Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research (93.394)
Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research (Assistance Listing 93.394) is run by the National Institutes of Health, part of the Department of Health and Human Services. It awarded $2.7 billion in 1,943 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $1.4 million per award on average. 50 funding opportunities are open or forecast now.
The typical award was $1.1 million. Half of the 1,942 awards fell between $424,251 and $2.0 million, and they ranged from $0 to $36.1 million.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$2.7 billion
- Grant awards1,943
- Typical award$1.1 million
- Awarded in FY 2025$596 million
- Size rank134 of 1824
- Type of assistanceCooperative agreements, project grants
Key findings
- Annual funding rose from $487 million in fiscal 2021 to $596 million in fiscal 2025.
- It is the 134th largest of 1,824 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- The 20 largest recipients received 45% of the money.
- Awards went to recipients in 45 states and territories.
What the program funds
To improve screening and early detection strategies and to develop accurate diagnostic techniques and methods for predicting the course of disease in cancer patients. Screening and Early Detection research includes development of strategies to decrease cancer mortality by finding tumors early when they are more amenable to treatment. Diagnosis research focuses on methods to determine the presence of a specific type of cancer; to predict its course and response to therapy, both a particular therapy or a class of agents; and to monitor the effect of the therapy and the appearance of disease recurrence. These methods include diagnostic imaging and direct analyses of specimens from tumor or other tissues. Support is also provided for establishing and maintaining resources of human tissue to facilitate research. Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program: To expand and improve the SBIR program; to increase private sector commercialization of innovations derived from Federal research and development; to increase small business participation in Federal research and development; and to foster and encourage participation of socially and economically disadvantaged small business concerns and women-owned small business concerns in technological innovation. Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program: To stimulate and foster scientific and technological innovation through cooperative research and development carried out between small business concerns and research institutions; to foster technology transfer between small business concerns and research institutions; to increase private sector commercialization of innovations derived from Federal research and development; and to foster and encourage participation of socially and economically disadvantaged small business concerns and women-owned small business concerns in technological innovation.
Open opportunities
- Advanced Development and Validation of Emerging Technologies for Basic and Clinical Cancer Research (R33 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- Early-Stage Innovative Technology Development for Basic and Clinical Cancer Research (R61 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- Competing Revisions to Existing NIH Single Project Research Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Clinical Trial Optional)
- Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) for Undergraduate-Focused Institutions (R15 Clinical Trial Required)
- Academic-Industrial Partnerships (AIP) to Translate and Validate In Vivo Imaging Systems (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)
- National Cancer Institute's Investigator-Initiated Early Phase Clinical Trials for Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis (R01 Clinical Trial Required)
- Glioblastoma Therapeutics Network (GTN) (U19 Clinical Trial Required)
- Limited Competition: Biospecimen Banks to support NCI National Clinical Trials Network Biospecimen Banks (NCTN Biobanks) and the NCI Early-Phase and Experimental Clinical Trials Biospecimen Bank (EET Biobank) (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- NIH, CDC and FDA Small Business Innovation Research Grant (Parent SBIR [R43/R44] Clinical Trial Optional)
- NIH Small Business Technology Transfer Grant (Parent STTR [R41/R42] Clinical Trial Optional)
- Change of Recipient Organization (Type 7 Parent Clinical Trial Optional)
- Successor-in-Interest (Type 6 Parent Clinical Trial Optional)
- NIH Support for Conferences and Scientific Meetings (Parent R13 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- Bioengineering Partnerships with Industry (U01 Clinical Trial Optional)
- Early-Stage Development of Informatics Technologies for Cancer Research and Management (U01 Clinical Trial Optional)
- Research Enhancement Award Program (REAP) for Health Professional Schools and Graduate Schools (R15 Clinical Trial Required)
- Molecular Imaging of Inflammation in Cancer (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- Integration of Imaging and Fluid-Based Tumor Monitoring in Cancer Therapy (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)
- Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) for Undergraduate-Focused Institutions (R15 Clinical Trial Required)
- Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) for Undergraduate-Focused Institutions (R15 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- Research Enhancement Award Program (REAP) for Health Professional Schools and Graduate Schools (R15 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- Exploratory/Developmental Bioengineering Research Grants (EBRG) (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)
- Exploratory/Developmental Bioengineering Research Grants (EBRG) (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Project Grant (Parent R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Project Grant (Parent R21 Clinical Trial Required)
Rules from the program listing
Who can apply
The awardee will be a university, college, hospital, public agency, nonprofit research institution or organization, unit of tribal government, or a for-profit organization that submits an application and receives a grant or cooperative agreement for support of research by a named principal investigator. SBIR grants can be awarded only to domestic small businesses (entities that are independently owned and operated for profit, are not dominant in the field in which research is proposed, and have no more than 500 employees). Primary employment (more than one-half time) of the principal investigator must be with the small business at the time of award and during the conduct of the proposed project. In both Phase I and Phase II, the research must be performed in the U.S. and its possessions. To be eligible for funding, a grant application must be approved for scientific merit and program relevance by a scientific review group and a national advisory council. STTR grants can be awarded only to domestic small business concerns (entities that are independently owned and operated for profit, are not dominant in the field in which research is proposed and have no more than 500 employees) which "partner" with a research institution in cooperative research and development. At least 40 percent of the project is to be performed by the small business concern and at least 30 percent by the research institution. In both Phase I and Phase II, the research must be performed in the U.S.
What the money can and cannot pay for
Grants and cooperative agreements may be made to eligible institutions for the support of cancer research projects. The grants and cooperative agreements may be used for personnel, consultants costs, equipment, supplies, travel, patient costs, animals, alterations and renovations, miscellaneous items, and indirect costs. SBIR Phase I grants (of approximately 6-months' duration) are to establish the technical merit and feasibility of a proposed research effort that may lead to a commercial product or process. Phase II grants are for the continuation of the research initiated in Phase I, and that are likely to result in commercial products or processes. Only Phase I awardees are eligible to receive Phase II support. STTR Phase I grants (normally of 1-year duration) are to determine the scientific, technical, and commercial merit and feasibility of the proposed cooperative effort that has potential for commercial application. Phase II funding is based on results of research initiated in Phase I and scientific and technical merit and commercial potential of Phase II application. The SBIR Fast-Track Initiative provides additional assistance to applicants by expediting the decision and award of SBIR Phase II funding for scientifically meritorious applications for projects that have a high potential for commercialization.
Matching requirements
This program has no statutory formula. Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Award range and average, in the agency's words
Range: $8,000 to $8,841,413 Average: $577,172
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research (93.394) awarded$2.7 billion across 1,943 grant awards, an average of $1.4 million per award.
Who usually wins
Colleges and universities received 61% of the money, nonprofits 27% and small businesses 9.1%.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colleges and universities | 1,226 | $1.6 billion | 61% |
| Nonprofits | 425 | $723 million | 27% |
| Small businesses | 231 | $244 million | 9.1% |
| Other | 55 | $76.8 million | 2.9% |
| Businesses | 4 | $3.4 million | 0.1% |
| State and local governments | 2 | $2.3 million | less than 0.1% |
By state
43 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards.
| State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| California | 322 | $490 million |
| New York | 168 | $238 million |
| Massachusetts | 181 | $234 million |
| Pennsylvania | 125 | $213 million |
| Texas | 137 | $186 million |
| Washington | 93 | $169 million |
| Maryland | 86 | $103 million |
| Ohio | 56 | $98.1 million |
| Missouri | 41 | $79.2 million |
| Illinois | 65 | $77.7 million |
| North Carolina | 68 | $76.0 million |
| Michigan | 54 | $75.3 million |
| Minnesota | 43 | $61.3 million |
| Wisconsin | 46 | $61.2 million |
| Tennessee | 33 | $50.2 million |
| Florida | 38 | $48.0 million |
| Arizona | 35 | $45.0 million |
| Georgia | 30 | $40.4 million |
| Oregon | 25 | $36.1 million |
| Connecticut | 32 | $35.4 million |
| Utah | 21 | $25.1 million |
| Virginia | 23 | $24.3 million |
| New Hampshire | 17 | $22.9 million |
| Alabama | 18 | $21.3 million |
| Indiana | 19 | $21.0 million |
| New Jersey | 15 | $18.7 million |
| Colorado | 21 | $17.5 million |
| District of Columbia | 11 | $15.8 million |
| Rhode Island | 15 | $13.0 million |
| Iowa | 10 | $12.6 million |
| South Carolina | 14 | $11.1 million |
| Nebraska | 6 | $8.7 million |
| Hawaii | 4 | $7.4 million |
| Kentucky | 9 | $7.4 million |
| Arkansas | 9 | $7.4 million |
| Kansas | 8 | $7.1 million |
| Louisiana | 7 | $6.7 million |
| West Virginia | 5 | $5.7 million |
| Oklahoma | 5 | $5.4 million |
| New Mexico | 4 | $3.2 million |
| Puerto Rico | 3 | $3.1 million |
| Delaware | 4 | $1.9 million |
| Vermont | 2 | $1.9 million |
| Maine | 1 | $784,069 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $576,476 |