Collaborative Human Tissue Network (CHTN) (UM1 Clinical Trials Not Allowed) | RFA CA 18 025

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA CA 18 025

The Collaborative Human Tissue Network (CHTN) (UM1 Clinical Trials Not Allowed), Funding Opportunity Number RFA-CA-18-025, is a National Cancer Institute (NCI) cooperative agreement meant to sustain and operate a major biospecimen resource that supports basic and early translational cancer research and the development of research assays. The core idea behind CHTN is practical and investigator-driven: instead of relying mainly on pre-existing collections, the network emphasizes prospective collection and distribution of human tissues and fluids based on the specific, up-front needs defined by requesting researchers. In other words, the program is designed to help investigators get the right specimens, collected in the right way, at the right time, so the samples are fit for modern research questions that often depend heavily on specimen quality, handling conditions, and detailed context.

The tissues and related materials supported under this program span a wide range of clinical states and research uses. Requested specimens can include pre-cancerous lesions, malignant cancers, benign neoplastic tissues, and samples tied to non-neoplastic diseases, along with “uninvolved” tissues (often described as normal adjacent tissue) that are essential for comparison and interpretation. The goal is not simply to bank tissue, but to deliver high-quality, well-handled biospecimens that can be used confidently in studies that explore cancer biology, early translational hypotheses, biomarker and assay development, and other pre-clinical or non-trial activities.

Applicants are expected to contribute to CHTN’s mission in several concrete ways. First, they must be able to procure high-quality tissues and fluids prospectively and in an investigator-defined manner, which implies the ability to respond to customized requests (for example, particular tissue types, collection conditions, processing timelines, preservation methods, or associated clinical annotations) across patients in North America and potentially beyond, while still operating within the program’s eligibility constraints. Second, the funded teams are expected to provide hands-on support to investigators to help them clarify and meet specimen requirements, which typically includes consultation about feasibility, quantities, processing methods, and realistic turnaround times. Third, awardees are expected to help develop, document, and share high-quality operational practices for biospecimen repositories, contributing to the broader field’s understanding of what works for consistent, reproducible specimen collection, handling, storage, and distribution. Fourth, the program includes an education and outreach expectation: awardees should help inform and educate the research and clinical communities about why high-quality human tissue resources matter and how access to them accelerates medical research.

A key structural element of this FOA is that applicants must position themselves as either the adult biospecimen division or the pediatric specimen division, depending on their capabilities and institutional profile. That said, the FOA allows flexibility: an adult division that is capable of handling pediatric collections may also contribute pediatric samples for networked requests. This suggests NCI is balancing clear roles with practical coverage so that the network can meet real-world investigator demand, including less common specimen types and age groups.

The award mechanism is a cooperative agreement (UM1), which typically means NCI anticipates substantial programmatic involvement and coordination between the awardees and the agency, reflecting that CHTN is a networked national resource rather than a standalone research project. The FOA explicitly states “Clinical Trials Not Allowed,” signaling that the supported work is centered on biospecimen resource operations and related support activities rather than interventional clinical research.

Eligibility is broad across many U.S.-based organization types, reflecting the infrastructure-heavy nature of biospecimen procurement and distribution and the desire to engage diverse institutions. Eligible applicants include various levels of government (state, county, city/township, special districts), public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, independent school districts, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, other tribal organizations, nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status, for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses. The FOA also highlights interest in applications from a wide range of institution types and community-serving organizations, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, faith-based or community-based organizations, Hispanic-serving institutions, HBCUs, TCCUs, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions. At the same time, it draws clear boundaries around foreign involvement: non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations and foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as defined by NIH policy) are not allowed. These restrictions keep the operational and governance footprint anchored within eligible U.S. organizational structures.

From the funding details provided, the award ceiling is listed as $800,000, and the FOA was created on 2018-06-22 with an original closing date of 2018-08-28. The CFDA numbers associated with the opportunity are 93.393 and 93.396, placing it within NIH/NCI assistance listings tied to cancer-related programs. Overall, this opportunity is best understood as support for organizations that can run high-performing, responsive tissue procurement and distribution operations, work collaboratively within a national network model, and strengthen the broader research ecosystem by improving and sharing best practices in biospecimen science and repository operations.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Collaborative Human Tissue Network (CHTN) (UM1 Clinical Trials 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, 93.396.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2018-06-22.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-08-28. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $800,000.00 in funding.
• 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 18 025

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: