NCI IMAT — Innovative Molecular Analysis Technologies

NCI IMAT is a long-running program in the Center for Strategic Scientific Initiatives that supports early-stage development of innovative molecular and cellular analysis technologies for cancer research. Established in 1998, it now runs as an R61/R33 program with annual solicitations. The R61 phase supports proof-of-concept work with no preliminary data required and up to $150,000 in direct costs per year for up to three years. The companion R33 supports advanced development and validation at up to $300,000 in direct costs per year for up to three years, and the program also maintains a biospecimen science technologies track with the same basic cadence and caps. IMAT also has an annual PI meeting that helps anchor its long-running technology community. IMAT suits teams that can show a credible technology concept, a cancer-research use case, and a clear path from feasibility to validation. It is between cycles now, so the practical move is to watch for the next RFA and match the proposal tightly to the stage-specific mechanism.

Each grant below is a distinct funding opportunity with its own eligibility, scope, and deliverables.