Notice Number: NOT-CA-16-021

Key Dates
Release Date: January 14, 2016

Issued by
National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Purpose

This Notice serves to amend information in PAR-14-285, "Innovative Research in Cancer Nanotechnology (IRCN) (U01)" to expressly include nanodevice-based projects in the scope of the FOA.

The following sections of the FOA are revised as indicated below.

1) In Part 1. Overview Information, the block "Funding Opportunity Purpose" is modified to read (modified text is marked in italics):

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) invites applications for the development of innovative research projects in cancer nanotechnology. This initiative, to be known as Innovative Research in Cancer Nanotechnology (IRCN), is an integral component of a broader program - the NCI Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer (The Alliance) (http://nano.cancer.gov). IRCN awards are designed to enable multi-disciplinary research and transformative discoveries in cancer biology and/or oncology through the use of nanotechnology. Proposed projects should address major barriers in cancer biology and/or oncology using nanotechnology and should emphasize fundamental understanding of nanomaterial and/or nanodevice interactions with biological systems. This scope includes characterization of in vitro detection and diagnostic devices, and/or research concerning aspects relevant to the delivery of nanoparticles and/or nanodevices to desired and intended cancer targets in vivo.

2) In Part 2. Section I. Funding Opportunity Description, the text under the heading "Possible Research Directions" is modified to read (modified text is marked in italics):

Possible Research Directions. Examples of appropriate research areas are listed below. These examples are not meant to be comprehensive. Additional directions are also encouraged, providing they are consistent with the general expectations stated above. For further details, see Section IV.2. Content and Form of Application Submission.

• Development of next generation nanoparticles;
• Understanding nanoparticle delivery mechanisms and implications of systemic distribution;
• Techniques and tools to overcome failure of therapy;
• Tools and devices aimed specifically at monitoring the tumor microenvironment;
• Technologies suitable for biomarker discovery and screening (e.g., devices that detect and monitor changes in biomarker expression);
• Development of improved multi-biomarker detection and/or diagnostic devices (e.g., fundamental studies of nanomaterial properties that affect sensitivity and specificity);
• Diagnostic nanoparticles/devices that preserve integrity of captured cells and conformation of isolated molecules for downstream activity assays and analyses;
• Technologies for cancer molecular targeting, discovery, and validation;
• Devices and tools capable of penetrating cellular and/or physiological barriers;
• Integration of modeling and simulation approaches to guide rational nanomaterials design.

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Piotr Grodzinski, Ph.D.
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Telephone: 301-451-8983
Email: grodzinp@mail.nih.gov

and/or

Stephanie Morris, Ph.D.
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Telephone: 301-594-6876
Email: morriss2@mail.nih.gov