Key Dates

Related Announcements

• March 06, 2024 - NIH Support for Conferences and Scientific Meetings (Parent R13 Clinical Trial Not Allowed). See NOFO PA-24-141.

Issued by

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Purpose

The purpose of this Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) is to solicit applications to support innovative conferences, symposia, and workshops that explore basic, fundamental questions in areas of cancer biology supported by the Division of Cancer Biology, National Cancer Institute, and preferably have not yet been a major focus of a scientific meeting.

Background

The Division of Cancer Biology supports fundamental discoveries across the entire spectrum of cancer biology, including structural biology, genome maintenance, cancer cell biology, the microenvironment, cancer immunology and etiology, and metastasis, which lay the foundation for advances in cancer prevention and treatment. The division also fosters emerging scientific areas through funding special research programs and supports a diverse cancer research workforce to sustain continual opportunities and progress in basic cancer research. In addition, the Division of Cancer Biology organizes workshops, seminars, and symposia to support the mission of the NCI. These events play a vital role in facilitating knowledge exchange, encouraging interdisciplinary collaborations, and promoting the dissemination of research findings. Transparency and open participation are fundamental principles in our endeavors as we strive to create an inclusive environment that promotes scientific growth and fosters collaboration. Past DCB-supported scientific workshops and events can be found on the DCB website (https://www.cancer.gov/about-nci/organization/dcb/news/past-events).

Research Objectives

This NOSI aims to encourage the research community, professional societies, or non-profit institutions to organize scientific meetings on specific topics that complement current Division of Cancer Biology efforts, and preferably have not yet been a major focus of a scientific meeting. Innovative meeting topics including emerging, understudied or challenging biomedical research areas closely aligned with DCB priorities and interests, or topics that merge expertise from multiple disciplines, including communities that do not typically interact, are particularly encouraged. In-person, virtual, or hybrid meeting formats will be considered, provided they include adequate interaction opportunities among attendees. The NCI encourages emphasis on the participation of junior scientists, trainees, and investigators from communities traditionally underrepresented within the cancer research field. All applications must include a Diversity Plan as described in the parent R13 NOFO that also includes information about how the applicant will provide leadership opportunities to a broad and diverse range of investigators, publicize options for childcare and other resources related to meeting accessibility, and ensure that meeting materials and resources are broadly available (https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/r13/index.htm). Regionally based conferences are acceptable, with the expectation that plans will be developed for national dissemination. Such strategies might include, but are not limited to, submitting articles for publication, posting information on a website, and seeking formal opportunities to discuss conference information with others.

For applications responding to this NOSI, the NCI requires that the proposed meeting be open and transparent. Practices consistent with the policy include, but are not limited to, recording the meeting and posting the recording on the NCI website or ensuring broad participation by widely publicizing the meeting and providing virtual options for participation. An implementation plan for encouraging broad participation should be discussed in the application for evaluation and consideration. Understanding and addressing cancer health disparities are crucial for NCI’s mission; we encourage applicants to consider and incorporate cancer health disparity-related topics or sessions into the meeting programs.

We strongly encourage applicants to contact DCB staff (listed below) to discuss their meeting topics and programs before submitting their Letter of Intent to ensure responsiveness to the NOSI.

Responsiveness

Applications nonresponsive to this NOSI's terms will not be considered and will be withdrawn from consideration for this initiative. Specific examples of nonresponsive applications are listed below:

• The proposed topic is not aligned with DCB's priorities and interests.
• Applications fail to address the issue of openness and transparency. 
   

Application and Submission Information

Submit applications for this initiative using one of the following notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) or any reissues of this announcement through the expiration date of this notice.

All instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide and the notice of funding opportunity used for submission must be followed, with the following additions:

• For funding consideration, applicants must include “NOT-CA-24-059” (without quotation marks) in the Agency Routing Identifier field (box 4B) of the SF424 R&R form. Applications without this information in box 4B will not be considered for this initiative.
• The Division of Cancer Biology intends to provide up to $50,000 each to enhance the support for up to 3 conference(s) selected to be funded through this NOSI. Applicants can submit a budget request commensurate with their expected needs. Securing additional sources of funding is encouraged.
• Due Date: December 12, 2024.
• The letter of intent is due four weeks before the application receipt date.
   

Applications nonresponsive to terms of this NOSI will not be considered for the NOSI initiative.

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to the contacts in Section VII of the listed notice of funding opportunity with the following additions/substitutions:

Scientific/Research Contact(s)

Yin Liu, Ph.D.
National Cancer Institute
Phone: 240-276-6251
Email: liuy@exchange.nih.gov

Ruibai Luo, Ph.D.
National Cancer Institute
Phone: 240-760-7475
Email: luoru@mail.nih.ogv
 

Financial/Grants Management Contact(s)

Crystal Wolfrey
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Telephone: 240-276-6277
Email: wolfreyc@mail.nih.gov