Cancer Immunoprevention Network (CIP-Net) Resource Coordinating Center (U24 Clinical Trials Not Allowed) | RFA CA 24 036

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA CA 24 036

The National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health, is seeking applications to create a Cancer Immunoprevention Network (CIP-Net) Data and Resource Coordinating Center (DRCC) under a U24 cooperative agreement. This coordinating center is meant to serve as the backbone of a broader, companion-funded effort that also includes CIP-Net Research Projects supported through a separate NOFO (RFA-CA-23-029; UG3/UH3; clinical trials not allowed). Together, these awards are designed to build an agile, collaborative network focused on cancer immunoprevention research, meaning research that aims to harness or shape the immune system to prevent cancer from developing or progressing.

The central purpose of the CIP-Net DRCC is coordination and enablement rather than running independent clinical trials. The DRCC is expected to provide network-wide data and resource coordination, streamline collaboration across participating CIP-Net projects, and help ensure that the research being generated can be effectively managed, integrated, analyzed, and shared within the network. A major emphasis is on bioinformatics and analytics support, positioning the DRCC as a hub that can help harmonize data, support computational workflows, and enable cross-project analyses that would be difficult for individual projects to do on their own.

Beyond data functions, the DRCC is expected to strengthen the identity and visibility of immunoprevention research by supporting scientific communications and convening activities. This includes organizing or supporting meetings and other communication mechanisms that help investigators coordinate scientifically and operationally, share emerging findings, and align approaches across the network. The NOFO also highlights scientific outreach as a core responsibility, with the intent that the DRCC will actively build bridges between immunoprevention and other complementary cancer research communities. In practical terms, that means connecting CIP-Net investigators to adjacent fields, resources, and stakeholder groups to accelerate progress and reduce silos.

Another explicit goal is to foster early career scientist development. The DRCC is expected to help create opportunities for training, mentorship, and visibility for emerging investigators within the immunoprevention space. While the NOFO summary does not spell out specific program components, it signals that career development is not an optional add-on; it is part of the coordinating center’s network function and overall value proposition.

Administratively, this opportunity is a discretionary funding program using a cooperative agreement mechanism, which typically means NCI will have substantial involvement in guiding and partnering on programmatic aspects (as opposed to a standard research grant where the awardee has more autonomy). The funding opportunity number is RFA-CA-24-036, and it is categorized under education and health (CFDA 93.393 and 93.396). The listed application due date is 2024-12-02. The award ceiling shown in the provided source data is $499,999.

Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations and government entities, including state and local governments, special district governments, independent school districts, public and private institutions of higher education, federally recognized tribal governments, tribal organizations, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses. The NOFO also calls out additional eligible applicants such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), as well as faith-based or community-based organizations and U.S. territories or possessions. Foreign organizations are explicitly not eligible to apply, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible.

A key restriction is embedded in the title and structure: clinical trials are not allowed under this U24 coordinating center award. The expectation is that the DRCC will enable and amplify the network’s immunoprevention science through coordination, shared infrastructure, analytics, communications, and community-building, rather than directly conducting clinical intervention studies.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cancer Immunoprevention Network (CIP-Net) Resource Coordinating Center (U24 Clinical Trials Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.393, 93.396.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-09-27.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-12-02. (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 $499,999.00 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 RFA CA 24 036

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