NOT-CA-21-021: Notice of Intent to Publish a Funding Opportunity Announcement: Cancer Prevention, Detection, Diagnosis, and Treatment Technologies for Global Health

Notice of Intent to Publish a Funding Opportunity Announcement: Cancer Prevention, Detection, Diagnosis, and Treatment Technologies for Global Health

Notice Number:

NOT-CA-21-021

Key Dates

Release Date:

December 08, 2020

Estimated Publication Date of Funding Opportunity Announcement:

February 27, 2021

First Estimated Application Due Date:

June 02, 2021

Earliest Estimated Award Date:

March 02, 2022

Earliest Estimated Start Date:

April 05, 2022

Related Announcements

None

Issued by

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Purpose

The purpose of this announcement is to alert the community that the National Cancer Institute (NCI) plans to publish a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to invite applications for Cancer Prevention, Detection, Diagnosis, and Treatment Technologies for Global Health (U01 activity code). This FOA supports the development of cancer-relevant technologies suitable for use in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Specifically, the FOA solicits applications for projects to adapt, apply, and validate existing or emerging technologies into a new generation of user-friendly, low-cost technologies for preventing, detecting, diagnosing, and/or treating cancers in people living in LMICs.

This Notice encourages investigators with expertise and insight into the areas of global oncology and global health technology research and development to begin developing responsive applications.

This funding opportunity is part of a broader NCI-sponsored Affordable Cancer Technologies (ACTs) Program.

Research Initiative Details

It is estimated that more than two-thirds of the 9.5 million annual cancer deaths in the world occur in LMICs. Furthermore, the incidence rate of cancer is on the rise in populations of many LMICs, with substantial inequalities in cancer survival rates across the world. Access to cancer prevention, screening, detection, diagnosis, and treatment is a significant challenge in many LMICs, especially in areas with limited infrastructure. Prevention, early detection, and treatment are vital to successful cancer control. Unfortunately, many established cancer control technologies are not suitable for use in low-resource settings, either globally or in the U.S., due to expense, dependency on extensive medical infrastructure, or both.

Many cutting edge, innovative technologies, such as lab-on-a-chip, portable ablative devices, machine learning enabled imaging modalities, and liquid biopsies have potential for use in LMICs. Recent developments in consumer electronics, microfabrication, cellular phone communications, and hand-held computers have further improved the prospect for adaptation into sensitive, low-cost versions suitable for use in remote locations. Additionally, various existing portable technologies and minimally invasive diagnostic/treatment methods might be suitable for low-resource settings.

The ACTs program supports resource-appropriate translational technology research for cancer where affordability and potential impact in low-resource settings are essential design components. Furthermore, technologies supported through the ACTs program are validated in real-world health settings in LMICs, leading to the promise of additional innovations (e.g., enabling use by minimally trained health workers, use at the clinical point-of-need, and robust adaptability to diverse environmental conditions and health care systems). Lastly, the technologies advanced through the ACTs program may not only be relevant for LMICs but may additionally provide invaluable insights and tools appropriate for addressing cancer disparities domestically (e.g., urban and/or rural disparities).

Applicants should have a working assay or device prototype (not necessarily designed for addressing cancer, but with the potential for cancer applications). The U01 project includes studies to both adapt this technology, as well as demonstrate technical functionality and clinical performance for use of the device or assay in specific LMIC settings, by meeting objective performance milestones, followed by improvements and validations of the technologies in the LMIC settings. Projects proposed in response to this FOA will require multidisciplinary efforts to succeed; therefore, all applicant teams must include expertise in engineering/assay/treatment development, oncology, global healthcare delivery, and business development. Investigators responding to this FOA must consider affordability and cost-effectiveness, as well as usability at the point-of-need, as part of their design criteria.

The intended FOA will utilize the U01 Cooperative Agreement mechanism (Clinical Trial Optional).

Funding Information

Estimated Total Funding

Up to $4 million in Fiscal Year 2022

Expected Number of Awards

Estimated Award Ceiling

Each U01 application budget will be limited to $500,000 Direct Costs per year for a total of five years.

Primary CFDA Numbers

93.394, 93.395

Anticipated Eligible Organizations

Public/State Controlled Institution of Higher Education
Small Business
Nonprofit with 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Other than Institution of Higher Education)
State Government
Indian/Native American Tribal Government (Federally Recognized)
County governments
U.S. Territory or Possession
Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entity (Foreign Organization)
Indian/Native American Tribal Government (Other than Federally Recognized)
Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government
Private Institution of Higher Education
Indian/Native American Tribally Designated Organization (Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)

Applications are not being solicited at this time.

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Paul C. Pearlman, Ph.D.
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
240-276-5354
Email: paul.pearlman@nih.gov