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

The National Cancer Institute, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the National Institutes of Health, is releasing a forecasted Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) under the title “Advanced Development and Validation of Emerging Molecular and Cellular Analysis Technologies for Basic and Clinical Cancer Research (R33 Clinical Trial Not Allowed).” This initiative seeks to support the continued development and rigorous validation of technologies that have already demonstrated preliminary feasibility for targeting, probing, or assessing molecular and cellular features of cancer biology. The funding is part of the Innovative Molecular Analysis Technologies Program, which aims to provide the research community with new tools to accelerate cancer research across the spectrum from basic science to clinical applications. The focus of this opportunity is on R33 projects, which are intended for technologies that have moved beyond proof-of-concept and are ready for advanced development. Applicants must demonstrate that major feasibility gaps have already been addressed with supportive data, but that the proposed work is still required to establish the robustness, reliability, and reproducibility of the technology for widespread adoption. Successful projects are expected to make significant contributions to research in cancer biology, early detection and screening, clinical diagnosis, treatment, epidemiology, control, and addressing disparities in cancer outcomes. The scope of the funding excludes proposals that primarily rely on applying existing technologies to new biological or clinical questions. Instead, projects must focus on developing or validating new technologies for molecular or cellular characterization of cancer. Eligible proposals must show clear potential to accelerate or enhance the field by improving methods available to researchers. These efforts are expected to contribute to advancing cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, while addressing key scientific and clinical gaps. The forecast estimates that approximately nine awards will be made under this announcement, with an expected total program funding of $4.5 million. Individual awards are anticipated to range from $50,000 to $150,000. The estimated post date for the full funding opportunity is November 30, 2025, with applications due April 10, 2026. Awards are projected to be announced December 1, 2026, which is also the estimated project start date. The NOFO is classified as discretionary funding, issued under Assistance Listing 93.394, Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research. The eligibility for this program is broad and includes state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, independent school districts, public housing authorities, Native American tribal governments (federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized), and nonprofits both with and without IRS 501(c)(3) status. For-profit organizations are also eligible, including both small businesses and others. Additionally, federal agencies, U.S. territories and possessions, regional organizations, foreign institutions, and faith-based or community-based organizations may apply. As this is a forecasted announcement, no pre-application requirements are currently listed, and no explicit application instructions or questions are provided. Further details on submission procedures, application requirements, and evaluation criteria will be available once the NOFO is formally posted. Interested applicants are encouraged to prepare for the anticipated release date and ensure registrations in required federal systems are current. For questions, the contact for this opportunity is Kelly Crotty, Ph.D., available by phone at 240-255-0917 or by email at Kelly.crotty@nih.gov.