Grant programs
Cancer diagnostic research grants we are pursuing, and the roles open on each
OncoFirm is pursuing federal, foundation and collaborative programs that fund early-stage cancer diagnostic technology. Each proposal needs partners. Here is what the programs are, what they pay for and where you could fit.
Programs in scope
This table describes program types in general terms. Eligibility, budgets and deadlines change with each funding announcement, so we confirm the current terms before any submission.
| Program type | What it typically funds | Partner roles on the proposal |
|---|---|---|
| NIH / NCI Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) | Feasibility (Phase I) and development (Phase II) of a technology at a U.S. small business | Subcontractors, consultants, clinical sites, core laboratories, biostatistics |
| NIH / NCI Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) | The same stages, carried out jointly by a small business and a U.S. research institution | Research-institution partner with a named investigator; shared work plan |
| NCI technology-development programs | Early, higher-risk development of new analytical technologies for cancer research | Co-investigators with assay, instrumentation or cancer biology expertise |
| Private cancer research foundations | Focused projects, often tied to a cancer type, early detection or access to care | Academic or clinical lead applicant, with OncoFirm as collaborator |
| State and regional innovation programs | Matching funds, prototype development, laboratory capacity | Regional universities, incubators and manufacturing partners |
| Academic-industry consortium grants | Multi-site research with shared aims and data | Lead institution, additional sites, data coordinating center |
Reference to a federal agency or funding program does not imply endorsement, funding, sponsorship or affiliation.
How our aims map to these programs
Reviewers fund specific aims, not platforms. Each proposal we prepare draws its aims from the R&D priorities and limits itself to what can be shown in the award period.
A typical first-stage proposal covers assay feasibility for one or two biomarkers, a reader prototype, and a small analytical study with pre-defined success criteria. A second-stage proposal would extend to full analytical validation and a clinical feasibility study, following the clinical development plan.
Official program information is published by the funders themselves: the NCI SBIR Development Center, NIH SEED and Grants.gov.
What a partner is asked to provide
Requirements vary by funder, but most proposals need the following from each collaborating organization.
A defined scope
One or more tasks you will carry out, with deliverables and a timeline that fit the award period.
Named personnel
The investigator or lead who will do the work, with a biosketch in the funder’s format.
A budget and justification
Costs for your scope, prepared under your institution’s rates and policies.
A letter of support
A signed letter confirming your role, resources and commitment to the project.
Facilities and resources
A description of the laboratories, equipment, specimens or data you bring.
Compliance documents
Human-subjects, biosafety and conflict-of-interest materials where your scope requires them.
Suggest a program or bring us into your proposal
We want to hear from program officers, grant offices, investigators and consultants who know of an opportunity where a quantitative point-of-care immunoassay platform is relevant. That includes proposals you are leading that need an industry or technology partner.
Use the grant opportunity form for a specific funding announcement. If you have a research idea but no program in mind yet, send a research collaboration inquiry and we will work out the funding route together. The research and funding overview shows how the pieces fit.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between SBIR and STTR for a partner?
Both fund research at a small business. STTR requires a formal collaboration with a U.S. research institution, which carries a substantial share of the work, so the academic partner’s role is larger and more formal.
How far ahead of a deadline should we talk?
As early as you can. A partner role with a budget and a letter of support takes time to prepare, and longer if human-subjects approvals or a subaward agreement are involved.
Can a consultant or small company take part?
Yes. Consultants and companies can be named on a proposal with a defined scope, budget and letter of commitment.
Know a funding opportunity that fits this work?
Send us the program name and deadline so we can assess together whether a competitive team can be assembled in time.
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.