Exfoliated Cells and Circulating DNA in Cancer Detection and Diagnosis(R21)

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The NCI solicits grant applications aimed at the development of novel technologies for capturing, enriching, and preserving exfoliated abnormal cells from body fluids or effusions as well as methods for concentrating the tumor-derived sub-cellular material for use in biomarker studies. In body fluids, such as sputum, exfoliated tumor cells are a minor component compared to normal cells. As a result, the detection of exfoliated abnormal cells by routine cytopathology is often limited by the small number of atypical cells present in a given specimen. New enrichment methods are necessary to facilitate the detection of small numbers of exfoliated tumor cells and tumor-derived sub-cellular materials in biological fluids. This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) will use the NIH Exploratory/Developmental (R21) grant mechanism and runs in parallel with two FOAs of similar scientific scope that solicit applications under the SBIR and STTR mechanisms RFA (RFA-CA-07-027 and RFA-CA-07-028, respectively). Please refer to the NIH Guide Notice NOT-CA-06-034 (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-CA-06-034.html) for the cross-comparison and the outline of the characteristics and requirements for all three partner FOAs. The anticipated number of awards is two to three. There are no set-aside funds for this FOA. Because the nature and scope of the proposed research will vary from application to application, it is anticipated that the size and duration of each award will also vary. The total amount awarded and the number of awards will depend upon the quality, duration, and costs of the applications received. The total project period for an application submitted in response to this funding opportunity may not exceed 2 years. Direct costs are limited to $275,000 over an R21 2-year period, with no more than $200,000 in direct costs allowed in any single year. Eligible Organizations: For profit organizations; non-profit organizations; public or private institutions, such as universities, colleges, hospitals and laboratories; units of State and local governments; eligible agencies of the Federal government; domestic or foreign institutions/organizations; faith-based or community-based organizations; Indian/Native American Tribal Government (Federally Recognized); Indian/Native American Tribal Government (Other than Federally Recognized); and Indian/Native American Tribally Designated Organization.

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