Utilizing the PLCO Biospecimens Resource to Bridge Gaps in Cancer Etiology and Early Detection Research (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Last verified by NonDilute: 2026-04-29. Official notice and agency instructions control.
Access a rare prospective biorepository with 25+ years of pre-diagnostic data to discover or validate cancer early-detection biomarkers.
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What this is
The National Cancer Institute is funding research that leverages the unique PLCO (Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer) Screening Trial biorepository, which contains prospectively collected serial blood samples from screened participants and one-time buccal cell collections from controls, paired with demographic, diet, lifestyle, and clinical data. Eligible projects include biochemical and genetic analyses of cancer risk and discovery/validation of early detection biomarkers. All proposed research must directly use PLCO biospecimens; standalone projects without biospecimen utilization will not be funded. Award period runs through October 2027.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants include universities, nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), small businesses, for-profit organizations, government agencies, tribal organizations, and other institutional entities. Solo researchers and independent researchers may apply through eligible institutional sponsors.
Eligible applicant types
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- City or township governments
- Private institutions of higher education
- Independent school districts
- Small businesses
- State governments
- Special district governments
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
- Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- For profit organizations other than small businesses
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- County governments
- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
Full description — from the agency
This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) encourages the submission of applications that propose to advance research in cancer etiology and early detection biomarkers, utilizing the advantages of the unique biorepository resources of the NCI-sponsored Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer (PLCO) Screening Trial. The PLCO Biorepository offers high-quality, prospectively collected, serial pre-diagnostic blood samples from the PLCO screened arm participants, and a onetime collection of buccal cells from the control arm participants. Available data associated with the biospecimens includes demographic, diet, lifestyle, smoking, screening results, and clinical data. This FOA supports a wide range of cancer research including, but not limited to, biochemical and genetic analyses of cancer risk, as well as discovery and validation of early detection biomarkers. The proposed research project must involve use of PLCO biospecimens; additionally, it should also take advantage of the unique characteristics of the PLCO biospecimens. Research projects that do not involve the use of PLCO biospecimens will not be supported under this FOA.
Topics: cancer biomarkers · biorepository research · early detection · cancer etiology · PLCO screening trial · pre-diagnostic biospecimens
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.