications $2.25 M	Sample Preparation $1.25 M
	Project Type and General Requirements
R43	Exploratory/ Phase I Required: Innovative technology/approach; Quantitative milestones^b; Small Business-specific requirements. Not required (but allowed): Preliminary data.	RFA-CA-08-011	RFA-CA-08-013
R44	Developmental/ Phase II Required: Feasibility datac and successful completion of Phase I project; Small Business-specific requirements (including commercialization plan).
R43/R44	Exploratory/ Developmental Phase I/Phase II (Fast-Track) Required: Innovation of technology/approach; Quantitative milestones for PhaseI^b; Small Business-specific requirements (including commercialization plan).
R41	Exploratory/ Phase I Required: Innovative technology/approach; Quantitative milestones required; Small Business-specific requirements. Not required (but allowed): Preliminary data.	RFA-CA-08-012	RFA-CA-08-014
R42	Developmental/ Phase II Required: Feasibility data^cand successful completion of Phase I project; Small Business-specific requirements (including commercialization plan).
R41/R42	Exploratory/ Developmental Phase I/Phase II (Fast-Track) Required: Innovative technology/approach; Quantitative milestones for Phase I; Small Business-specific requirements (including commercialization plan).

Note on Technologies That Are and Are Not Appropriate for IMAT FOAs versus Other Related Programs:

For the IMAT Program, responsive “technologies” encompass methods, techniques, tools, instrumentation, and devices that support and/or facilitate various types of molecular, cancer-relevant analyses. However, outside of the IMAT scope (i.e., non-responsive to this Program) are:

Projects proposing software/informatics solutions, database development, data mining, statistical tools, and computational/mathematical modeling (including those applicable to drug and/or patient response);
Projects centered on technology that has already led to the development of analytical or diagnostic product and its commercial release.
Projects proposing whole-body or in vivo imaging methods
Projects in which the main thrust of effort is on exploring biological or clinical hypotheses (i.e., traditional hypothesis-driven projects) rather than on technology development.
Projects centered on drug or therapeutic development efforts (with the exception of molecular technologies to improve drug targeting); and
Any projects involving clinical and/or diagnostic trials.

Researchers focusing on new bioinformatics or statistical techniques/tools/software solutions should consider one of the Biomedical Information Science and Technology Initiative (BISTI) opportunities.
Researchers who emphasize the assessment of whole body or in vivo imaging technologies as the primary focus of their projects should contact the Cancer Imaging Program for information on appropriate funding opportunities.

Inquiries

Direct questions to:

Richard Aragon, Ph.D.
Office of Technology and Industrial Relations
National Cancer Institute
Building 31, Room 10A52, MSC 2580
Bethesda, MD 20892-2580
Telephone: (301) 496-1550
Email: raragon@mail.nih.gov

Footnotes:
aWhile no preliminary data are necessary, the applicants must demonstrate the innovative nature of the particular technology or approach proposed for development.

bQuantitative milestones for each specific aim must be provided as a way of determining during the project and at its completion whether an applicant has successfully reached the specified goal. Milestones should be clearly stated as numerical quantitative specifications for relevant measures/properties.

c Detailed preliminary data must be provided in support of the feasibility of the technology or approach that is proposed for development. Such data may reflect successful completion of Phase I and associated milestones. For SBIR/STTR FOAs, feasibility data need to be largely obtained through a NIH-sponsored Phase I project.