Funding - Education and Training - Innovative Molecular Anaylsis Technologies

Funding Overview

The Innovative Molecular Analysis Technologies (IMAT) Program, which is aimed at the development and integration of novel and emerging technologies in the support of cancer research, diagnosis, and treatment, now encompasses an array of 5 closely related Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs).

Funding Opportunities for the Innovative Molecular Analysis Technologies (IMAT) Program have been issued. Please note the revised page limits which apply to all of IMAT’s solicitations. Receipt dates are as follows: February 23, 2010; May 27, 2010; September 30, 2010

Clarification of IMAT Program Scope and Criteria for Determining Responsiveness of Proposals Made to the Program [PDF, 19kb]

The IMAT Program comprises the following three related thematic components:

Innovative and Applied Emerging Technologies in Biospecimen Science, which is centered on the development of novel sample preparation technologies that are suitable for molecular analyses of cancer cells and their host environments
Application and Use of Transformative Emerging Technologies in Cancer Research, which is designed to support research projects evaluating technologies that are ready for initial clinical or laboratory application in cancer research
Innovative Technology Development for Cancer Research, which emphasizes research projects that are centered on the inception and early stage development of new technologies for cancer research

Each IMAT Program possesses several parallel FOAs of identical scientific scope but having different funding mechanisms with distinct submission requirements.

The individual IMAT FOAs are Requests for Applications (RFAs) that focus on:

Conduct of high-risk exploratory research with an emphasis on innovation and demonstration of technical feasibility (R21)
Advanced development and validation of a technology/application for which proof of concept has been achieved (R33)

All IMAT Research project Grants (RPGs) are open to investigators from both academia and industry, and applications representing multiple principal investigators are welcome.

The complete matrix of 5 IMAT FOAs is provided below along with basic requirements and total amount of set-aside funds for each them for Fiscal Year 2010. Please note that for comprehensive information on all the submission requirements (including page limits and special sections), set-aside funds for each FOA, and the anticipated number of awards, it is absolutely essential that every applicant read and utilize the selected individual IMAT FOA page before preparing and submitting an application in response to the selected FOA. Nonetheless, potential applicants who are interested in the IMAT Program may use this table and the links to respective individual FOAs that are contained within it as a quick “switchboard” to initially identify which of the closely related active FOAs might be most appropriate. Please note that all IMAT applications must be submitted electronically using Standard Form 424 as of June 1, 2006.

Note on Other Related Programs: Researchers who emphasize the assessment of in vivo imaging technologies as the primary focus of their grant applications should contact the Cancer Imaging Program for information on appropriate funding opportunities. Researchers focusing on applying new bioinformatics or statistical techniques as the primary focus of their applications should consider one of the Biomedical Information Science and Technology Initiative (BISTI) opportunities.

Matrix of IMAT RFAs and Outline of their Characteristics

Mechanism	Theme and Total Set-Aside Funds (FY 2010)	Innovative Technology $4,500,000 (FY 2010) RFA-CA-10-005	Emerging Technology $4,500,000 (FY 2010) RFA-CA-10-003	Biospecimen Science $1,500,000 (FY 2010) RFA-CA-10-001
	Project Type and General Requirements
R21	Exploratory-pilot Required: Innovative technology/approach^a; Quantitative milestones^b; Not required (but allowed): Preliminary data.
R33	Developmental Required: Feasibility data^c		RFA-CA-10-004	RFA-CA-10-002

^aWhile no preliminary data are necessary, the applicants must demonstrate the innovative nature of the particular technology and/or approach proposed for development.

^bQuantitative milestones for each specific aim must be provided as a way of determining during the project and at its completion, whether an applicant has successfully reached the specified goal. Milestones should be clearly stated as numerical (i.e., quantitative) specifications for relevant measures/properties.

^cDetailed preliminary data must be provided in support of the feasibility of the technology or approach that is proposed for development. Such data may reflect successful completion of a previous R21 grant and associated milestones.