The Cancer Center Support Grants (CCSGs) program is administered by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It supports cancer centers designated by NCI that are recognized for their scientific excellence and ability to integrate diverse research areas. The CCSG program facilitates the development and maintenance of cancer research infrastructure and resources, which are critical for enabling transdisciplinary collaboration and scientific advancement in cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) will support three categories of cancer centers: Comprehensive Cancer Centers, Clinical Cancer Centers, and Basic Cancer Centers. Each type must demonstrate a significant breadth of research activity. Comprehensive centers must excel across basic laboratory research, clinical investigation, and population-based research and prevention. Clinical centers are expected to contribute across any of these domains, while Basic centers focus primarily on foundational laboratory research. The primary objective is to integrate the institution’s cancer-related research into a unified program that leverages shared resources and drives impactful discovery.
Centers awarded through this program are expected to play a leading role in the national cancer research enterprise. This includes contributing to the development and maintenance of Shared Resources that support the broader research community, coordinating efforts with other NCI-funded projects and investigators, and ensuring timely dissemination of research findings. The grant does not require cost-sharing or matching funds, simplifying participation for eligible organizations.
Eligible applicants include a wide spectrum of institutions, such as public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status, state and local governments, tribal entities, and some for-profit organizations including small businesses. Independent school districts and public housing authorities are also eligible, demonstrating the broad eligibility scope intended to promote institutional diversity in cancer research.
The forecasted publication date for the full NOFO is October 1, 2025, with applications due by January 25, 2026. Awards are anticipated to be made by December 1, 2026, and projects are expected to begin on the same date. This grant opportunity is part of an annually recurring program cycle. Interested institutions should monitor Grants.gov or the NIH’s Office of Cancer Centers for updates when the full application is published.
Applicants may contact the Office of Cancer Centers at the National Cancer Institute by phone at 240-276-5600 or via email at ncicenters-r@mail.nih.gov for additional details or clarification regarding program requirements and timelines.
