Funding Opportunities: AI in Cancer Research
NCI funds and supports extramural research to advance the use of AI in cancer research. Find out more about funding opportunities and other ways to engage in advancing AI for cancer research.
AI research is funded through a wide variety of grant and contract programs across NCI, where the majority of cancer research is supported through broad-based, investigator-initiated grant opportunities. The following programs have a strong emphasis on AI:
Specific open Funding Opportunities and Requests for Information are listed in the table below.
| Title | Announcement Number | Opening Date | Expiration Date | Activity Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Development of Innovative Informatics Methods and Algorithms for Cancer Research and Management (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA-CA-24-016 | May 11, 2024 | Nov. 16, 2024 | R21 |
| Early-Stage Development of Informatics Technologies for Cancer Research and Management (U01 Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA-CA-24-017 | May 11, 2024 | Nov. 16, 2024 | U01 |
| Advanced Development of Informatics Technologies for Cancer Research and Management (U24 Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA-CA-24-018 | May 11, 2024 | Nov. 16, 2024 | U24 |
| Sustained Support for Informatics Technologies for Cancer Research and Management (U24 Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA-CA-24-019 | May 11, 2024 | Nov. 16, 2024 | U24 |
| Smart Health and Biomedical Research in the Era of Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Data Science (SCH) | NSF 23-614 | October 4, 2025 | (See NOFO) | |
| Academic-Industrial Partnerships for Translation of Technologies for Diagnosis and Treatment (R01—Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR-21-166 | May 5, 2021 | January 8, 2025 | R01 |
| Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Administrative Supplement for Research and Capacity Building Efforts Related to Bioethical Issues (Admin Supp Clinical Trial Optional) | NOT-OD-25-015 | November 29, 2024 | January 24, 2025 | (See NOFO) |
| Academic-Industrial Partnerships (AIP) to Translate and Validate In Vivo Imaging Systems (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR-23-259 | Sep 5, 2023 | Jan 8, 2027 | R01 |
| Exploratory/Developmental Bioengineering Research Grants (EBRG) (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR-22-090 | Jan 16, 2022 | Jan 8, 2025 | R21 |
| Exploratory/Developmental Bioengineering Research Grants (EBRG) (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR-22-091 | Jan 16, 2022 | Jan 8, 2025 | R21 |
| Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Validation of Digital Health and Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning Tools for Improved Assessment in Biomedical and Behavioral Research | NOT-CA-24-031 | Feb 13, 2024 | Jul 6, 2025 | (See NOSI) |
| Bioengineering Research Grants (BRG) (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR-22-242 | Oct 1, 2022 | Sep 8, 2025 | R01 |
| Bioengineering Research Grants (BRG) (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR-22-243 | Oct 1, 2022 | Sep 8, 2025 | R01 |
| Imaging, Biomarkers and Digital Pathomics for the Early Detection of Premetastatic Cancer and Precancerous Lesions Associated with Lethal Phenotypes (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR-22-131 | Sep 5, 2022 | Sep 8, 2025 | R01 |