Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 23 259

The Academic-Industrial Partnerships (AIP) to Translate and Validate In Vivo Imaging Systems funding opportunity (PAR-23-259) is a National Institutes of Health grant led by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) that is meant to push promising imaging and related technologies out of the lab and into practical, validated tools that can be used in real biomedical and clinical research settings. The emphasis is on translation and validation of in vivo imaging systems, meaning technologies intended to image living systems (from small animal models to humans, depending on the project) and to demonstrate that these systems are reliable, useful, and fit for purpose. While the program is anchored in cancer research priorities, it is also framed broadly enough to support work that addresses other diseases, as long as the project is aimed at solving meaningful problems in biology and medicine through imaging, data science, and/or spectroscopy.

The core goal of the NOFO is to stimulate partnerships between academia and industry so that scientific discoveries and engineering advances can be developed into methods or tools that tackle contemporary challenges in understanding fundamental biology, assessing risk of disease development, improving diagnosis, guiding treatment, and tracking disease status over time. In practical terms, that can include imaging hardware, imaging agents, acquisition strategies, analysis software, AI or data-science pipelines tied to imaging, spectroscopic approaches that complement imaging, and end-to-end systems that integrate multiple components. The intent is not just to invent something new, but to move it forward toward real-world use by demonstrating performance, reproducibility, and utility in the contexts that matter (for example, showing that an imaging system can consistently measure a biomarker or phenotype that is relevant to cancer detection, therapy response, or disease monitoring).

This is an R01 mechanism, which generally supports substantial, multi-year research projects, and the listing notes that clinical trials are optional, meaning applicants may propose a project that includes a clinical trial if it is appropriate for validating the imaging system, but they are not required to do so. The award ceiling is listed as $500,000 (as provided in the source data), which signals a defined upper bound for support under this opportunity. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding, uses the grant instrument type, and falls under education and health activity categories, with CFDA numbers 93.394 and 93.395 associated with NCI programs.

Eligibility is intentionally broad to encourage the kinds of cross-sector teams needed for translational imaging work. Eligible applicants include many types of government entities (state, county, city/township, and special district governments), independent school districts, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, tribal organizations that are not federally recognized, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (when not higher-education institutions), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses. The NOFO also explicitly calls out additional eligible applicant categories, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and even non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations). That wide net reflects the program’s emphasis on building strong academic-industrial collaborations and ensuring that many institutional types can participate in technology translation and validation efforts.

From a timing standpoint, the source information lists an original closing date of 2027-01-07, and a creation date of 2023-08-08, indicating a multi-year window during which applications may be accepted according to the NOFO’s submission schedule. The number of expected awards is not specified in the provided data, which typically means the actual number will depend on application volume, quality, and available funds in each cycle.

Overall, this opportunity is best understood as support for teams that can show a credible path from an imaging-related innovation to a validated system that researchers or clinicians can trust, adopt, and use to answer pressing questions in cancer and disease biology. The academic-industrial partnership aspect matters because it aligns discovery-driven research with practical development expertise, such as engineering for robustness, manufacturability, workflow integration, usability, regulatory or quality considerations where relevant, and real-world validation studies that demonstrate the system’s value beyond a proof of concept.

  • The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Academic-Industrial Partnerships (AIP) to Translate and Validate In Vivo Imaging Systems (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.394, 93.395.
  • This funding opportunity was created on 2023-08-08.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by 2027-01-07.
  • Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
  • Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.
Apply for PAR 23 259

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Academic-Industrial Partnerships (AIP) to Translate and Validate In Vivo Imaging Systems opportunity (PAR-23-259)?

PAR-23-259 is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity led by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). It supports academic-industrial partnerships working to translate and validate in vivo imaging systems so they can be used as practical, reliable tools in real biomedical and clinical research settings.

What is the main purpose of this program?

The core purpose is to move promising imaging and related technologies beyond the lab toward real-world use by demonstrating performance, reproducibility, and utility. The program emphasizes validation that shows an imaging system is fit for purpose in contexts that matter to biomedical research and, where appropriate, clinical research.

What does "translate and validate" mean in the context of in vivo imaging systems?

"Translate" refers to advancing an imaging-related innovation toward practical use (for example, making it robust enough for routine studies). "Validate" means generating evidence that the system works reliably and consistently, and that it produces measurements or outputs that are useful for real research questions (such as measuring a biomarker or phenotype relevant to disease).

What does "in vivo imaging" mean here?

In vivo imaging refers to technologies intended to image living systems. Depending on the project, this could include small animal models and may extend to humans if the proposed work and validation context calls for it.

Is this opportunity only for cancer research?

The program is anchored in cancer research priorities through NCI leadership, but it is described broadly enough to support work addressing other diseases, as long as the project is aimed at solving meaningful problems in biology and medicine using imaging, data science, and/or spectroscopy.

What kinds of projects are a good fit for this NOFO?

Projects that are a good fit are those that can credibly move an imaging-related technology toward validated, real-world use. This includes demonstrating that the system is reliable, reproducible, and useful for specific biomedical or clinical research applications (for example, diagnosis support, treatment guidance, or disease monitoring in a research context).

What types of technologies are included under this program?

The description includes a wide range of technology types, such as imaging hardware, imaging agents, acquisition strategies, analysis software, AI or data-science pipelines tied to imaging, spectroscopic approaches that complement imaging, and integrated end-to-end systems combining multiple components.

Does the program support software, AI, or data science work related to imaging?

Yes. The opportunity explicitly includes analysis software and AI/data-science pipelines tied to imaging, as well as end-to-end systems that integrate multiple components.

Does the program include spectroscopy approaches, or only imaging?

It includes spectroscopic approaches that complement imaging, in addition to imaging systems themselves.

Is this opportunity focused on inventing brand-new technology, or improving and validating existing technology?

The stated intent is not only to invent something new, but to move promising technologies forward toward real-world use. That emphasis points strongly toward translation and validation work, including demonstrating reproducible performance and utility beyond proof of concept.

What is the funding mechanism used for this opportunity?

This opportunity uses the NIH R01 mechanism, which generally supports substantial, multi-year research projects.

Are clinical trials required under this opportunity?

No. Clinical trials are optional. Applicants may propose a project that includes a clinical trial if it is appropriate for validating the imaging system, but a clinical trial is not required.

What is the maximum award amount (ceiling) listed for this opportunity?

The award ceiling listed in the provided information is $500,000.

What type of funding is this categorized as?

It is categorized as discretionary funding and uses a grant instrument type.

What activity categories are associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is listed under education and health activity categories.

Which agency leads this funding opportunity?

The funding opportunity is an NIH grant led by the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

What CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?

The information provided lists CFDA numbers 93.394 and 93.395, which are associated with NCI programs.

Why does this NOFO emphasize academic-industrial partnerships?

The program is designed to stimulate partnerships between academia and industry so that scientific and engineering advances can be developed into methods or tools that address contemporary biomedical challenges. The partnership model is intended to align discovery-driven innovation with practical development expertise needed for robust, validated tools.

What kinds of "real-world" considerations does the partnership model help address?

The description highlights considerations such as robustness, manufacturability, workflow integration, usability, and (where relevant) regulatory or quality considerations, alongside real-world validation studies demonstrating value beyond proof of concept.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is intentionally broad. Eligible applicants include state, county, city/township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (when not higher-education institutions); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses.

Are minority-serving institutions and community-based organizations eligible?

Yes. The NOFO explicitly calls out additional eligible applicant categories including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, Hispanic-serving institutions, HBCUs, TCCUs, and faith-based or community-based organizations.

Are federal agencies eligible to apply?

Yes. Eligible applicants explicitly include eligible federal agencies.

Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible to apply?

Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are explicitly included among eligible applicant categories.

Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible to apply?

Yes. The eligibility list explicitly includes non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations).

When was this funding opportunity created?

The provided information lists a creation date of 2023-08-08.

What is the closing date listed in the provided information?

The source information lists an original closing date of 2027-01-07.

Does the opportunity have a multi-year application window?

Yes. The creation and closing dates provided (2023-08-08 through 2027-01-07) indicate a multi-year window during which applications may be accepted according to the NOFO's submission schedule.

How many awards will be made?

The number of expected awards is not specified in the provided information. In practice, that typically means awards may depend on application volume, application quality, and funds available in each cycle.

What kinds of outcomes is NCI/NIH looking for from funded projects?

The program is looking for validated imaging systems and related tools that researchers or clinicians can trust and adopt in real research settings. A central theme is demonstrating that the system is reliable and useful for important biomedical questions, such as understanding biology, assessing disease risk, improving diagnosis, guiding treatment, or tracking disease status over time.

What are examples of validation goals mentioned in the description?

The description gives an example of showing that an imaging system can consistently measure a biomarker or phenotype relevant to cancer detection, therapy response, or disease monitoring.

What is the overall "best fit" profile for an applicant team?

Based on the description, the best fit is a cross-sector team that can show a credible path from an imaging-related innovation to a validated system ready for practical use, supported by the combined strengths of academic research and industrial development capabilities.

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