PAR-25-444-Revised-Full-Announcement.html

Department of Health and Human Services

Part 1. Overview Information

Participating Organization(s)

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Components of Participating Organizations

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Funding Opportunity Title

Cancer Center Support Grants (CCSGs) for NCI-designated Cancer Centers (P30 Clinical Trial Optional)

Activity Code

P30 Center Core Grants

Announcement Type

Reissue of

PAR-21-321

Related Notices

Check for any recent Notices of NIH Policy Changes that may impact application requirements.

Funding Opportunity Number (FON)

PAR-25-444

Companion Notice of Funding Opportunity

None

Number of Applications

See Section III. 3. Additional Information on Eligibility.

Assistance Listing Number(s)

93.397

Notice of Funding Opportunity Purpose

This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) invites applications for P30 Cancer Center Support Grants (CCSGs) to support NCI-Designated Cancer Centers. CCSGs support three types of Cancer Centers: 1) Comprehensive Cancer Centers, which demonstrate reasonable depth and breadth of research activities in each of three major areas: basic laboratory; clinical; and prevention, control and population-based research, and which have substantial transdisciplinary research that bridges these scientific areas; 2) Clinical Cancer Centers, which are primarily focused on basic laboratory; clinical; and prevention, cancer control, and population-based research; or some combination of these areas; and 3) Basic Cancer Centers, which focus on basic laboratory research. The purpose of all types of NCI-Designated Cancer Centers is to capitalize on all institutional cancer research capabilities, integrating meritorious research into a single transdisciplinary research enterprise across all institutional boundaries. Cancer Centers supported through this NOFO are expected to serve as major sources of discovery of the nature of cancer and of development of more effective approaches to prevention, diagnosis, and therapy; to contribute significantly to the development of Shared Resources that support research; to collaborate and coordinate their research efforts with other NCI-funded programs and investigators; and to disseminate research findings for the benefit of the community.

Funding Opportunity Goal(s)

The goal of this NOFO is to provide an organizational focus and stimulus for the highest quality cancer research that effectively promotes interdisciplinary cancer research aimed toward the ultimate goal of reducing cancer incidence, mortality and morbidity. The Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG) provides the resources and infrastructure to facilitate the coordination of interdisciplinary programs across a broad spectrum of research from basic laboratory research to clinical investigation to population science. The CCSG supports salaries for scientific leadership of the Center, shared resources for funded center investigators, certain administrative costs, planning and evaluation, and developmental funds for new recruitments and feasibility studies.

Key Dates

Posted Date

Open Date (Earliest Submission Date)

December 01, 2025

The following table includes NIH standard due dates marked with an asterisk.

January 25, 2026 *

January 25, 2026 *

Not Applicable

December 2026

May 25, 2026 *

May 25, 2026 *

Not Applicable

April 2027

September 25, 2026 *

September 25, 2026 *

Not Applicable

July 2027

January 25, 2027 *

January 25, 2027 *

Not Applicable

December 2027

May 25, 2027 *

May 25, 2027 *

Not Applicable

April 2028

September 25, 2027 *

September 25, 2027 *

Not Applicable

July 2028

January 25, 2028 *

January 25, 2028 *

Not Applicable

December 2028

May 25, 2028 *

May 25, 2028 *

Not Applicable

April 2029

September 25, 2028 *

September 25, 2028 *

Not Applicable

July 2029

All applications are due by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization.

Applicants are encouraged to apply early to allow adequate time to make any corrections to errors found in the application during the submission process by the due date.

Expiration Date

September 26, 2028

Due Dates for E.O. 12372

Not Applicable

Required Application Instructions

It is critical that applicants follow the Multi-Project (M) Instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide, except where instructed to do otherwise (in this NOFO or in a Notice from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts). Conformance to all requirements (both in the How to Apply - Application Guide and the NOFO) is required and strictly enforced. Applicants must read and follow all application instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide as well as any program-specific instructions noted in Section IV. When the program-specific instructions deviate from those in the How to Apply - Application Guide, follow the program-specific instructions. Applications that do not comply with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review.

Table of Contents

Part 1. Overview Information Key Dates Part 2. Full Text of Announcement Section I. Notice of Funding Opportunity Description Section II. Award Information Section III. Eligibility Information Section IV. Application and Submission Information Section V. Application Review Information Section VI. Award Administration Information Section VII. Agency Contacts Section VIII. Other Information

Part 2. Full Text of Announcement

Section I. Notice of Funding Opportunity Description

Purpose This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) invites applications for P30 Cancer Center Support Grants (CCSGs) to support NCI-Designated Cancer Centers. NCI-Designated Cancer Centers serve as major sources of discovery into the nature of cancer and of the development of more effective approaches to prevention, diagnosis, and therapy. They contribute significantly to the development of Shared Resources that support cancer relevant research, and they collaborate and coordinate their research efforts with other NCI-funded programs and investigators.

The objectives of the NCI Cancer Centers Program are to foster highly interactive cancer research through support of the following:

NCI support to Cancer Centers is intended to foster excellence in research across a broad spectrum of scientific and medical concerns relevant to cancer. To facilitate discovery and its translation into direct benefit to patients and the general public, the NCI awards CCSGs to institutions that have a critical mass of cancer-relevant scientific research. The CCSG focus on research derives from the belief that a culture of discovery, scientific excellence, transdisciplinary research, and collaboration yields tangible benefits extending far beyond the generation of new knowledge.

Background The National Cancer Act officially established the Cancer Centers Program in 1971. The legislation was based on the report of a congressional committee, which concluded that a formalized Cancer Centers Program would provide a unity of purpose, a centralized platform for sharing concepts and resources, and a management structure necessary to achieve progress toward the goal of preventing and curing cancer. The Act grandfathered in twelve existing Centers that were already receiving support through a variety of NCI grants and contracts and authorized the establishment of additional Centers. It also implemented a standard funding mechanism (the P30 Cancer Center Support Grant or CCSG) and guidelines, and created an administrative and organizational home for the Program at the NCI.

Based on this early legislation, qualified applicant institutions receive the CCSG award and accompanying NCI designation for successfully meeting a spectrum of rigorous competitive standards associated with scientific and organizational merit. While CCSG requirements have evolved over the years, the grant continues to support research infrastructure that enhances collaborative, transdisciplinary research productivity. CCSG grants provide funding for formalized cancer Research Programs, Shared Resources, scientific and administrative management, planning and evaluation activities, development of new scientific opportunities, community outreach and engagement, coordination of cancer training and education, and centralized clinical trial oversight and functions.

Although the CCSG does not directly fund the wider range of activities at Cancer Centers, an NCI-Designated Cancer Center links state-of-the-art research and care, thus perpetuating the translational continuum. To decrease cancer incidence and mortality among populations within its catchment area, including underserved populations, it also establishes partnerships with other health delivery systems and state and community agencies for dissemination of evidence-based findings.

Over the past several decades, the number of NCI-Designated Cancer Centers has grown extensively; today they are in a variety of organizational settings across the United States. An NCI-Designated Cancer Center is a local, regional, and national resource, directly serving its community and, through the knowledge it creates, the nation as a whole.

The NCI recognizes three types of Cancer Centers:

NOTE: Clinical and Comprehensive Cancer Centers serve a specific catchment area, and in addition to cancer research of broad applicability, they conduct research of particular relevance to their catchment area. A Center’s catchment area is the self-defined geographic area that the Center serves or intends to serve in the research it conducts, the communities it engages, and the outreach it performs. It must include the area from which the Center draws the majority of its patients, but may extend beyond that, and it must include the local area surrounding the Cancer Center. It must be population-based, e.g., using census tracts, zip codes, county or state lines, or other geographically-defined boundaries.

The Six Essential Characteristics of an NCI-Designated Cancer Center A successful NCI-Designated Cancer Center demonstrates strength in six essential characteristics. Together, these characteristics maximize its scientific potential and produce a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts:

Major Research Areas of Cancer Centers and Types of Interactions An NCI-Designated Cancer Center should feature vigorous interactions across its research areas, facilitating collaboration between basic laboratory; clinical; and prevention, control and population-based science investigators and the formal Research Programs of which they are a part. The organizational approach should serve the science of the institution, with reasonable breadth and depth of cancer-focused scientific faculty and dedicated research facilities.

In addition, Centers should ensure that they are both fostering basic discovery and, as applicable, facilitating transition of scientific findings through the translational pipeline (i.e., basic to pre-clinical and early clinical development, then to Phase III trials or other types of definitive studies appropriate to the nature of the research). Discoveries may be advanced through NCI and other peer-reviewed translational science and clinical trial funding mechanisms (e.g. grants for SPOREs, program projects, consortia for Phase 0/I/II Cancer Prevention Clinical Trials Program, and the NCI National Clinical Trials Network or NCTN) and other collaborative strategies, including external partnerships. All Centers are encouraged to establish collaborative links that maximize productivity and result in appropriate application of findings. The form and extent of these activities may vary, based on the type of Center.

Depending on Center type, the major research areas may include the following:

Consortium Centers NCI supports the affiliation of independent scientific institutions with distinct scientific expertise with NCI-Designated cancer centers to contribute to the development and actualization of the cancer center's research agenda. This formalized relationship strengthens the science of the Center and further extends the benefits of its cancer research. Once approved by NCI following peer-review, a consortium partner becomes a formal part of the Cancer Center and may describe themselves as a part of the X NCI-Designated Cancer Center. They may not display the NCI Cancer Center identity badges independently nor describe themselves as NCI-Designated.

Only renewal (Type 2) applications may propose consortium arrangements, which must be fully functioning at the time of application; Type 1 applications may not propose consortium arrangements.

A consortium partner with clinical activities must:

A consortium partner without clinical activity must:

Satisfy the requirements listed above, not including clinic-related activities, and hold at least $1.0 million in direct cost NIH-funded research project grants that are classified as cancer research by NIH’s Research, Condition, and Disease Categorization (RCDC), held by a minimum of 5 PD/PIs. These grants cannot be counted as part of the Center until the research partnership arrangement is approved by NCI, following acceptance of the arrangement by the NCI’s Cancer Centers Study Section (A) as part of their overall review of the P30 CCSG application.

DURATION: The initial budget period will be five years. In order to enable more long-range planning and pursue high-risk research, Centers may be eligible for an additional two years, for a maximum award period of seven years. Eligibility for the additional years will be based on merit at peer review, sustained exceptional progress, stability, and longevity of the Cancer Center, and contingent upon an administrative review by NCI staff and approval of the National Cancer Advisory Board.

Investigators proposing NIH-defined clinical trials may refer to the Research Methods Resources website for information about developing statistical methods and study designs.

See Section VIII. Other Information for award authorities and regulations.

Section II. Award Information

Funding Instrument

Grant: A financial assistance mechanism providing money, property, or both to an eligible entity to carry out an approved project or activity.

Application Types Allowed

New

Renewal

Resubmission

Revision

The OER Glossary and the How to Apply - Application Guide provides details on these application types. Only those application types listed here are allowed for this NOFO.

Clinical Trial?

Optional: Accepting applications that either propose or do not propose clinical trial(s).

Need help determining whether you are doing a clinical trial?

Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards

The number of awards is contingent upon NIH appropriations and the submission of a sufficient number of meritorious applications.

Award Budget

New (Type 1) applications: Budget should not exceed $1.2 million (Basic Cancer Center), $1.4 million (Clinical Cancer Center), $1.5 million (Comprehensive Cancer Center) in direct costs per year for the project period.

Renewal (Type 2) applications: Application budgets are not limited but need to reflect the actual needs of the proposed project.

Award Project Period

5 years

NIH grants policies as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement will apply to the applications submitted and awards made from this NOFO.

Section III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

Eligible Organizations

Nonprofits Other Than Institutions of Higher Education

For-Profit Organizations

Local Governments

Federal Governments

Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government

U.S. Territory or Possession

Other

Independent School Districts

Public Housing Authorities/Indian Housing Authorities

Native American Tribal Organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)

Faith-based or Community-based Organizations

Regional Organizations

Specific to this NOFO:

For New (Type 1) applications, an applicant institution must have a funding base of $10,000,000 (Clinical Cancer Centers) or $6,000,000 (Basic Cancer Centers) in annual direct costs of NIH funding that is cancer-focused, as defined by the Research Condition and Disease Categorization (RCDC) system. Please contact the NCI Office of Cancer Centers (https://cancercenters.cancer.gov/) for assistance in determining the RCDC funding base.

For Renewal (Type 2) applications, an applicant institution must have a funding base of at least $10,000,000 in annual direct costs of peer-reviewed, cancer-related funding. If the Cancer Center is an approved consortium of institutions, the funding base of the Center will be the sum of the funding bases of all participating institutions. However, funding (and other data) awarded to consortium partners may be included only if the partner has been previously evaluated in CCSG peer-review and approved by NCI.

Example of NCI peer-reviewed mechanisms that may be included for determining eligibility to apply for a CCSG: DP1, DP2, R00, R01, R03, R15, R18, R21, R24, R25, R33, R35, R37, R41, R42, R50, R55, R56, P01, P20, P30s other than the CCSG, P50, SC1, SC2, U01, U10, U19, U24, U54, U56, UH2, UH3, UG3, T32, K and F series awards and N01s (excluding SEER and other N01s funding materials, services, or research resources). Cancer-relevant research funded by these mechanisms from other NIH Institutes may also be counted towards the minimum, as do cancer-relevant grants and contracts from the peer-reviewed funding sources listed in: https://cancercenters.cancer.gov/sites/default/files/PeerReviewFundingOrganizations.pdf NOTE: New (Type 1) applications cannot request evaluation for comprehensiveness status.

Foreign Organizations/International Collaborations

Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organization) are not eligible to apply.

Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply.

Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed.

Required Registrations

Applicant organizations

Applicant organizations must complete and maintain the following registrations as described in the How to Apply- Application Guide to be eligible to apply for or receive an award. All registrations must be completed prior to the application being submitted. Registration can take 6 weeks or more, so applicants should begin the registration process as soon as possible. Failure to complete registrations in advance of a due date is not a valid reason for a late submission, please reference NIH Grants Policy Statement Section 2.3.9.2 Electronically Submitted Applications for additional information.

System for Award Management (SAM) – Applicants must complete and maintain an active registration, which requires renewal at least annually. The renewal process may require as much time as the initial registration. SAM registration includes the assignment of a Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code for domestic organizations which have not already been assigned a CAGE Code.

NATO Commercial and Government Entity (NCAGE) Code – Foreign organizations must obtain an NCAGE code (in lieu of a CAGE code) in order to register in SAM.

Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) - A UEI is issued as part of the SAM.gov registration process. The same UEI must be used for all registrations, as well as on the grant application.

eRA Commons - Once the unique organization identifier is established, organizations can register with eRA Commons in tandem with completing their Grants.gov registration; all registrations must be in place by time of submission. eRA Commons requires organizations to identify at least one Signing Official (SO) and at least one Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) account in order to submit an application.

Grants.gov – Applicants must have an active SAM registration in order to complete the Grants.gov registration.

Program Directors/Principal Investigators (PD(s)/PI(s))

All PD(s)/PI(s) must have an eRA Commons account. PD(s)/PI(s) should work with their organizational officials to either create a new account or to affiliate their existing account with the applicant organization in eRA Commons. If the PD/PI is also the organizational Signing Official, they must have two distinct eRA Commons accounts, one for each role. Obtaining an eRA Commons account can take up to 2 weeks.

Eligible Individuals (Program Director/Principal Investigator)

Any individual(s) with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research as the Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) (PD(s)/PI(s)) is invited to work with his/her organization to develop an application for support.

For institutions/organizations proposing multiple PDs/PIs, visit the Multiple Program Director/Principal Investigator Policy and submission details in the Senior/Key Person Profile (Expanded) Component of the How to Apply - Application Guide.

2. Cost Sharing This NOFO does not require cost sharing as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement Section 1.2- Definitions of Terms.

3. Additional Information on Eligibility Number of Applications

Applicant organizations may submit more than one application, provided that each application is scientifically distinct.

The NIH will not accept duplicate or highly overlapping applications under review at the same time per NIH Grants Policy Statement Section 2.3.7.4 Submission of Resubmission Application. This means that the NIH will not accept:

A new (A0) application that is submitted before issuance of the summary statement from the review of an overlapping new (A0) or resubmission (A1) application.

A resubmission (A1) application that is submitted before issuance of the summary statement from the review of the previous new (A0) application.

An application that has substantial overlap with another application pending appeal of initial peer review (see NIH Grants Policy Statement 2.3.9.4 Similar, Essentially Identical, or Identical Applications).

Specific to this NOFO: Only one application per institution is allowed, normally identified by having a unique UEI number or NIH IPF number.

Section IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Requesting an Application Package The application forms package specific to this opportunity must be accessed through ASSIST or an institutional system-to-system solution. A button to apply using ASSIST is available in Part 1 of this NOFO. See the administrative office for instructions if planning to use an institutional system-to-system solution.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission It is critical that applicants follow the Multi-Project (M) Instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide, except where instructed in this notice of funding opportunity to do otherwise (in this NOFO, in a policy notice, or other notice from NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts) and where instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide are directly related to the Grants.gov downloadable forms currently used with most NIH opportunities. Conformance to the requirements in the How to Apply - Application Guide is required and strictly enforced. Applications that are out of compliance with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review.

Page Limitations All page limitations described in the How to Apply- Application Guide and the Table of Page Limits must be followed.

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Instructions for the Submission of Multi-Component Applications

The following section supplements the instructions found in How to Apply- Application Guide and should be used for preparing a multi-component application.

Overall Component When preparing the application, use Component Type ‘Overall’.

All instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions, as noted.

SF424(R&R) Cover (Overall) Complete entire form.

PHS 398 Cover Page Supplement (Overall) Note: Human Embryonic Stem Cell lines from other components should be repeated in cell line table in Overall component.

Research & Related Other Project Information (Overall) Follow standard instructions.

Project/Performance Site Locations (Overall) Enter primary site only.

A summary of Project/Performance Sites in the Overall section of the assembled application image in eRA Commons compiled from data collected in the other components will be generated upon submission.

Research and Related Senior/Key Person Profile (Overall) Include only the Project Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) and any multi-PDs/PIs (if applicable to this NOFO) for the entire application.

Facilities and Other Resources: Include a description of the following in a single attachment:

1. Physical Space: A map that illustrates the main location of the Center’s research and administrative activities, and the physical relationship of all consortium institutions to the main campus must provided.

2. Institutional Commitment: A chart indicating the organizational status of the Cancer Center within the institution must be provided.

Other Attachments: The following "Other Attachments" must be included with the overall component in order to aid in the review of applications. The filename provided for each attachment will be the name used for the bookmark in the application image.

A: Supportive data in a table format: These tables (applicants may use suggested Data Table format described in CCSG Summary Data Guide) itemize the Center’s formal Research Programs, Shared Resources, base of funded research projects, patient information, clinical research protocols, and a comparison of current and requested budgets. For each table, please use a separate attachment and title as suggested.

1. Data Tables 1A, B, C list the Center’s senior leadership (e.g., Cancer Center Director, Deputy Director, and Associate Directors), leadership of the proposed Programs and Shared Resources. Title the pdf attachment as "DT1.pdf".

2. Data Table 2A lists all active cancer-related projects competitively funded by sources external to the fiscally responsible institution of which the Cancer Center is a part, as of the date of preparation of the Data Table. Grants and their direct costs are listed alphabetically by PD/PI in two parts active, funded peer-reviewed research and active non-peer reviewed research projects. Do not include training projects (they are listed separately in the Cancer Research Training & Education Coordination component). Provide a DT2A for each member of a consortium Center. Title as the pdf attachment "DT2A.pdf".

Data Table 2B provides a consolidated list of the funding by category. Together with Data Table 2A, it indicates the size and scope of the funded research base of the Center. Title the pdf attachment as "DT2B.pdf".

3. Data Table 3 provides cancer registry data regarding the numbers of patients newly diagnosed and treated at the Cancer Center during a recent 12-month period. Title the pdf attachment as "DT3.pdf".

4. Data Table 4 lists clinical research protocols open at the Center during a recent 12-month period. DT4 interventional treatment trials must be generated using the Clinical Trials Reporting Program (CTRP) database. Individual non-consenting (pragmatic) trials, ancillary, correlative and observational studies may be submitted using CTRP or independently of CTRP. Title the pdf attachment as "DT4.pdf." New (Type 1) applications are not required to use CTRP in preparation of DT4.

5. Data Table 5 for Renewal (Type 2) applications list the current (last full non-competing year) budget in each CCSG budget category. Title the pdf attachment as "DT5.pdf".

B. Information on Consortium:

1. If the Renewal (Type 2) application is submitted as a consortium, provide a table listing locations of all partnering institutions. Supply a separate listing (for each consortium partner) in DT2A format of all active cancer-related research projects competitively funded by sources external to the fiscally responsible institution of which the consortium partner is a part, as of the date of preparation of the Data Table. Title as “[Consortium partner's] DT2.pdf”.

2. Provide a Memorandum of Understanding between partnering institutions. Title as "MOU.pdf".

C. Strategic Plan: Provide the Cancer Center's strategic plan; eliminate sensitive information, if applicable.

A summary of Senior/Key Persons followed by their Biographical Sketches in the Overall section of the assembled application image in eRA Commons will be generated upon submission.

Budget (Overall) The only budget information included in the Overall component is the Estimated Project Funding section of the SF424 (R&R) Cover.

A budget summary in the Overall section of the assembled application image in eRA Commons compiled from detailed budget data collected in the other components will be generated upon submission.

PHS 398 Research Plan (Overall) Introduction to Application: For Resubmission and Revision applications, an Introduction to Application is required in the Overall component.

Specific Aims: Describe the mission and specific aims of the Cancer Center

Research Strategy: This section must contain two parts:

Part I: Director's Overview

If you are presenting a consortium Center, describe the consortium relationships comprising the Center and the value added by the consortium in broadened expertise, patient population, catchment area, at-risk populations, collaborative scientific activities, etc. Briefly describe the contributions and tangible commitments of each consortium institution, and the history, objectives, and benefits of the consortium arrangement. Do not duplicate information in the Six Essential Characteristics below.

Part II: Six Essential Characteristics

1. Physical Space: Centers are more successful in establishing an identity if they have a distinct physical location. Not all members of the Cancer Center need be physically located in facilities controlled exclusively by the Center; however, location of members across program areas (basic laboratory; clinical; and prevention, control, and population-based science) in close physical proximity enhances use of Shared Resources and facilitates scientific interactions. Even if proximity is impossible, Center Shared Resources and other services should still be reasonably accessible to all members, including consortium members.

In your application, briefly describe the physical facilities dedicated to cancer research, Center Shared Resources, and administration. Indicate how the Center facilitates access to Shared Resources and other services (i.e., Clinical Protocol & Data Management). Discuss any plans for expansion.

2. Organizational Capabilities: A Center and its consortium partners (if applicable) should have an overall programmatic structure that effectively promotes collaborative scientific interactions both within the institution, with other NCI-Designated Cancer Centers (NDCC), and with other external partners, including globally. It should take maximum advantage of the institution’s cancer research capability (this is particularly important to explain when the Center includes multiple participating institutions in a consortium arrangement), as well as an efficient and cost-effective administrative organization with clear lines of authority.

In the application, provide a concise summary that includes the mission, vision, and research goals for the Center for the next five years and describe how these have been integrated into the Research Program’s specific goals.

Using the above description, discuss how the organizational structure enhances the capabilities of the Center.

Consortium Centers should include a discussion of how differences are resolved among partners and how planning and evaluation processes are integrated to meet the strategic goals of the Center, including those for clinical trials, faculty recruitment, and other research activities.

3. Transdisciplinary Collaboration & Coordination: An actively functioning Center promotes innovative and interactive research opportunities through the formation of formal scientific Research Programs, comprised of groups of investigators who share common scientific interests and goals and participate in competitively funded research and in publications and other interactive activities. Inter- and intra- programmatic collaborations are important, as well as collaborations with other NDCC and other external partners. These activities maximize the potential of the institution, whether small or large, to conduct transdisciplinary and translational research.

Movement of scientific findings through the translational pipeline, (i.e., basic to pre-clinical and early clinical development, then to late phase trials or other types of definitive studies appropriate to the nature of the research) is also critical. NCI and other peer-reviewed translational science and clinical trial funding mechanisms (e.g., grants for SPOREs, multi-investigator R01s and program projects, consortia for Phase 0/I/II Cancer Prevention Clinical Trials Program, and the NCI NCTN) are important avenues for advancing discoveries originating in the Center, and coordination of research across these mechanisms is strongly encouraged. If commercial development is an important mechanism for translation at the Center, the application should describe Center efforts to assist its members in moving their innovations along the development pipeline. Collaborative strategies may involve investigators within the Cancer Center, investigators in other Centers, industry, or other partners. The form and extent of these activities may vary, based on the type of Center, but all Centers are encouraged to establish collaborative links that result in appropriate application of findings, i.e., not all transdisciplinary research is translational.

In this section, describe accomplishments during the current funding period in three distinct research areas - transdisciplinary, translational, and collaborative. For New (Type 1) applications, describe the most significant scientific accomplishments in the period (as defined by the applicant) preceding the application. In addition, describe how the Center has facilitated activities in each of these three areas. Summarize the Center’s major scientific strengths, its principal research opportunities, and the transdisciplinary coordination and collaboration between Cancer Center members, including inter-and intra-programmatic collaborations and those involving consortium institutions. Provide a brief description of how the Center fosters transdisciplinary collaboration through collaborative research projects, joint publications, retreats, working groups, colloquia, joint seminar series, and other types of meaningful interchange that cement interactions around related or common goals. The type and balance of activities will vary from Center to Center. Discuss how productivity and quality of translational research in the Center are enhanced by these collaborations and the mechanisms used by the Center to promote interactive research opportunities. Describe strategies that have promoted appropriate movement of findings through the translational and clinical continuum both within and outside the Center, including coordination across NCI and other translational science and clinical funding mechanisms.

Consortium applications also should document the integration of Research Programs and activities across the partner institutions, as well as cross-institutional access to Center Shared Resources and participation and leadership in Programs.

4. Cancer Focus: A clearly defined scientific focus on cancer research is demonstrated by the structure and objectives of the Center's formal Research Programs or other CCSG components, its members grants and contracts, publications and collaborations. NCI recognizes that cancer-relatedness should be a matter of flexible interpretation (e.g., as with studies of basic mechanisms or of conditions or behaviors that influence a range of diseases), but the Center should be prepared to demonstrate how the scientific research it supports through the CCSG is linked to cancer. Centers should describe a rigorous method for determining the cancer relevance of non-NCI funded research projects.

Based on the description above, discuss how the projects in the Center’s peer reviewed, funded research support and the collaborations between Center investigators support the objectives of its cancer research Programs and reflect a scientific cancer focus.

5. Institutional Commitment: The NCI designation lends stature to an institution by attracting patients, industry research support, and philanthropy.