Molecular Imaging of Inflammation in Cancer (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Last verified by NonDilute: 2026-04-29. Official notice and agency instructions control.
If you're developing imaging technology to visualize tumor inflammation in living systems and can partner with cancer biologists, NIH will fund you up to $500K for 4 years.
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What this is
This NIH R01 opportunity targets researchers developing advanced molecular imaging approaches (PET, optical, ultrasound, MRI, etc.) to study inflammation's role in cancer in vivo. The initiative emphasizes moving beyond lab-dish studies to real-time, dynamic imaging of inflammatory cells and molecular changes in tumors, especially in response to treatment. Strong cross-disciplinary partnerships between cancer biologists and imaging scientists are expected. Clinical trials are explicitly not allowed; focus is on preclinical and translational research.
Who can apply
U.S.-based nonprofits (501c3 and non-501c3), academic institutions, small businesses, state/local governments, tribal organizations, and some for-profits can apply. Solo founders should typically partner with or embed in an eligible institution. Clinical trials are not permitted under this FOA.
Eligible applicant types
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
- Special district governments
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Independent school districts
- County governments
- For profit organizations other than small businesses
- City or township governments
- Small businesses
- Private institutions of higher education
- State governments
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
Full description — from the agency
The purpose of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is to invite research grant applications (R01) for the development and use of current and emerging molecular imaging methods to gain fundamental insights into cancer inflammation in vivo. The motivation for this initiative is that much of current imaging research into the role of inflammation in cancer is largely based on in vitro and ex vivo methods with limited utilization of imaging approaches that could lead to significant new insights relevant to dynamic cancer and inflammation interactions. Utilization of molecular imaging probes in pre-clinical and clinical investigations for precise temporal resolution at the molecular and cellular level are valuable approaches for identification and characterization of in vivo inflammatory cellular physiology in cancers and of molecular changes in response to treatment. This FOA encourages applications that focus on developing integrated imaging approaches to interrogate the role of inflammation in cancer through strong cross-field collaboration between cancer basic science researchers and imaging scientists. These collaborations are expected to advance science and understanding of cancer inflammation interactions.
Topics: molecular imaging cancer · inflammation imaging · in vivo imaging · cancer immunology · biomedical imaging · translational oncology
Public-source funding discovery only. This summary is generated from public agency data and may be incomplete or stale. NonDilute is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of any government agency. Official notices and agency instructions control. NonDilute does not determine eligibility, provide grant-writing advice, or guarantee funding.