Funding and partnerships
Cancer grants collaboration: partner roles and how agreements work
A competitive proposal names the people who will do the work. These are the roles we are filling, what each involves and how the relationship is structured.
Open partner roles
One organization can hold more than one role. If yours is not listed, describe it in an inquiry.
Research-institution partner
A university or research institute that shares the work plan on a technology-transfer award, with a named investigator leading the institution’s aims.
Co-investigator
An academic or clinical scientist who leads part of the research, most often biomarker selection, assay science or clinical study design.
Clinical site
A cancer center, hospital or clinic that enrolls participants or supplies specimens under an approved protocol.
Biobank or specimen provider
A repository with consented, annotated samples and the documentation to support their research use.
Biostatistician
Study design, sample-size justification, analysis plans, and independent review of model validation.
Assay and reagent partner
A company or laboratory supplying antibodies, labels, membranes or methods, or running defined development tasks.
Engineering and software partner
Optics, electronics, firmware, data systems or machine-learning groups contributing to reader and analysis work.
Regulatory and quality advisor
Specialists in in vitro diagnostic regulation, design and development controls and quality systems.
Funding partner
Foundations and programs that support non-dilutive research, alone or as matching funds alongside a federal award.
How collaborations are structured
The paperwork follows the funder’s rules and each institution’s policies. In outline:
| Arrangement | When it is used | What it sets out |
|---|---|---|
| Confidentiality agreement | Before technical details are exchanged | What each side may disclose and how it is protected |
| Letter of support or intent | At proposal stage | Your role, resources and commitment if the award is made |
| Subaward or subcontract | After an award, when you carry out funded work | Scope, budget, reporting, compliance and payment |
| Consulting agreement | For individual advisors | Scope of advice, time commitment and fees |
| Collaboration or sponsored research agreement | For joint work outside a specific grant | Work plan, IP, publication and data terms |
| Material transfer or data use agreement | When specimens, reagents or data move between parties | Permitted uses, ownership and return or destruction |
Principles for collaboration
- IP is settled first. Background IP stays with its owner. Rights in results are agreed before work starts. See how we approach intellectual property in collaborations.
- Publication is expected. Academic partners need to publish, and proposals are stronger for it. Review periods are defined in the agreement.
- Roles are budgeted. The intention is that each partner’s work is costed into the proposal at its own rates.
- Human-subjects work follows the rules. No specimen or data work begins without the approvals it needs. The detail is in the clinical development plan.
For funders and program staff
If you run a program that supports early detection, diagnostic technology or access to cancer care, we would welcome a conversation about fit before submitting. The grant opportunity form reaches the people preparing our proposals, and the research and funding overview summarizes the program.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a cost to join a proposal?
No fee is charged. The intention is that each partner’s work is budgeted into the proposal.
Will my institution's indirect cost rate be honored?
Budgets are prepared under each partner’s own negotiated rates and policies, within the limits the funder sets.
Who owns the data generated by my site?
This is set out in the agreement before work starts, following the funder’s rules and each institution’s policies.
Can we collaborate without a grant?
Yes, in principle. Sponsored research and co-development can be agreed directly where both sides see value. Technology evaluation becomes possible as prototypes mature.
Ready to talk about a role?
The inquiry form asks about your capabilities, the aim you are interested in and any funding opportunity you have in mind.
Research and regulatory status
OncoFirm™ technologies described on this site are in research and development. Their performance characteristics have not been established, and no OncoFirm product has been cleared, approved or authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Nothing here is medical advice. Reference to a federal agency or funding program does not imply endorsement, funding, sponsorship or affiliation.