Microbial-based Cancer Imaging and Therapy - Bugs as Drugs (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

The "Microbial-based Cancer Imaging and Therapy - Bugs as Drugs" scheme is a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) that invites grant applications for research into using bacteria and non-oncolytic viruses for cancer diagnostics and treatment. The aim is to study the complex interactions between microorganisms, tumors, and the immune system.

The projects can concentrate on using microorganisms as anti-tumor agents, initiators of anti-tumor immunity, or as carriers for delivering treatment, imaging, or diagnosis. They also have the potential to complement or synergize with existing cancer treatment tools and methods.

Financial help will be provided for basic mechanistic and preliminary studies in cell cultures and animal models. Applicants are encouraged to analyze both microbial activities and tumor response in relation to microbial-based cancer therapy, including oral cancer treatments, as well as tumor detection, imaging, or diagnostics.

The R21 FOA is designed to stimulate the exploration of projects in their early conceptual stages or feasibility studies, from inception through initial development, in order to display the core functional abilities of the proposed method. These projects can entail substantial risk, but the objective is to generate breakthroughs in microbial-based cancer therapy, imaging, or diagnostic techniques.

This funding opportunity forms part of a wider program of research sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) on microbial-based cancer therapy.