Canine Cancer Immunotherapy Network (K9CIN; U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

The National Cancer Institute (NCI), a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has forecasted the Canine Cancer Immunotherapy Network (K9CIN) funding opportunity under the identifier RFA-CA-26-010. This program, structured as a cooperative agreement (U01 mechanism), is aimed at supporting and coordinating clinical trials in canine cancer immunotherapy. These trials serve the dual purpose of delivering potentially life-saving treatments to pet dogs and generating translatable data for human cancer immunotherapy. This funding opportunity reflects the NIH’s broader interest in comparative oncology and leverages the spontaneous development of cancer in pet dogs as a unique model to advance human cancer research. The K9CIN program is designed to continue and expand upon earlier initiatives supported by the NCI, consolidating previous efforts under RFA-CA-21-050 and RFA-CA-21-051. The structure of this funding opportunity supports five cooperative agreements: one to establish a Network Coordinating Center and four for institutions conducting immunotherapy clinical trials in dogs. The Network Coordinating Center will manage collaborative operations across the program and conduct limited research to enhance network functionality. Meanwhile, the four other U01 recipients will carry out clinical trials using canine immunotherapeutic agents, either as monotherapies or in combination with other modalities. These studies will include correlative investigations to deepen the understanding of therapeutic mechanisms and outcomes. A critical rationale for this initiative lies in the translational value of canine cancer studies. Unlike induced tumors in lab animals, cancers in pet dogs develop naturally and mimic human tumor biology and treatment response. Conducting trials in immune-intact dogs enables researchers to examine full immunologic responses to therapy—something preclinical models often fail to capture. Ethical considerations are also embedded in the design: participating dogs receive cutting-edge, potentially beneficial treatments, thus integrating animal welfare with research aims. The funding will facilitate the continued development of canine immunotherapeutics, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors, and associated analytic tools that have become available in recent years due in part to NCI’s support. The K9CIN network aims to keep up momentum by allowing rapid evaluation of novel and repurposed agents, therapeutic combinations, dosing schedules, and sequencing in pet dogs. This approach accelerates drug development timelines and refines treatment strategies relevant to both veterinary and human oncology. Applications may be submitted either for the Coordinating Center or for clinical trial execution, and applicants must choose one focus. The opportunity does not allow for clinical trials in humans and is strictly focused on veterinary applications. Although the full application materials are not yet available, key anticipated dates include an estimated post date of November 25, 2026, and an application due date of January 25, 2027. Awards are expected to be issued by December 1, 2027, with projects commencing immediately thereafter. The program is aligned with the NIH's 2028 fiscal year priorities. No cost sharing or matching is required for this opportunity. Eligibility is broad and includes a wide range of U.S.-based and international entities, such as state and local governments, nonprofit and for-profit organizations, tribal governments and organizations, public and private institutions of higher education, housing authorities, and special district governments. Also eligible are faith-based organizations, regional and community-based organizations, and non-domestic (foreign) institutions, making the program highly inclusive. Applicants seeking more information are encouraged to contact the NCI K9CIN Program via phone at 240-276-7187 or by email at [email protected]. At the time of writing, no PDF materials or formal application documents were available, as this is a forecasted opportunity. Interested institutions should monitor Grants.gov and NCI communications closely for the official release of the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to ensure timely submission and compliance with all requirements.