Immuno-Oncology Translation Network (IOTN): Cancer Immunoprevention Research Projects (UG3/UH3) | RFA CA 19 012

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA CA 19 012

The Immuno-Oncology Translation Network (IOTN): Cancer Immunoprevention Research Projects (UG3/UH3) opportunity (RFA-CA-19-012) is a National Institutes of Health cooperative agreement tied to the Beau Biden Cancer Moonshot initiative, with the broader aim of speeding up cancer research that can move quickly from discovery to practical clinical impact. The program is built around expanding the Immuno-Oncology Translational Network into an integrated set of multidisciplinary, highly collaborative teams. In plain terms, NIH is looking to fund projects that bring together complementary expertise (for example, immunology, cancer biology, genetics, bioinformatics, translational science, and preclinical modeling) to push immuno-oncology ideas forward in a coordinated, networked way rather than as isolated single-lab efforts.

Scientifically, the focus is on translational research into both innate and adaptive immune mechanisms that influence how tumors start and how they progress. A key emphasis is immunoprevention, meaning strategies that can prevent cancer from developing or progressing by shaping immune responses, alongside immunotherapy approaches that can treat or control disease once it is underway. The FOA explicitly encourages evaluation of new or improved immunopreventive and immunotherapeutic strategies, including combination approaches that pair immune-based interventions with standard treatments or other therapies. While the exact therapeutic modality is not limited in the text provided, the intent is clearly to support work where an immune target or approach is pursued with a realistic line of sight to testing in people, after credible preclinical evidence is generated.

The studies supported under this announcement are expected to be largely preclinical, but not purely exploratory or disconnected from clinical reality. NIH signals that projects should use clinically relevant models and clinically meaningful endpoints, and they should be designed with the potential for rapid translation into early-phase clinical applications. That typically implies careful attention to things like mechanism-of-action evidence, biomarkers or immune correlates that could be tracked in humans later, dosing or regimen rationale, safety considerations that can be assessed preclinically, and models that better resemble human disease biology than simple proof-of-concept systems. The overall bar is not just novelty, but readiness to move along a translational path.

The funding structure is a phased UG3/UH3 model, and applicants are required to submit a single application that covers both phases together. The UG3 phase supports exploratory work aimed at immune target identification and validation, essentially the work needed to justify a specific intervention strategy and to de-risk the concept before more resource-intensive development. Progression is milestone-driven: investigators must meet defined milestones (the text references “UH2 milestones” as the gate for transition; the core idea is that there are concrete, pre-specified benchmarks) before the project can move into the UH3 implementation phase. Transition to UH3 is not automatic; it occurs after an administrative review of whether the milestones were achieved. If the milestones are met, the UH3 phase can proceed with development and preclinical testing of specific interventions, pushing the project closer to the point where an early-phase clinical study could be justified.

Administratively, this opportunity is categorized as a discretionary program and uses a cooperative agreement funding instrument, which generally means NIH expects substantial programmatic involvement compared with a standard grant. In practice, cooperative agreements often come with coordination expectations, shared network activities, and closer interaction with NIH staff to keep projects aligned with network goals, timelines, and deliverables. The activity category listed is Education, Environment, Health, and multiple CFDA numbers are associated with it (93.113, 93.121, 93.353, 93.393, 93.853), reflecting NIH program structures that can support cancer and related biomedical research.

Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations and government entities, including state, county, and local governments; public and private institutions of higher education; independent school districts; special district governments; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; certain tribal organizations; public housing/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses as well as small businesses); and other eligible entities as specified. The FOA also highlights additional eligible institution types often emphasized in federal funding priorities, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISI institutions, Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, and U.S. territories or possessions. At the same time, it draws a clear boundary on foreign eligibility: non-U.S. entities (foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. However, foreign components are allowed as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, meaning a U.S. applicant may, under NIH rules, include certain foreign collaborations or elements if appropriately justified and compliant.

From the source details provided, the original closing date for applications was February 11, 2019, and the FOA was created October 31, 2018. The listed award ceiling is $500,000, and the “expected awards” field is not specified in the provided data. Overall, the opportunity is designed for teams that can start with strong immune target discovery and validation work, hit rigorous go/no-go milestones, and then advance to focused development and preclinical testing of an immunopreventive or immunotherapeutic intervention with a realistic pathway toward early clinical translation within the broader IOTN network structure.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, environment, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Immuno-Oncology Translation Network (IOTN): Cancer Immunoprevention Research Projects (UG3/UH3)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.113, 93.121, 93.353, 93.393, 93.853.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2018-10-31.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-02-11. (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 $500,000.00 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 RFA CA 19 012

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