Single Source: Coordinating Center (CC) for the Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) Consortium (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), specifically through its National Cancer Institute (NCI), has released a forecasted Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) identified as PAR-27-009. This initiative is a continuation of the Coordinating Center (CC) for the Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) Consortium. The program is administered as a cooperative agreement under the U24 activity code, and no clinical trials are permitted under this opportunity. This grant is a single-source opportunity, meaning that NIH anticipates inviting only a select organization(s) to apply based on their prior involvement or specific qualifications. The funding initiative aligns with the directives of the Recalcitrant Cancer Research Act, which prioritizes research into particularly lethal or difficult-to-treat cancers like SCLC. The core objective of this NOFO is to support and sustain a central Coordinating Center that facilitates collaboration, data management, communication, and scientific support among research institutions investigating SCLC. Historically, the CC has been housed at Sloan Kettering in collaboration with other institutions and has functioned as a vital hub for organizing consortium meetings, maintaining an expansive repository of omics data and preclinical models, and advancing research dissemination. The center also plays a pivotal role in supporting early-career investigators and ensuring equitable access to shared resources across the SCLC research community. The scope of the grant covers multiple infrastructure and scientific support functions including centralized databases, tissue and biospecimen banking, statistical and bioinformatics support, as well as coordination of in vivo and in vitro model systems. The CC also manages a virtual biospecimen resource and a website, ensuring efficient communication and resource sharing among consortium members and the broader cancer research community. These shared services aim to accelerate research into SCLC diagnosis, prevention, treatment development, biomarker discovery, and understanding resistance mechanisms. No cost-sharing or matching funds are required to apply for this opportunity, simplifying the application process for eligible entities. The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, indicating substantial programmatic involvement by NCI staff in the conduct and direction of the funded project. Although specific award amounts and total funding are not listed in the forecast, this opportunity continues the structure and scale of the existing U24 CC funding mechanism, typically involving multi-million dollar funding levels over five-year project periods. The eligibility criteria are inclusive and encompass a wide range of U.S.-based and non-domestic entities. These include state and local governments, tribal organizations (both federally recognized and other), nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status, public and private institutions of higher education, for-profit organizations including small businesses, and various regional, community-based, and faith-based organizations. Also eligible are agencies of the federal government and U.S. territories and possessions. This expansive eligibility ensures that the most qualified and capable institution can be selected to continue managing this critical coordination infrastructure. As a forecasted opportunity, the anticipated release date of the full NOFO is November 25, 2026, with applications due by January 25, 2027. Awards are expected to be made by December 1, 2027, which will also serve as the anticipated project start date. Applicants should monitor Grants.gov or NIH’s funding portal for the full announcement and instructions. The point of contact for questions related to this opportunity is accessible via email at [email protected] or by phone at 240-276-5681.