Novel Technology Development Grants from the National Cancer Institute

Tony Dickherber, Ph.D.
Program Director
Innovative Molecular Analysis Technologies (IMAT) Program
Center for Strategic Scientific Initiatives
National Cancer Institute

The Innovative Molecular Analysis Technologies (IMAT) program is one of the National Cancer Institute’s longest-standing programs and specifically targets the need for potentially disruptive technology development to advance cancer research. This program employs unique solicitation and review mechanisms better suited to appreciating the longer term potential of transformative technologies and designed to be more tolerant of the substantial risks often associated with pursuing such research. The program has funding opportunities available through 2017, with an $11M budget specifically reserved for supporting meritorious applications. The degree to which these solicitations and associated review is distinct from other NIH funding opportunities can be surprising for investigators with extensive experience with NIH review practices. The unique aspects of both the solicitation and review of applications to this program will be presented, and the diversity of recently-supported research projects will be described to demonstrate the variety and high level of innovation evident in the IMAT portfolio of supported research. Recent efforts conducted under the White House Cancer Moonshot Initiative identified a variety of technology gaps and priorities for novel technology development which will also be discussed.