Notice Number: NOT-CA-09-029

Key Dates
Release Date: June 26, 2009

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

Purpose

The purpose of this Notice is to modify the recently published Request for Applications, RFA-CA-09-012, entitled “The NCI Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer: Nanotechnology Centers (U54).” to increase applicants’ flexibility in selecting the required area(s) of focus for the proposed Nanotechnology Centers.

Specifically, with this modification, nanotechnology centers to be proposed in response to RFA-CA-09-012 may be focused on any of the three listed “Areas of Research Focus,” either alone or in any combination with one another (including a combined focus on all three areas).

THE MODIFIED REQUIREMENTS RESULT IN THE FOLLOWING SPECIFIC CHANGES IN THE TEXT OF RFA-CA-09-012

1. In Section I. Research Objectives, the fragment that reads:

“Areas of Research Focus. In accordance with the principles of the Alliance, the NCI has identified three broad thematic/programmatic areas of focus for this FOA:
Area 1.  Early diagnosis using in vitro assays and devices or in vivo imaging techniques;
Area 2.  Multifunctional nano-therapeutics and post-therapy monitoring tools; and
Area 3.  Devices and techniques for cancer prevention and control.
The proposed CCNEs should have a primary focus on one of these areas, or possibly two, but with certain restrictions.  Specifically, a combined focus on Areas 1 and 2 is NOT appropriate, however combination of Areas 1 and 3 or Areas 2 and 3 is permissible.”

is modified to read:

“Areas of Research Focus. In accordance with the principles of the Alliance, the NCI has identified three broad thematic/programmatic areas of focus for this FOA:
Area 1.  Early diagnosis using in vitro assays and devices or in vivo imaging techniques;
Area 2.  Multifunctional nano-therapeutics and post-therapy monitoring tools; and
Area 3.  Devices and techniques for cancer prevention and control.

The proposed CCNEs should have a primary focus on one or any combination of two or three of the listed research focus areas (with no restrictions on selecting a combination of these areas).”

2. In Section I. Research Objectives, the fragment that reads:

“Overall Research Focus. Each application must be focused on clinically-worthy technology solutions corresponding to one or possibly two (depending on the area[s] selected) of the three thematic/programmatic areas of focus as outlined above.”

is modified to read:

“Overall Research Focus. Each application must be focused on clinically-worthy technology solutions corresponding to one or any combination of two or three of the listed thematic/programmatic areas of focus as outlined above.”

3. In Section IV. 6. Other Submission Requirements, the fragment that reads:

“Section N1. Overview of the Proposed CCNE and Its Area of Focus (up to 15 pages total suggested)

Present the overall vision for the proposed CCNE including the following segments:

• The proposed overarching organizing framework for the Center. The Center area of focus must be selected from the three thematic areas defined in Section I.1 Research Objectives. Dual focus is permissible (when appropriate) but only for the combinations involving cancer prevention efforts (Area 3). “

is modified to read:

“Section N1. Overview of the Proposed CCNE and Its Area(s) of Focus (up to 15 pages total suggested)

Present the overall vision for the proposed CCNE including the following segments:

• The proposed overarching organizing framework for the Center. The Center area of focus must be selected from the three thematic areas defined in Section I.1 Research Objectives. The combination on two or three of the focus areas in an application is permissible.”

All other aspects of RFA-CA-09-012 remain unchanged.

Inquiries

Dr. Piotr Grodzinski
Center for Strategic Scientific Initiatives
Office of the Director
National Cancer Institute
31 Center Drive, Room 10A28, MSC 2580
Bethesda, MD 20892
Telephone: (301) 496-1550
FAX: (301) 496-7807
Email: grodzinp@mail.nih.gov