Precompetitive Collaboration on Liquid Biopsy for Early Cancer Assessment: Liquid Biopsy Research Laboratories (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Background
The purpose of this initiative is to establish an Academic-Industrial Partnership Program to develop new and/or validate existing technologies, methods, and assays for the capture and quantification of tumor associated cells, DNA, RNA, or exosomes in body fluids of patients with early stage disease or those at high risk; as well as distinguishing cancer from benign disease; or aggressive from indolent cancers. The precompetitive alliances with industry will harmonize and validate technologies, methods and assays associated with liquid biopsies.

Grant Details
The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to solicit applications for Liquid Biopsy Research Laboratories (LBRLs), one of the two components of the Precompetitive Collaboration on Liquid Biopsy for Early-Cancer Assessment Consortium (LBC). LBC is an Academic-Industrial Partnership program to develop and validate liquid biopsy technologies, methods, or assays (collectively termed technologies ), for early-cancer detection and risk assessment. LBRLs will conduct research on the development of liquid biopsy technologies for the capture and multi-dimensional quantitative analysis of tumor associated cells, DNA, RNA, exosomes and/or other cancer-associated analytes in body fluids of individuals with early-stage cancer or at high risk of developing the disease; and/or for distinguishing cancer from benign disease or aggressive from indolent cancers. A required component of LBRLs are well-integrated precompetitive alliances between academic and industry research and development teams that ensure the successful analytical and/or diagnostic validation of the developed liquid biopsy technologies.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include higher education institutions, public/state controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with 501(c)(3) IRS status (other than institutions of higher education), small businesses, eligible agencies of the federal government, U.S. territory or possession. Foreign institutions are not eligible to apply.

Period of Performance
The project period is a maximum of five years starting from January 10, 2023.

Grant Value
NCI intends to commit $6 million per year starting in FY 2023 to fund up to 6 awards (with a total cost of $1 million per year per award). The requested budget must not exceed $600,000 per year (in direct costs).