Innovative Research in Cancer Nanotechnology (IRCN; R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR 25 106

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 25 106

The Innovative Research in Cancer Nanotechnology (IRCN; R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) funding opportunity (PAR-25-106) is an NIH National Cancer Institute (NCI) program that supports R01 grants aimed at pushing forward transformative, discovery-driven research at the intersection of nanotechnology and cancer biology/oncology. The core intent is to use nanotechnology to tackle major barriers that limit progress in understanding cancer or improving oncology approaches, while keeping the work firmly rooted in basic-to-translational mechanistic science rather than clinical testing. In practical terms, NCI is looking for projects where nanomaterials or nanodevices are not just tools, but are central to generating new fundamental knowledge about how these technologies behave in biological environments relevant to cancer.

A major emphasis of this NOFO is mechanistic understanding. Competitive projects are expected to dig into how nanomaterials and nanodevices interact with biological systems, including the kinds of processes that determine whether a nanoparticle reaches a target, what happens once it gets there, how it is taken up by cells, how it traffics through tissues, what biological barriers it encounters, and what unintended interactions might occur. The research should be framed in the context of either (1) delivery of nanoparticles and/or nanodevices to intended cancer targets in vivo, or (2) development and characterization of detection and diagnostic nanodevices in vitro. The throughline is that the nanotechnology component must be used to answer fundamental questions and generate generalizable insights, rather than simply demonstrating a working prototype without deeper biological or physical explanation.

The NOFO also draws a clear boundary around scope: clinical translation is explicitly outside the mission of this announcement. This is reinforced by the designation "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," meaning applicants should not propose clinical trials under this mechanism. Instead, the expectation is that funded projects will produce foundational knowledge that can later enable better-informed and more rational development of nanotechnology-based cancer interventions in future, more translational or clinical programs. In other words, the desired output is the kind of rigorous, mechanism-based understanding that reduces guesswork and accelerates later development, not near-term movement into human testing.

Eligibility is broad and includes many typical NIH applicant types across government, academia, nonprofit, and industry. Eligible applicants listed include state, county, city/township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those categories); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. The NOFO also highlights additional eligible applicant categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, Indian/Native American Tribal Governments other than federally recognized entities, and U.S. territories or possessions.

At the same time, there are important restrictions related to foreign participation. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. However, "foreign components" as defined under the NIH Grants Policy Statement are allowed, which generally means a U.S.-based applicant may include certain scientifically justified elements of the work performed outside the U.S., consistent with NIH policy and approvals, without the foreign entity serving as the primary applicant.

From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary grant opportunity under NIH, with activity areas tied to education and health and CFDA numbers 93.394 and 93.395. The opportunity was created on 2024-11-21, and the original closing date is 2026-05-04. The listed award ceiling is $475,000, indicating a maximum funding level as presented in the source data. The overarching message of the NOFO is that NCI wants bold, mechanistically rigorous nanotechnology research that clarifies how nanoscale systems behave in cancer-relevant biological contexts, generating foundational insights that will make later cancer nanotechnology interventions smarter, safer, and more effective, even though clinical translation itself is not supported under this particular announcement.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Innovative Research in Cancer Nanotechnology (IRCN; R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.394, 93.395.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-11-21.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-05-04. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $475,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for PAR 25 106

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