Quantitative Imaging Tools and Methods for Cancer Response Assessment (U01) | PAR 17 129

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 17 129

The Quantitative Imaging Tools and Methods for Cancer Response Assessment (U01) funding opportunity (PAR-17-129) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) cooperative agreement aimed at moving quantitative cancer imaging tools from the "already built and optimized" stage into real-world clinical trial use. The central idea is not to fund early tool invention, but to support the next step: clinical translation and rigorous validation of imaging software methods that can objectively measure or predict how a cancer is responding to therapy, or that can be used to plan and validate radiation therapy treatment strategies in the context of clinical trials. In practical terms, the program is designed to help teams prove that their quantitative imaging approach works reliably in prospective, multisite settings and can be incorporated into day-to-day clinical workflows without creating major disruption.

A key requirement is readiness: the quantitative imaging tools (typically software-based analysis methods, but also potentially standardized data collection methods tied to imaging) must have already been developed and optimized prior to this award. The FOA specifically points to tools produced within the Quantitative Imaging Network (QIN) during its performance period, but it also allows tools developed under other separate funding mechanisms as long as they are comparably mature. The work proposed under this opportunity is expected to be a direct extension of that prior development effort, meaning applicants should be building on a proven base and focusing on what is needed to validate performance in the kinds of clinical trial environments where imaging endpoints and imaging-derived biomarkers are actually used to support decision making.

The main activities supported by this FOA revolve around validation in prospective multisite clinical trials. That emphasis matters because quantitative imaging tools often look promising in single-site or retrospective datasets but can fail when faced with real-world variation: different scanners, imaging protocols, patient populations, clinical schedules, and local workflow constraints. This opportunity is meant to fund the work required to demonstrate that a tool performs consistently across those variations, and that it can be integrated into clinical processes with minimal friction. In other words, it targets both technical performance (accuracy, reproducibility, robustness) and implementation performance (integration, usability, and feasibility in routine clinical trial operations). Because the award mechanism is a cooperative agreement (U01), NIH typically expects substantial programmatic involvement, meaning awardees may coordinate closely with NIH staff on milestones, study design considerations, data sharing expectations, and progress oversight.

From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary funding opportunity under the Education and Health activity category, associated with CFDA numbers 93.394 and 93.395. The listed award ceiling is $500,000. The original closing date provided is January 24, 2018, and the opportunity was created on January 19, 2017. While the summary you provided does not state the exact number of expected awards, it indicates that awards were anticipated.

Eligibility is broad and includes many organization types that commonly participate in translational and clinical research. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations other than federally recognized governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education when specified); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other unspecified entities. The FOA also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), eligible federal agencies, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and even non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations), indicating NIH interest in wide participation where it supports the goals of robust, generalizable clinical validation.

Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a bridge between advanced quantitative imaging research and dependable clinical trial deployment. It is intended for teams that already have a mature imaging tool and now need the resources and structure to prove, in prospective multisite trials, that the tool can deliver consistent, clinically meaningful measurements or predictions of cancer therapy response (or support radiation therapy planning/validation) while fitting into clinical workflows in a way that trial sites can realistically adopt.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Quantitative Imaging Tools and Methods for Cancer Response Assessment (U01)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.394, 93.395.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-01-19.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-01-24. (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 $500,000.00 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 PAR 17 129

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