Key Dates

NOT-CA-21-060 - Notice of Intent to Publish a Funding Opportunity Announcement for Translational and Basic Science Research in Early Lesions (TBEL) (U54 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) intends to publish a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for the establishment of the Coordinating and Data Management Center (CDMC) for the Translational and Basic Science Research in Early Lesions (TBEL) Program. The TBEL program aims to integrate basic and translational cancer research concepts to examine the direct causal relationships and interactions of an early lesion, its microenvironment, and host-systemic factors as “co-organizers” of tumor initiation (or suppression) and malignant progression. The ultimate goals of the TBEL program are to further understand the biological and pathophysiological mechanisms driving or restraining precancers and early cancers and facilitate biology-backed precision prevention approaches. The responsibilities of the CDMC will be to (1) coordinate consortium-wide meetings and conferences, and cross-consortium collaborative activities; (2) provide statistical and computational analysis support; and (3) establish program data hub for data capture, curation and management, and protocol development and registration.

The other scientific unit of the TBEL program will comprise the U54 Centers, which will be structured to efficiently bridge gaps between basic and translational research on early lesions and their microenvironments.

This Notice is being provided to allow potential applicants sufficient time to develop a responsive TBEL Coordinating and Data Management Center application. Details of the planned pre-application webinar will be announced in the Guide after publication of the FOA. The companion notice for the TBEL U54 Centers is: NOT-CA-21-060.

The FOA is expected to be published in Summer 2021 with an anticipated application due date in Fall 2021.

The FOA will utilize the U24 Resource-Related Research Projects – Cooperative Agreements. Details of the planned FOA are provided below.

The CDMC will serve as the scientific and organizational hub for the entire TBEL program and support the overall network coordination including facilitating steering committee and working group meetings, integrating efforts across the network, facilitating research collaborations, soliciting and coordinating pilot projects, data/resource management, and network evaluation. The CDMC must have expertise and capabilities in biostatistics, computational analysis and modeling, information technology and bioinformatics, data management, protocol development, and in coordinating and providing logistical support for meetings and conferences. It is essential that the CDMC applicants familiarize themselves with the companion FOA for the TBEL U54 Centers as the CDMC will be required to work closely with them.

More details will be outlined in the forthcoming FOA.

Applications are not being solicited at this time. 

Please direct all inquiries to:

Christos Patriotis, Ph.D.
Division of Cancer Prevention
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
240-276-7134
[email protected]

Sharmistha Ghosh-Janjigian, Ph.D.
Division of Cancer Prevention
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Telephone: 240-276-7122
Email: [email protected]

Elisa Woodhouse, Ph.D.
Division of Cancer Biology
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Telephone: 240-276-6220
Email: [email protected]

Rihab Yassin, Ph.D.
Division of Cancer Biology
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Telephone: 240-276-6230
Email: [email protected]