NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) Community Sites (UG1 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA CA 27 007

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA CA 27 007

The NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) Community Sites funding opportunity (RFA-CA-27-007) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Cancer Institute (NCI) cooperative agreement (UG1) aimed at strengthening a nationwide, community-based research network so that cancer research findings are more representative of real-world patients and can be adopted more easily in everyday care. The central idea is to expand where research happens by supporting participation and accrual in diverse community settings, not just large academic medical centers. By doing this, NCORP is intended to improve the generalizability of study results and speed up dissemination of evidence-based approaches across different health systems and patient populations.

This particular NOFO covers the “NCORP Community Sites” component of the broader NCORP program, which is one of three related NCORP funding announcements. The overall NCORP structure includes (1) NCORP Research Bases (UG1, Clinical Trials Required), (2) NCORP Community Sites (UG1, Clinical Trial Not Allowed, covered here), and (3) NCORP Academic Community Sites (UG1, Clinical Trial Not Allowed). Community Sites are positioned as the on-the-ground clinical and patient access points for NCORP and for certain National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN) studies, helping ensure studies include participants from varied geographic areas, care settings, and demographic backgrounds.

NCORP, as described in the opportunity, supports rigorous research focused on cancer control, prevention, screening, treatment and care delivery, and related human subjects studies. The program also emphasizes quality-of-life work that can be embedded within treatment trials, reflecting a broader view of cancer outcomes beyond traditional clinical endpoints. In addition, NCORP is intended to enhance access for patients and providers to treatment and imaging trials conducted under the NCTN, meaning Community Sites can serve as important bridges between national trial infrastructure and community-based oncology practices.

An NCORP Community Site, for purposes of this award, is typically a healthcare system, a consortium of healthcare systems, or a consortium of community hospitals and/or oncology practices, public hospitals, and/or other healthcare centers. The distinguishing feature is the ability to improve how representative study participants are by enrolling and engaging patients in community contexts. In practical terms, this supports research participation among patients who might otherwise be underrepresented in clinical research due to distance from academic centers, socioeconomic barriers, local care patterns, or other factors that limit trial access.

The award mechanism is a cooperative agreement (UG1), which generally indicates substantial federal scientific or programmatic involvement compared with a standard grant. While the notice headline includes “Clinical Trial Not Allowed,” the intent is that awardees under this NOFO are not funded to lead or run independent clinical trials as the primary award activity under NIH’s definition for this mechanism and solicitation. Instead, Community Sites function as network nodes that support accrual and conduct of NCORP and NCTN studies as part of the broader program framework, consistent with how NCORP is organized across Research Bases and participating sites.

Eligibility is broad across many domestic organization types, reflecting the community-based mission. Eligible applicants include various levels of government (state, county, city/township, special districts), independent school districts, public and private institutions of higher education, federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, and other entities as specified in the NOFO. Despite this broad domestic eligibility, foreign participation is explicitly restricted: non-U.S. entities cannot apply, non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as defined by NIH policy) are not allowed.

From the funding metadata provided, the agency is NIH, the opportunity category is discretionary, and the activity category is health, with CFDA/assistance listings 93.393, 93.395, and 93.399. The expected number of awards is 50. The original closing date is listed as 2026-09-18. No award ceiling amount is specified in the provided source text.

Overall, this opportunity is best understood as support for community-based oncology infrastructure and participation within a national research network, with the goal of enrolling more diverse, real-world patient populations into cancer control, prevention, screening, treatment, care delivery, and quality-of-life studies. The Community Site role is to strengthen the reach and representativeness of NCI-supported research by anchoring it in community hospitals, oncology practices, and healthcare systems where most patients actually receive cancer care.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) Community Sites (UG1 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.393, 93.395, 93.399.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2026-05-21.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-09-18. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 50 candidate(s).
• 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 RFA CA 27 007

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