The National Institutes of Health (NIH), through the National Cancer Institute (NCI), is preparing to release a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) Academic Community Sites. This opportunity falls under a cooperative agreement and is part of a larger initiative designed to expand the reach and impact of cancer-related clinical research in diverse community settings.
The NCORP aims to increase the generalizability and dissemination of cancer clinical trial results by promoting participation from a wide range of patient populations, including those from underrepresented or underserved communities. Specifically, the NCORP Academic Community Sites component focuses on consortia made up of community hospitals, oncology practices, public hospitals, and academic medical centers. These consortia should serve a demographically diverse patient population and possess the infrastructure to support rigorous clinical research activities.
The funding will support Academic Community Sites that commit to enrolling a minimum of 70 new unique patients annually into cancer-related clinical trials. These accruals must be balanced between prevention, control, screening, post-treatment surveillance, and treatment and imaging trials. While participation in cancer care delivery studies is optional, applicants choosing to engage in this area must have at least three such protocols active per year.
Applicants must not be current NCI National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN) Network Lead Academic Participating Sites funded by the NCI Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis (DCTD). Eligible applicants include a range of institutions such as higher education institutions, public housing authorities, state governments, tribal organizations, nonprofits, and for-profit businesses including small businesses.
The estimated post date for the NOFO is August 29, 2025, with an anticipated application deadline of November 14, 2025. Awards are expected to be announced by August 1, 2026, with funded projects beginning on the same date. The estimated total program funding is $73 million, and approximately 50 awards are expected to be distributed. No matching funds are required.
Applicants can direct inquiries to Brandy Heckman-Stoddard, Ph.D., M.P.H., at the National Cancer Institute, via email at heckmanbm@mail.nih.gov or by phone at 240-276-7048.
