NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) — The National Cancer Institute has set aside $4.5 million in fiscal 2008 as part of several new requests for applications for projects that help develop new cancer-research technologies, including tools for molecular analysis and sample preparation.
The NCI said the RFAs are part of the larger NCI-sponsored Innovative Molecular Analysis program.
The “Innovative Technologies for Molecular Analysis of Cancer” opportunities seeks Small Business Innovation Research applications for “research projects centered on inception and early stage development of new technologies for cancer research.”
NCI said it intends to commit $1 million for each of the project RFAs over the course of 2008. These could include Phase I, Phase II, or Fast Track applications.
NCI seeks development for technologies that: detect or alter genomic DNA; measure the expression of genes and gene products; analyze and detect gene and/or cellular products; identify and characterize exogenous infectious agents in cancer; assay the function of major signal transduction networks involved in cancer; support molecular analysis in vitro, in situ, or in vivo in discovery, and pre-clinical and clinical trials.
The “Application of Emerging Technology for Cancer Research” opportunity seeks to “evaluate the usefulness of emerging molecular technologies that are ready for initial application to clinical or biological questions in cancer research.”
NCI plans to commit $1.25 million in FY ’08 to fund three to five Phase I and/or Phase II grants.
The institute seeks projects that “demonstrate that the technology is robust and yields reproducible measurements,” and should collect preliminary data “to support the use of the technology in a future project with a clinical or biological focus.
Find the full RFA here.
The “Innovations in Cancer Sample Preparation” seeks to develop novel sample prep technologies that are “suitable for the molecular analysis of cancer cells and their host environment.” NCI said it plans to commit around $1.25 million in FY ‘08 to fund between 3 and 5 Phase I and/or Phase II SBIR applications.
NCI said it hopes to fund research for projects the development and advancement of sample prep methods and technology that “optimize sample utility.”
Find the full RFA here.