The National Cancer Institute's Cancer Imaging Program announces a public meeting to present an overview and answer questions about the NCI's Request for Applications for the Network for Translational Research (NTR): Optical Imaging in Multimodal Platforms, released October 12, 2007 as RFA-CA-08-002 http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-CA-08-002.html.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is an open competition initiative to continue the NCI efforts to develop and translate cancer-relevant optical imaging technologies as a part of a program for early cancer detection, diagnosis, therapeutic response, drug development, and image-guided therapy. This FOA stems from a prior initiative on optical imaging technology, RFA-CA-03-002, issued August 27, 2002. The current RFA structure and focus shift from the original RFA to the goal of combining one or more advanced optical methods with one or more established or new medical imaging or spectroscopic modalities. The intent is to expand medical imaging capabilities by development of more advanced multimodal imaging platforms. Developmental aspects of any single modality are de-emphasized to shift emphasis toward integration and optimization of multimodal systems and consensus validation and translation toward clinical application. Accordingly, all applications will be considered new applications. The main objective is to accelerate translation of new in vivo multimodal imaging and/or spectroscopic platforms from laboratory and pre-clinical to clinical status. Applications are sought from multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional research teams. Each team awarded cooperative agreement funding will become a Center. All funded Centers will organize into an interactive network called the “Network for Translational Research (NTR): Optical Imaging in Multimodal Platforms.” The NTR objective is to develop, optimize, and validate imaging technology platforms and methods sufficiently to justify entry into single or multi-site clinical trials prefatory to eventual federal approvals and incorporation into clinical practice. Applicants responding to this FOA must identify a specific cancer-relevant clinical goal and propose to develop and validate at least one multimodal imaging platform, as defined in this FOA, to address their chosen clinical goal.

• This FOA will utilize the NIH Specialized Centers Cooperative Agreement U54 award mechanism.

• NCI anticipates making approximately four awards of up to 5 years in duration. The amount of funding set-aside for this program each year is $4.8M, for a total of $24M over the 5-year period.

• Eligible organizations include Public/State Controlled Institutions of Higher Education; Private Institutions of Higher Education; Nonprofit with 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Other than Institution of Higher Education); Nonprofit without 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Other than Institution of Higher Education); Small Business; For-Profit Organization (Other than Small Business); State Government; U.S. Territory or Possession; Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entity (Foreign Organization); Regional Organization; Eligible agencies of the Federal government

• The NCI strongly encourages each applicant team to include researchers from at least two different institutions to ensure a broad range of expertise needed for NTR. Industrial participation—small and/or large businesses—is particularly encouraged.

• Individuals with skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research are invited to work with their institution/organization to develop an application for support. Individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups as well as individuals with disabilities are always encouraged to apply for NIH support.

• Only new applications are allowed.