Skip to main content
An official website of the United States government
Email

Biomarker, Imaging, and Quality of Life Studies Funding Program (BIQSFP)

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) invites National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN) Groups and NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) Research Bases to apply for funding to support biomarker, imaging, and symptom science/quality of life (symptom science/QOL) studies. All studies must be associated with NCI clinical trial concepts or protocols.

Studies must be associated with the following types of trials conducted by NCTN Groups or NCORP Research Bases and reviewed by the NCI Steering Committees:

  • Randomized phase 2 or phase 3 treatment trials
  • Randomized phase 2 or phase 3 prevention trials
  • Randomized symptom science/supportive care clinical trials
  • Non-randomized phase 2 or phase 3 treatment trials (integral studies only)

FY24 BIQSFP Supplements to Support NRT-Integrated Studies to Validate Biomarkers, Imaging Tests, or QOL/PRO Instruments 

This one-time funding opportunity is for Biomarker, Imaging, and Quality of Life Studies Funding Program (BIQSFP) supplements to support non-real time (NRT)-integrated studies that are associated with NCI clinical trials conducted by National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN) groups and NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) Research Bases.

Letter of Intent Deadline: May 15, 2024

Application Deadline: May 24, 2024

NRT-Integrated BIQSFP Supplement Funding for FY24

Award and Submission Requirements: 

  • NCI plans to make 3-5 supplements to NCTN Network Group Operations Center grants and/or NCORP Research Base grants. 
  • Maximum number of applications accepted: 
    • NCTN Each NCTN Network Group may submit up to 3 applications for BIQSFP proposals associated with NCTN trials. 
    • NCORPEach NCORP Research Base may submit up to 2 applications for BIQSFP proposals associated with NCORP trials. 
  • Maximum budget should not exceed $500,000 in direct costs (not including subaward F&As) per supplement request. 
  • Supplement is for 1 year of funding (current grant year) only. 
  • Supplements will be provided to NCTN for applications associated with NCTN trials, and to NCORP for applications associated with NCORP trials 

Eligibility Requirements: 

  • BIQSFP studies should be integrated into a randomized, phase 2 or 3 trial as a secondary outcome (the protocol for active trials will be amended to accommodate a new secondary outcome).
  • Trial must have reached at least 75% of protocol-specified accrual goal. 
  • Trials whose primary outcome data were published (in abstract or full publication) before November 24, 2023 (i.e., over 6 months prior to application deadline) are not eligible. 
  • Exploratory studies are not eligible.  

Application Information and Instructions: 

Letter of Intent Due Date: May 15, 2024 

  • Please submit a letter of intent to allow BIQSFP program staff to estimate the potential review workload and plan for the review. Letter of intent should be sent to the BIQSFP Program Director and BIQSFP mailbox (NCIBIQSFP@mail.nih.gov), and include the following information: 
    • Title and abstract of BIQSFP proposal 
    • Protocol ID and title of parent clinical trial 
    • Name and brief description of biomarker/assay/test 

BIQSFP Application Due Date: May 24, 2024

  • Please use the BIQSFP application forms (called BIQSFP Checklists) that can be downloaded by clicking on the link below. Applications from NCTN should be sent to CTEP PIO (protocol&informationoffice@mail.nih.gov), and applications from NCORP should be sent to DCP PIO (nci_dcp_pio@mail.nih.gov). 
  • Disclosure of Other Sources of Funding: If any proposal associated with an NCTN trial has partial funding from an outside source (e.g., another company) and the BIQSFP application is being submitted for additional funding of a component of the proposal, then that information should be disclosed in the cover letter of the BIQSFP application. 
  • Email NCIBIQSFP@mail.nih.gov if you have any questions on the application process. 

NCTN Program Note: 

  • If a BIQSFP proposal is being submitted in connection with an NCTN trials that is/was conducted under a CTEP Binding Collaborative Agreement and that proposal is selected for funding, please note that the CTEP company collaborator for that trial will need to review/comment and/or approve the proposal, depending on the trial's status. 
  • Such proposals if selected for funding will have a status of "Approval on Hold" until the company has reviewed it. 

Resources Available to Assist You with Preparation of BIQSFP Application Package

  • Updated:
Email