Advanced Development and Validation of Emerging Technologies for Basic and Clinical Cancer Research (R33 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is soliciting R33 grant applications under RFA-CA-27-002 for the advanced development, optimization, and technical validation of emerging technologies used for the molecular or cellular characterization of cancer or the quality control of biospecimens. This initiative, part of the Innovative Molecular Analysis Technologies (IMAT) Program, targets projects that have moved beyond early-stage proof-of-concept and possess preliminary data demonstrating that major feasibility gaps have been overcome. Eligible applicants include small businesses and other for-profit organizations, provided they maintain active SAM, eRA Commons, and Grants.gov registrations. The program specifically excludes hypothesis-driven research where the novelty is the biological target rather than the technology itself, and applications involving foreign subawards or subcontracts are deemed noncompliant. The total project period may not exceed three years, with application budgets limited to 300,000 dollars per year. NCI intends to fund approximately 13 awards for fiscal year 2027, with a total estimated funding pool of 5.9 million dollars. Applications are evaluated based on scientific and technical merit, relevance to program priorities, and the availability of funds. Key evaluation factors include the significance and innovation of the research, the rigor and feasibility of the approach, and the expertise of the investigators and their institutional environment. Awardees are required to attend an annual two-to-three day meeting and must adhere to strict cybersecurity incident reporting guidelines, including notifying HHS of any breaches within 48 hours of discovery. Applications are due by November 10, 2026.