Funder: National Institutes of Health
Due Dates: November 3, 2025 | May 4, 2026 (new, renewal, resubmission, revision)
Funding Amounts: Up to $475,000 in direct costs per year, for a maximum of 5 years (R01 mechanism)
Summary: Supports mechanistic, fundamental research using nanotechnology to address major barriers in cancer biology and oncology; clinical trials are not allowed.
Key Information: Projects must focus on mechanistic studies, not clinical translation; foreign organizations are not eligible to apply, but foreign components are allowed.
Description
This opportunity, offered by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) at NIH, funds innovative, multidisciplinary research that leverages nanotechnology to address significant challenges in cancer biology and oncology. The focus is on mechanistic studies that expand fundamental understanding of how nanomaterials and nanodevices interact with biological systems, particularly in the context of cancer detection, diagnosis, and therapy. The goal is to generate foundational knowledge that will inform future development of nanotechnology-based cancer interventions. Clinical trials and direct clinical translation are outside the scope of this funding.
Due Dates
- Next deadlines:
- November 3, 2025
- May 4, 2026
- Application types: New, renewal, resubmission, and revision applications (as allowed)
- All applications are due by 5:00 PM local time of the applicant organization.
Funding Amount
- Maximum direct costs: $475,000 per year
- Project period: Up to 5 years
- Award mechanism: R01 Research Project Grant
- The number of awards depends on NIH appropriations and the number of meritorious applications.
Eligibility
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Eligible organizations:
- Public and private institutions of higher education (U.S. only)
- Nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status, other than institutions of higher education)
- For-profit organizations (including small businesses)
- State, county, city, township, and special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- Native American tribal governments and organizations (federally recognized and other)
- Faith-based and community-based organizations
- Regional organizations
- U.S. territories and possessions
- Eligible agencies of the federal government
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Not eligible:
- Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations)
- Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations
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Foreign components (as defined by NIH policy) are allowed within U.S. applications.
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Individuals: Any individual(s) with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research as PD/PI(s) may apply.
Application Process
- Submission: Applications must be submitted electronically via Grants.gov, NIH ASSIST, or an institutional system-to-system solution.
- Required registrations: SAM, Grants.gov, eRA Commons (can take 6+ weeks; start early).
- Application instructions: Follow the NIH How to Apply - Application Guide and the specific instructions in the funding announcement.
- Key application elements:
- Emphasize mechanistic, fundamental studies (not clinical translation)
- Focus on one or two rationally selected tumor types
- Include a "Milestones" subsection with clear, quantitative benchmarks for each year
- Data sharing via caNanoLab is required
- Interaction with the NCI Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory (NCL) is encouraged
- No cost sharing required.
- No clinical trials allowed.
Additional Information
- Scope: Projects must address major barriers in cancer biology/oncology using nanotechnology, with a focus on mechanistic understanding (e.g., nanoparticle delivery, tumor microenvironment, diagnostic device function).
- Non-responsive applications: Proposals focused solely on naturally occurring materials (not engineered), clinical trials, or nanotechnology for AIDS/HIV (even in cancer context) will not be reviewed.
- Annual PI meeting: Funded investigators are strongly encouraged to attend the annual NCI nanotechnology investigators’ meeting.
- Data management: All applications must include a Data Management and Sharing Plan per NIH policy.
External Links
Contact Information