Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA CA 17 013
The Advanced Development and Validation of Emerging Biospecimen Science Technologies for Basic and Clinical Cancer Research (R33) opportunity, RFA-CA-17-013, is a National Cancer Institute (NCI) funding announcement under the NIH and the broader Innovative Molecular Analysis Technologies (IMAT) Program. It is designed to push promising biospecimen technologies beyond early feasibility and into a stage where they are rigorously developed, tested, and validated for broader use. The central idea is straightforward: cancer research and many aspects of clinical care depend on biological samples (biospecimens), and too often the quality of those samples is compromised before they ever reach an assay. This FOA targets the "pre-analytical" part of the biospecimen lifecycle, meaning everything that happens during collection, processing, handling, and storage, where important molecules (targeted analytes such as DNA, RNA, proteins, metabolites, or other biomarkers) can degrade or change in ways that introduce noise, bias, or outright error into downstream testing.
This R33 announcement specifically calls for exploratory projects where the basic concept has already cleared major feasibility hurdles, supported by preliminary data, but still needs significant refinement and careful validation before the research community is likely to adopt it. In practice, that means applicants should not be proposing purely speculative ideas; instead, they should be bringing forward technologies or methods that have been demonstrated to work at an early stage and now require optimization, engineering, performance characterization, reproducibility testing, and validation under realistic conditions. The emphasis is on demonstrating that a technology can reliably protect, preserve, or objectively assess biospecimen quality in a way that reduces pre-analytical variation and improves the trustworthiness of downstream analyses.
The scope includes development of tools, devices, instrumentation, and associated methods that either (1) preserve or protect sample integrity or (2) establish verification criteria for quality assessment and quality control, including guidance for how samples should be handled under diverse real-world conditions. This could cover technologies that stabilize fragile analytes at the point of collection, reduce degradation during transport, standardize processing workflows, or enable measurement of sample quality so researchers and clinicians can determine whether a specimen is fit for a specific intended use. A key theme is making biospecimen quality more controllable and more measurable, so that results from molecular tests and other analyses are less affected by hidden differences in how samples were collected and handled.
The intended impact is broad across cancer research and care. By reducing pre-analytical variability, these technologies are expected to accelerate and/or improve studies and applications in cancer biology, early detection and screening, clinical diagnosis, treatment decision-making, and epidemiology. The FOA also notes relevance to cancer health disparities, reflecting the reality that inconsistent access to standardized collection and processing infrastructure can disproportionately affect certain populations or care settings. Technologies that make sample handling more robust, more standardized, or easier to implement across diverse environments can help reduce systematic differences in sample quality that might otherwise skew research findings or clinical conclusions.
Administratively, this is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), NIH, with CFDA number 93.394, categorized under education and health. The award ceiling is listed as $300,000, with an expectation of about 2 awards. Eligibility is broad and includes many types of domestic organizations such as state, county, and local governments; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and certain tribal organizations; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; and for-profit organizations (including small businesses and other for-profits). The FOA was created November 7, 2016, with an original closing date of September 26, 2017.
Overall, this funding opportunity is aimed at the practical, high-impact middle ground between early proof-of-concept and widespread adoption: taking biospecimen science technologies that already show promise and investing in the development and validation work needed to make them dependable, reproducible, and useful across laboratories and clinical contexts, ultimately improving the quality of cancer research results and the reliability of clinical testing that depends on biospecimens.Apply for RFA CA 17 013
- The Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Advanced Development and Validation of Emerging Biospecimen Science Technologies for Basic and Clinical Cancer Research (R33)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.394.
- This funding opportunity was created on Nov 07, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 26, 2017. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $300,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: 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/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
FAQs: Advanced Development and Validation of Emerging Biospecimen Science Technologies for Basic and Clinical Cancer Research (R33) - RFA-CA-17-013
What is this funding opportunity?
This opportunity is the National Cancer Institute (NCI) funding announcement titled "Advanced Development and Validation of Emerging Biospecimen Science Technologies for Basic and Clinical Cancer Research (R33)" under FOA number RFA-CA-17-013. It sits within NIH and the broader Innovative Molecular Analysis Technologies (IMAT) Program and supports projects that further develop and validate promising biospecimen technologies for broader use.
Which agency is offering this grant?
The awarding agency is the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the National Institutes of Health (NIH), specifically the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
What is the main purpose of the R33 announcement?
The purpose is to move biospecimen-related technologies beyond early feasibility and into a stage where they are rigorously developed, tested, and validated so they can be adopted more widely. The focus is on improving the reliability of research and clinical testing that depends on biospecimens.
What problem is this FOA trying to solve?
This FOA targets problems in the pre-analytical phase of the biospecimen lifecycle, where sample quality can be compromised during collection, processing, handling, transport, and storage. During these steps, important molecules (such as DNA, RNA, proteins, metabolites, or other biomarkers) can degrade or change, creating noise, bias, or errors in downstream analyses.
What does "pre-analytical" mean in this context?
"Pre-analytical" refers to everything that happens to a biospecimen before an assay or measurement is performed, including how the sample is collected, processed, handled, and stored. The FOA emphasizes that variation in these steps can materially affect results.
What types of biospecimen technologies are in scope?
The scope includes tools, devices, instrumentation, and associated methods that either:
- Preserve or protect biospecimen integrity, or
- Establish verification criteria for quality assessment and quality control (QA/QC), including guidance for handling under diverse real-world conditions.
What are examples of project goals that fit the FOA?
Based on the description, examples of aligned goals include technologies or methods that stabilize fragile analytes at collection, reduce degradation during transport, standardize processing workflows, or enable objective measurement of biospecimen quality to determine whether a specimen is fit for a specific intended use.
What analytes or biomolecules does the FOA mention?
The FOA explicitly mentions targeted analytes such as DNA, RNA, proteins, metabolites, and other biomarkers that can degrade or change during pre-analytical handling.
What stage of research is this R33 opportunity intended for?
This R33 is aimed at the "middle ground" between early proof-of-concept and widespread adoption. Projects should have already cleared major feasibility hurdles and be supported by preliminary data, but still need refinement, optimization, engineering, performance characterization, reproducibility testing, and validation under realistic conditions.
Are purely speculative or untested ideas appropriate for this FOA?
No. The announcement emphasizes that applicants should not propose purely speculative ideas. The technology or method should already have early-stage evidence of working, and the proposed work should focus on development and validation to support broader adoption.
What kinds of performance expectations does the FOA emphasize?
The FOA emphasizes demonstrating that a technology can reliably protect, preserve, or assess biospecimen quality in a way that reduces pre-analytical variation and improves the trustworthiness of downstream analyses. It also highlights the importance of reproducibility and validation under realistic conditions.
What does the FOA mean by making biospecimen quality "more controllable and more measurable"?
It means developing practical approaches that either (1) reduce unwanted changes in specimens (controllable), or (2) provide objective ways to measure specimen quality and fit-for-purpose status (measurable), so downstream molecular tests and analyses are less affected by hidden differences in collection and handling.
How is this FOA expected to impact cancer research and clinical care?
By reducing pre-analytical variability, supported technologies are expected to accelerate and/or improve work across cancer biology, early detection and screening, clinical diagnosis, treatment decision-making, and epidemiology. The underlying idea is that better specimen quality leads to more reliable results.
Does the FOA mention cancer health disparities?
Yes. The FOA notes relevance to cancer health disparities, recognizing that inconsistent access to standardized collection and processing infrastructure can disproportionately affect some populations or care settings. Technologies that are robust and easier to implement across diverse environments may help reduce systematic differences in sample quality.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 93.394.
How is this opportunity categorized?
It is described as a discretionary grant opportunity under HHS/NIH, categorized under education and health.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling listed is $300,000.
How many awards are expected?
The opportunity indicates an expectation of about 2 awards.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as broad and includes many types of domestic organizations, including:
- State, county, and local governments
- Public and private institutions of higher education
- Federally recognized tribal governments and certain tribal organizations
- Nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status
- Public housing authorities / Indian housing authorities
- For-profit organizations (including small businesses and other for-profits)
Is this opportunity limited to nonprofit applicants?
No. The eligibility list explicitly includes for-profit organizations as well as nonprofits and government entities.
When was this FOA created?
The FOA was created on November 7, 2016.
What was the original closing date?
The original closing date listed is September 26, 2017.
What is the overall theme of projects encouraged by this FOA?
The overall theme is practical, high-impact biospecimen science: taking technologies that already show promise and funding the development and validation work needed to make them dependable, reproducible, and useful across laboratories and clinical contexts.
What is the key success outcome the FOA is aiming for?
A key outcome is reducing hidden pre-analytical differences that can distort measurements, so that downstream molecular tests and other analyses become more trustworthy and consistent across settings.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Education, Health
Next opportunity: Innovative Technologies for Cancer-Relevant Biospecimen Science (R21)
Previous opportunity: Conservation Intern Assistance with Invasive Plant Management at Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for RFA CA 17 013
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (RFA CA 17 013) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Innovative Technologies for Cancer-Relevant Biospecimen Science (R21) Apply for RFA CA 17 012 Funding Number: RFA CA 17 012 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Advanced Development and Validation of Emerging Molecular and Cellular Analysis Technologies for Basic and Clinical Cancer Research (R33) Apply for RFA CA 17 011 Funding Number: RFA CA 17 011 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| PDX Data Commons and Coordinating Center (PDCCC) for the PDX Development and Trial Centers Research Network (PDXNet) (U24) Apply for RFA CA 17 004 Funding Number: RFA CA 17 004 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $650,000 |
| PDX Development and Trial Centers (PDTCs) (U54) Apply for RFA CA 17 003 Funding Number: RFA CA 17 003 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $800,000 |
| Mechanisms of Cancer Drug Resistance and Sensitivity (U54) Apply for RFA CA 17 009 Funding Number: RFA CA 17 009 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| Consortium for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) Translational Studies on the Tumor Microenvironment (U01) Apply for RFA CA 17 015 Funding Number: RFA CA 17 015 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $350,000 |
| Resource Center for the Consortium for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) Translational Studies (U24) Apply for RFA CA 17 016 Funding Number: RFA CA 17 016 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $350,000 |
| Coordinating Center for Canine Immunotherapy Trials and Correlative Studies (U24) Apply for RFA CA 17 002 Funding Number: RFA CA 17 002 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $350,000 |
| Canine Immunotherapy Trials and Correlative Studies (U01) Apply for RFA CA 17 001 Funding Number: RFA CA 17 001 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $350,000 |
| Administrative Supplements to Promote Research Collaborations on Fusion Oncoproteins as Drivers of Childhood Cancer (Admin Supp) Apply for PA 17 138 Funding Number: PA 17 138 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $135,000 |
| Data Management and Coordinating Center (DMCC) for the Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) Collaborative Research Centers (CRC) (U24) Apply for RFA NS 17 022 Funding Number: RFA NS 17 022 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| NIDA Translational Avant-Garde Award for Development of Medication to Treat Substance Use Disorders (UG3/UH3) Apply for RFA DA 18 003 Funding Number: RFA DA 18 003 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Intensive Longitudinal Analysis of Health Behaviors: Leveraging New Technologies to Understand Health Behaviors (U01) Apply for RFA OD 17 004 Funding Number: RFA OD 17 004 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Intensive Longitudinal Analysis of Health Behaviors: Leveraging New Technologies to Understand Health Behaviors (U24) Apply for RFA OD 17 005 Funding Number: RFA OD 17 005 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Integration and Validation of Emerging Technologies to Accelerate Cancer Research (R33) Apply for RFA CA 17 023 Funding Number: RFA CA 17 023 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $325,000 |
| Limited Competition: Palliative Care Research Cooperative (PCRC) (U2C) Apply for RFA NR 17 001 Funding Number: RFA NR 17 001 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| SBIR Phase II Bridge Awards to Accelerate the Development of Cancer Therapeutics, Imaging Technologies, Interventional Devices, Diagnostics, and Prognostics toward Commercialization (R44) Apply for RFA CA 17 024 Funding Number: RFA CA 17 024 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Pediatric Early Phase Clinical Trials Network (UM1) Apply for RFA CA 17 027 Funding Number: RFA CA 17 027 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $3,600,000 |
| Limited Competition: A Data Resource for Analyzing Blood and Marrow Transplants (U24) Apply for RFA CA 17 031 Funding Number: RFA CA 17 031 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $2,875,000 |
| Consortium on Translational Research in Early Detection of Liver Cancer (Clinical and Research Centers (U01) Apply for RFA CA 17 025 Funding Number: RFA CA 17 025 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $550,000 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "RFA CA 17 013", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.