Development of Innovative Informatics Methods and Algorithms for Cancer Research and Management (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA CA 21 013

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA CA 21 013

The Development of Innovative Informatics Methods and Algorithms for Cancer Research and Management (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) opportunity (RFA-CA-21-013) is a National Institutes of Health funding announcement from the Department of Health and Human Services focused on early-stage, exploratory projects that create genuinely new computational methods for cancer research. It uses the R21 mechanism, which is designed to support developmental work where the goal is to establish feasibility, demonstrate a new concept, or produce a compelling proof of principle rather than deliver a fully mature software product. The core aim is to advance biomedical computing, informatics, and data science in ways that address high-priority gaps across the entire cancer research continuum, including basic cancer biology, cancer diagnosis and treatment, early detection, risk assessment and prevention, cancer control and epidemiology, and cancer health disparities.

A central expectation is that proposed work will concentrate on innovative algorithms and methods, such as new computational, mathematical, or statistical approaches that significantly improve how cancer-relevant data and knowledge are acquired, managed, analyzed, integrated, or shared. In practical terms, this could include methods for handling complex multimodal datasets (for example, imaging combined with genomics and clinical records), improving data quality and harmonization, enabling better inference or prediction under real-world constraints, or supporting more scalable and reproducible analysis pipelines. The announcement emphasizes that applicants need to make a clear case for novelty and for why the proposed method would meaningfully benefit cancer research, not just be a routine application of existing tools. Because this is framed as method and algorithm development, strong applications typically justify the unmet need, describe what is fundamentally new in the approach, and outline how performance or utility will be evaluated using appropriate cancer-focused data or use cases.

This FOA sits within the National Cancer Institute's Informatics Technology for Cancer Research (ITCR) Program, which is meant to drive research-informed informatics technology through stages of development that respond to real needs in the cancer community. Within that context, this particular R21 opportunity is positioned toward exploratory and developmental work; applicants who want support for later-stage efforts like prototyping into robust tools, hardening for broader use, scaling, or adaptation for production environments are directed to look at companion ITCR announcements better suited to downstream technology maturation. The clinical trial component is optional, meaning applicants may propose studies that do or do not meet the NIH definition of a clinical trial, depending on what is necessary to validate the method.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of organizations: state, county, and city governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other entities as allowed by the announcement's additional eligibility guidance. The funding instrument is a grant, the opportunity category is discretionary, and the activity area is listed under education and health. The referenced CFDA numbers include 93.393, 93.394, 93.395, 93.396, and 93.399.

In terms of funding scale and timing, the award ceiling is listed as $200,000, and the announcement anticipated making about 6 awards. The opportunity was created on December 2, 2020, and the original closing date was November 17, 2021. Overall, the program is best suited for teams proposing high-impact, conceptually novel informatics methods with a well-argued rationale, a credible plan for demonstrating feasibility and value in cancer-relevant settings, and a clear connection to priority needs in cancer research and management.

• The Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Development of Innovative Informatics Methods and Algorithms for Cancer Research and Management (R21 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, 93.396, 93.399.
• This funding opportunity was created on Dec 02, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 17, 2021. (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 $200,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 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).

Apply for RFA CA 21 013

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