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NIH Exploratory/Developmental Cooperative Agreement Phase I (UH2)

Assay Validation of High Quality Markers for Clinical Studies in Cancer

Funds analytically and clinically validating a cancer biomarker and its assay for detection, diagnosis, prognosis or treatment response.

Between cyclesNational Institutes of HealthUnited States

A biomarker that looks promising in a lab is not the same as an assay a clinical laboratory can actually run and trust.

This notice funds two routes to closing that gap. A biphasic UH2/UH3 award, running up to five years, takes an assay through analytical validation first — up to two years, in the UH2 phase — and then clinical validation for up to three years in the UH3 phase, using well-annotate…

Analytical and clinical validation of molecular, cellular or imaging cancer biomarkers and their assays for detection, diagnosis, prognosis, monitoring, treatment-response prediction, prevention, control, or pharmacodynamic and toxicity measurement, through a biphasic UH2/UH3 award or a monophasic standalone UH3 award for an already analytically validated assay.

CycleiHow often this grant runs — e.g. annually, on a rolling basis, or a one-off call.Multiple per year
Next deadlineiThe next date applications are due. Rolling means you can apply any time.8 Feb 2027
Decision timeiTypical time from the deadline to the funder's decision.26 weeks
Project durationiHow long the funded work is expected to run.—
Award typeiThe form of funding — grant, equity, loan, tax credit, etc.Cooperative agreement
Match fundingiThe share of project costs you must cover yourself. 0% = fully funded.—
Funding pooliThe total budget available across all awards in this round.—

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Last verified: 25 Aug 2026Funder reference: PAR-26-091Source: www.grants.gov