Cancer Prevention and Control Clinical Trials Planning Grant Program (U34 Clinical Trials Optional)
Facilitates well-planned cancer prevention and control clinical trials by addressing information gaps to improve trial design and feasibility, saving time and money for NCI.
Funder: National Institutes of Health
Due Dates: June 25, 2025 | October 25, 2025 | February 25, 2026 | June 25, 2026 | October 25, 2026 | February 25, 2027 | June 25, 2027 | October 25, 2027 (Letters of Intent due 30 days prior to each deadline)
Funding Amounts: Up to $225,000/year; $450,000 direct costs over 3 years (no pilot trial) or $600,000 direct costs over 3 years (with pilot/feasibility trial); max project period: 3 years.
Summary: Supports planning activities and preparatory studies to address information gaps and improve the design and feasibility of future cancer prevention and control clinical trials.
Key Information: Updated March 2025: Carefully review the full NOFO for recent changes; preliminary efficacy/effectiveness data for the future intervention is required at application.
Description
This opportunity, offered by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) at NIH, funds planning grants (U34 mechanism) to support the development of well-designed clinical trials in cancer prevention and control. The program aims to address critical information gaps that can impede the successful launch and completion of full-scale clinical trials, such as uncertainties about study populations, recruitment, interventions, endpoints, and operational risks. By supporting preparatory studies—including pilot/feasibility trials if needed—this grant helps investigators refine trial protocols, test feasibility, and improve the likelihood of successful, efficient future trials.
The scope includes a wide range of cancer prevention and control topics, such as:
- Prevention/interception (e.g., interventions to block or delay early cancer)
- Cancer-related health behaviors (e.g., tobacco, diet, physical activity)
- Screening and early detection
- Healthcare delivery and implementation science
- Management of treatment-related symptoms and supportive care
- Cancer survivorship and quality of life
The U34 mechanism is not for collecting preliminary efficacy data to justify a future trial; such data must already exist. Instead, it supports activities to finalize trial design, address feasibility, and resolve operational uncertainties.
