The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for a limited competition under the National Cancer Institute (NCI) National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN) to support Network Group Statistics and Data Management Centers (SDMCs). The purpose of this NOFO (RFA-CA-24-031) is to maintain these centers, which provide statistical expertise and manage data for the design and conduct of clinical trials within the NCTN. These centers will work in conjunction with Network Group Operations Centers to manage late-phase, multi-center oncology clinical trials aimed at advancing cancer treatment through precision medicine approaches.

Eligible applicants are limited to current awardees under the previous RFA-CA-17-057, ensuring continuity in the expertise and resources available to NCTN. The funding will cover statistical analysis, data management, trial monitoring, and efforts to ensure robust and timely data collection. The initiative is focused on large-scale phase 2 and phase 3 clinical trials, and trials requiring significant infrastructure for patient screening and monitoring, such as precision medicine and immunotherapy trials. The SDMCs also play a critical role in translational research and collaborative efforts within the NCI’s broader research networks.

The total available funding for FY 2026 is anticipated to be $47 million, which will support approximately five awards. The project period may last up to six years, and while application budgets are not capped, they must reflect the actual needs of the proposed project. The NOFO highlights the critical role of SDMCs in ensuring compliance with regulatory standards, safeguarding patient data, and providing high-quality statistical and data management services to support trial operations.

Applications are due by February 24, 2025, and applicants must submit their proposals via NIH ASSIST or an institutional system-to-system solution through Grants.gov. This NOFO requires substantial federal involvement in project activities, as outlined in the cooperative agreement model. Additionally, applicants must meet all eligibility and registration requirements, including maintaining active registrations in the System for Award Management (SAM) and eRA Commons. Only one application per institution is allowed.

Applications will be evaluated based on their significance, investigator qualifications, innovation, approach, and the environment in which the project will be conducted. Scoring will be based on the overall impact of the proposal in addressing the scientific and logistical challenges of managing multi-institutional clinical trials, ensuring data quality, and supporting the NCTN’s mission to advance cancer research through collaborative, large-scale clinical trials.