Applications from all sources, including domestic or foreign, public or private, and non-profit or for-profit, will be considered. Awards under this solicitation may be made only to NIH-eligible applicants. Details regarding specific requirements can be found in the NIH Grants Policy Statement Part II: Terms and Conditions of the NIH Grant Awards. Foreign parties (governments, universities, corporations, or individuals) will be screened against the various US government-restricted party lists as required by NIH guidelines.
When are applications due?
Completed applications must be submitted before May 1, 2026, 11:59 pm ET. CITEC will not consider proposals that are in the process of submission but not yet submitted prior to the cut-off and not stamped as received in time.
What kind of projects will be funded?
The proposed project must focus on a specific need related to screening or early detection of epithelial pre-cancer or early cancer in a community- or home-based setting and must show promise to improve health outcomes. The proposed project may consist of technology development activities including developing and/or refining technology, clinical field testing, establishing test characteristics, obtaining feedback on user steps from end users, evaluating usability, conducting market research on product concepts or prototypes with distributors, implementers, procurement agencies, policy makers or other stakeholders, evaluating test implementation, and assessing feasibility. Relevant technologies that will be considered for innovation awards include,but are not limited to, point-of-care technologies that work with non-invasive or minimally invasive samples, point-of-care technologies for in vitro and in vivo imaging, paper-based point-of-care sensors, and/or mobile-based platforms.
How far along does my idea and/or innovation need to be?
Applicants with a working prototype or an existing assay/device (not necessarily used for the proposed application) and preliminary data to demonstrate its potential for screening or early detection of epithelial cancer in community and/or home settings will have priority.
Minimum preferred maturity levels in the product development cycle domains of GAITS (Guidance and Impact Tracking System, (Cimit, 2023) are:
Technology: proof of concept (3) or preferably proof of feasibility (4);
Regulatory: proof of concept (3) or preferably proof of feasibility (4);
Marketing/Business: proof of concept (3) or preferably proof of feasibility (4);
Clinical: proof of concept (3) or preferably proof of feasibility (4).
What amount of funding is available for projects? Does this include overhead expenses?
A total of $450,000 USD is available for subawards to support improvements to point-of-care technologies for early cancer detection. CITEC may award $75,000 USD subawards with a performance period not to exceed six months or $150,000 USD subawards with a performance period not to exceed 12 months. The subaward USD amount includes overhead expenses.
How many projects will be funded?
CITEC may fund 4-6 subawards for the 2026 application cycle.
Are international parties outside of the United States eligible to participate?
Foreign parties (governments, universities, corporations, or individuals) will be screened against the various US government-restricted party lists as required by NIH guidelines.
When will I be notified if my proposal is selected?
Successful applicants will be notified on July 15, 2026. Funds are anticipated to be awarded starting on December 7, 2026.
What resources will CITEC provide?
CITEC makes adjunct resources available to awardees and other interested point-of-care technology researchers. These include:
NIH resources, such as the I-Corps program
Access to the Point of Care Technology Resource Network (POCTRN)
CITEC Technology Core Support: Access to a network of experts to support the design, fabrication, and rapid optimization of point-of-care imaging technologies, point-of-care molecular sensors, and machine learning based on image analysis strategies appropriate for mobile platforms. Engineering resources to support design, prototyping, technical evaluation, usability assessment, and design for manufacture for a wide variety of point-of-care diagnostic technologies, including point-of-care imaging tools, point-of-care molecular diagnostics, machine‐learning and artificial intelligence‐based algorithm development, and point-of-care mobile technology platforms. In addition, CITEC can provide navigator services to CITEC-funded investigators and develop a tailored package of support for commercialization activities and regulatory support. CITEC partnerships provide a unique mechanism to develop and disseminate technology for use in global markets.
CITEC Clinical Core Support: Access to a network of experts in clinical evaluation and translation of tools for cancer screening and early detection, including study design, IRB protocol development, and access to study sites in community settings. The clinical core can provide clinical input and feedback for technology development, optimization, validation, biostatistical expertise for study design and evaluation, pathology expertise for correlation and evaluation, and simulation center support for ex vivo or simulation models.
