Integration of Imaging and Fluid-Based Tumor Monitoring in Cancer Therapy (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 25 175

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 25 175

The National Cancer Institute (NCI), under the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is offering an R01 grant opportunity titled "Integration of Imaging and Fluid-Based Tumor Monitoring in Cancer Therapy (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)" (Funding Opportunity Number: PAR-25-175). The purpose of this program is to support research projects that deliberately combine two major ways of tracking cancer in patients during treatment: imaging approaches (such as radiologic or other clinical imaging methods used to assess tumors in the body) and fluid-based tumor monitoring assays, often referred to as liquid biopsy (for example, tests that analyze tumor-derived material found in blood or other bodily fluids). The central aim is to figure out how to use these modalities together in the most informative way to characterize how a patient is responding to therapy and/or to detect when resistance is starting to emerge.

This opportunity is designed for patient-focused studies conducted during cancer therapy, where investigators integrate imaging data with liquid biopsy results rather than treating them as separate, parallel measures. In practical terms, projects supported by this NOFO are expected to address when and how each modality should be used, what each adds to the other, and how the combination can improve interpretation of treatment response over time. A key emphasis is optimizing the use of imaging plus fluid-based monitoring to capture clinically meaningful changes, including early indicators that a therapy is working, signals that disease is progressing, and biological signs that resistance mechanisms may be developing even before they are obvious on standard clinical endpoints.

The award mechanism is an NIH Research Project Grant (R01), and clinical trials are optional under this announcement, meaning applicants may propose studies that include a clinical trial component or propose other types of patient-based research designs that do not meet the NIH definition of a clinical trial. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding and falls within education and health funding activity areas, with CFDA numbers listed as 93.393, 93.394, and 93.395. The listed award ceiling is $500,000, indicating the maximum award amount expected under this announcement. The original closing date is January 7, 2028, reflecting a multi-year window during which applications may be submitted according to the NOFO schedule and NIH receipt dates.

A wide range of applicant organizations are eligible. These include state, county, city, and township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; and Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments. Eligible applicants also include public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education under those nonprofit categories), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses. The NOFO also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, Indian/Native American Tribal Governments other than federally recognized entities, and U.S. territories or possessions.

At the same time, the eligibility rules include important limits related to foreign participation. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible under this NOFO. In other words, the applicant organization and the proposed project components must be domestic, consistent with the restrictions stated in the opportunity description.

Overall, PAR-25-175 is aimed at strengthening cancer therapy monitoring by supporting rigorous, integrated studies that connect what clinicians see on imaging with what can be measured in blood or other fluids, with the goal of improving the assessment of treatment response and detecting or understanding resistance earlier and more accurately than either approach might allow on its own.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Integration of Imaging and Fluid-Based Tumor Monitoring in Cancer Therapy (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.393, 93.394, 93.395.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-11-06.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2028-01-07.
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
• 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.

Apply for PAR 25 175

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