Early-Stage Innovative Technology Development for Basic and Clinical Cancer Research (R61 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Updated Oct 20, 2026

Grant from the National Institutes of Health, open to small businesses. Closes Nov 10, 2026, 21 days left.

Opportunity number	RFA-CA-27-001
Agency	National Institutes of Health
Funding type	Grant
Field	Health
Award ceiling	$150,000
Expected number of awards	20
Total program funding	$5.1 million
Cost sharing or matching	Not required
Assistance listing	93.394
Posted	Jun 3, 2026
Closes	Nov 10, 2026 (21 days left)
Add the deadline to	Google Calendar

Who can apply

State governments
County governments
City or township governments
Special district governments
Independent school districts
Public and state controlled institutions of higher education
Native American tribal governments (federally recognized)
Public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities
Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments)
Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status, other than institutions of higher education
Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status, other than institutions of higher education
Private institutions of higher education
For-profit organizations other than small businesses
Small businesses
Others (see the eligibility notes)

Refer to Section III. Eligibility Information in the NOFO for additional information on eligibility.Foreign Organizations/International Collaborations:Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) are eligible to apply.Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are eligible to apply.Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed.

Description

Through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) solicits grant applications proposing to develop innovative technologies offering new capabilities for the molecular or cellular characterization of cancer or for improved handling and quality control of biospecimens for basic, clinical, or epidemiological cancer research. The NOFO solicits R61 applications for early-stage projects proposing proof-of-concept/pilot studies to test the technical feasibility of the proposed method, tool, assay, platform, or instrument.

Technologies proposed for development may have potential for widespread applicability but must be focused for this program on cancer-relevant use cases. Projects proposing to apply or use existing technologies for hypothesis-driven research where the novelty resides in the biological or clinical target/question being pursued are not responsive to this solicitation and will not be reviewed.This funding opportunity is part of a broader NCI-sponsored Innovative Molecular Analysis Technologies (IMAT) Program.

Full announcement and how to apply on Grants.gov

Health grants right now

There are 350 open federal grants in health that small businesses may apply for; 33 close within 30 days. The median award ceiling is $500,000; this grant offers up to $150,000. The agencies offering the most are National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - ERA and Centers for Disease Control - NCBDDD. Grants in this field stay open a median of 1031 days; this one is open for 160 days.

Who has won this program before

Sloan-Kettering Institute For Cancer Research $264.0 million · from Jan 20, 1997
University Of Pittsburgh - Of The Commonwealth System Of Higher Education $128.8 million · from Jul 12, 2016
Duke University $119.4 million · from Jan 1, 1997
American College Of Radiology $115.5 million · from May 26, 2014
University Of Pittsburgh - Of The Commonwealth System Of Higher Education $115.3 million · from Sep 10, 1997

The largest grants and cooperative agreements under assistance listing 93.394 with payments since Oct 1, 2025, from USAspending.gov. Amounts are each award's total.