Limited Competition: Biospecimen Banks to support NCI National Clinical Trials Network Biospecimen Banks (NCTN Biobanks) and the NCI Early-Phase and Experimental Clinical Trials Biospecimen Bank (EET Biobank) (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

This limited‑competition NIH Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) seeks cooperative‑agreement (U24) applications from existing NCTN or EET biobank recipients to continue operating two national biospecimen banking resources. The NCTN Biobanks support the National Clinical Trials Network and Community Oncology Research Program, providing high‑quality, clinically annotated specimens for biomarker development, validation, and secondary research. The EET Biobank supports early‑phase and experimental therapeutic trials (ETCTN) by supplying specimens for biomarker assay development, pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic studies, and translational research. Six awards are anticipated, with total estimated funding of ≈ $19 million. Applications are peer‑reviewed; only meritorious proposals will be funded. • Funding mechanism: U24 Cooperative Agreement (grant) • Eligible applicants: Institutions that already operate an NCTN biobank (under RFA‑CA‑20‑002) or an EET biobank (under RFA‑CA‑20‑003) • Total estimated funding: $19 M for up to 6 awards (≈ $3 M per award) • Application window: Jan 11 – Feb 11 2027 (submission via ASSIST/eRA Commons) • Required deliverables: Ongoing collection, processing, storage, distribution of annotated biospecimens; data‑sharing plan; annual RPPR reporting • No foreign entities or non‑U.S. components permitted • Award start expected Apr 1 2027; duration not explicitly defined (multi‑year grant typical)