CCG Funding Opportunities

Current Announcements

Validated CRISPR Reagents for Next Generation Cancer Models

This Request for Proposals (RFP) is to contribute towards the goals of the Human Cancer Models Initiative (HCMI) by generating optimized and validated human CRISPR gene modification reagents for the purpose of whole genome screening in Next Generation Cancer Models (NGCMs) and delivering the reagents to the research community. Reagents and protocols shall be developed and optimized for use in multiple NGCMs (across different model types such as organoids, neurosphere, conditionally reprogrammed cells, etc., and across different cancers), and shared with the community, along with quality parameters and data demonstrating efficacy of the developed CRISPR reagent. For more information, see the RFP announcement.

Key dates:

• Solicitation questions due Wednesday, April 13, 2022 at 1 p.m. ET.
• Pre-proposal teleconference will be held on Thursday, April 28, 2022 at 3 p.m. ET
• Proposals due Wednesday, May 18, 2022 at 1 p.m. ET

Past Announcements and Awards

Cancer Target Discovery and Development (CTD²) Centers

NCI has released a new Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for continued support of the program Cancer Target Discovery and Development (CTD², pronounced cee-tee-dee-squared). CTD² aims to bridge the knowledge gap between the volumes of data generated by comprehensive molecular characterizations of many cancer types and studies of the underlying etiology of cancer development, progression, and/or metastasis.

Specifically, CTD² hopes to advance the functional understanding of mutations in cancer-associated genes, identify new therapeutic targets and shed light on how to overcome resistance to therapies, and develop strategies for identifying combination targets or drugs for treating the disease. PAR-21-274 details.

Genomic Data Analysis Network Centers 

Available presentation and a summary of questions and answers from the pre-application webinar for this funding opportunity that was held on Tuesday, October 20, 2020.

NCI is seeking applications for highly collaborative Genome Data Analysis Centers (GDACs) that will help elucidate the mechanisms of cancer initiation and evolution, as well as resistance to therapy by means of genomic characterization of well-annotated, high quality tumor samples. Specifically, GDACs will (1) develop and implement new bioinformatic and computational tools to capture key biological parameters such as pathway analysis, data integration with visualization, and integrated cancer biology, (2) develop pipeline and network-wide quality control methods for the system, and (3) process/integrate analytical data from other components of NCI’s Genome Characterization Network to generate disease level findings and interpretations as well as cross-disease analyses. The GDACs will be expected to work collaboratively with other components of the network to enable the cancer research community to develop a new generation of studies that will leverage the genomic findings from NCI programs for the benefit of cancer patients. Up to 10 awards of this class will be made, with each GDAC working cooperatively to perform integrative analyses as requested by CCG project stakeholders. RFA-CA-20-053 details.

Novel Technology Tools to Facilitate Research Using Next Generation Patient-derived Cancer Models

NCI accepted applications to support the development of "technology tools" that facilitate the utilization of next-generation cancer models developed by the Human Cancer Models Initiative. Examples of proposed technology tools may include new and/or optimized laboratory methods, reagents, screening read-outs, and/or tools for data processing. RFA-CA-19-055 details.

NCI Genomic Characterization Centers

NCI has published a request for proposals to acquire contractor(s) who will function as Genomic Characterization Centers (GCCs), providing high-resolution, systematic, comprehensive (genome-wide) characterization services of cancer-related genomic alterations. GCCs play a fundamental role in NCI research programs, providing DNA, RNA, and protein characterization services and depositing resulting data in the Genomic Data Commons for public use. Key goals include ensuring that standards are developed, implemented, continually improved, and maintained for genomic characterization services.

Cutting Edge Informatics Tools for Illuminating the Druggable Genome

The overarching goal of this FOA is to add informatics capabilities to the Common Fund program, Illuminating the Druggable Genome (IDG). The IDG consortium's purpose is to facilitate the unveiling of the functions of selected understudied proteins in the Druggable Genome using experimental and informatics approaches. Currently, this research consortium is composed of multiple Data and Resource Generation Centers (DRGCs), a Knowledge Management Center (KMC), and a Resource Dissemination and Outreach Center (RDOC). For more information, see the RFA announcement.

Biospecimen Processing and Storage

The NCI published a funding opportunity announcement for two functions of the Biospecimen Core Resource (BCR). The BCR will perform biospecimen collection, processing, and storage for the expanding list of NCI-supported cancer genomic programs and collaborations. The functions of the BCR will be fulfilled by three specialized centers: The Biospecimen Processing Center (BPC), the CCG Biorepository and Archive (CBA) and the Clinical Data Center (CDC). The Clinical Data Center (CDC) will be built through an already existing NCI contract.

The BPC will receive biospecimens from Tissue Source Sites (TSSs), ensure the quality of the tissue and associated data, process the tissue to produce molecular analytes, and collaborate with the CBA and CCG’s Genomic Characterization Centers (GCCs) to support CCG’s genomic research. The CBA will provide long-term storage and archiving of biospecimens received from the BPC.

CTD² Centers

NCI's Office of Cancer Genomics, a part of the Center for Cancer Genomics, has released a new Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). This FOA will continue to support the program Cancer Target Discovery and Development (CTD², pronounced cee-tee-dee-squared). CTD² is focused on efforts that advance cancer research by bridging the knowledge gap between the volumes of data generated by comprehensive molecular characterizations and studies of the underlying etiology of cancer development, progression, and/or metastasis. Access the RFA

Generating Tumor-derived Culture Models

A funding opportunity aims to generate novel human tumor-derived culture models that will be made accessible to scientists around the world.

Many cancer cell lines available today have limited utility as cancer models because they lack the complex architecture of human tissue and the genomic and associated clinical information from the original tissue. In an effort to generate improved tumor models, successful vendors will create models that more closely resemble human tissue using novel techniques such as organoids, conditionally reprogrammed cells, or others. The resulting cancer cell lines will be made available to researchers through a distributor. The original tumor and the derived models will be sequenced (under a separate contract) and this information, as well as patient-pertinent clinical data, will be available to researchers through the Genomic Data Commons to serve as valuable tools for the cancer research field.

Genomic Data Analysis Network (GDAN) Centers

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has awarded funds for three different types (Processing, Visualization, and Specialized) of Genomic Data Analysis Network (GDAN) Centers to support programs of the Center for Cancer Genomics (CCG). The awardees will support the CCG pipeline by providing the bulk of the analysis of the data generated by the Genomic Characterization Centers (GCCs) and the GDAN centers will also work closely with the Analysis Working Groups (AWGs) on each CCG project.

Genomic Data Analysis Network (GDAN) Awardees