Accelerating Colorectal Cancer Screening and follow-up through Implementation Science (ACCSIS): Coordinating Center (U24) | RFA CA 17 039

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA CA 17 039

The Accelerating Colorectal Cancer Screening and follow-up through Implementation Science (ACCSIS): Coordinating Center (U24) opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-CA-17-039) is a National Institutes of Health cooperative agreement tied to the Beau Biden Cancer Moonshot initiative, which was created to speed up progress in cancer research and translate proven approaches into real-world impact. This specific announcement focuses on implementation science, meaning it is less about discovering new screening tests and more about figuring out how to reliably get evidence-based colorectal cancer screening and the necessary follow-up steps into routine practice, especially in communities where screening rates lag behind national benchmarks. The work is aligned with a scientific priority identified by the Cancer Moonshot Blue Ribbon Panel under the theme of prevention and screening implementation of evidence-based approaches.

The core purpose is to improve colorectal cancer screening, follow-up after abnormal results, and referral-to-care for populations that are not being reached effectively by current systems. In practical terms, the FOA targets the well-known gaps that often occur along the screening-to-treatment pathway: people not getting screened on time, people not completing diagnostic follow-up (for example, colonoscopy after an abnormal stool-based test), and delays or breakdowns in connecting individuals to appropriate clinical care after a concerning finding. The emphasis on target populations with below-standard screening rates signals a strong equity and access orientation, where the goal is to close disparities by improving how proven interventions are implemented in real settings.

This opportunity funds a Coordinating Center under the U24 activity mechanism, using a cooperative agreement structure. A cooperative agreement generally means the NIH expects to have substantial involvement in the project, with the awardee working closely with the agency to achieve shared program goals. As a coordinating center, the award is designed to support centralized functions that enable, harmonize, and strengthen the broader ACCSIS research effort. While the FOA text provided here does not list the specific coordinating tasks, coordinating centers in similar multi-site implementation initiatives typically provide shared infrastructure such as common measures and data elements, cross-project coordination, technical assistance, communication among participating research sites, dissemination support, and facilitation of collaborative learning so that findings can be compared, aggregated, and applied more quickly.

Administratively, the opportunity is issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the National Institutes of Health. It is categorized under Education and Health and is associated with CFDA numbers 93.353 and 93.394. The announcement was created on October 20, 2017, with an original closing date of January 18, 2018. The award ceiling is listed as $400,000, and the program anticipated making a single award, indicating a competitive process likely intended to select one organization to serve as the central coordinating hub for the initiative.

Eligibility is broad and spans many organization types, reflecting an intent to attract applicants with strong research, public health, health system, and community implementation capacity. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; Native American tribal governments and tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other entities as described in the FOA’s additional eligibility language. This wide eligibility range is consistent with implementation science programs that often require partnerships across clinical systems, public health agencies, academic research teams, and community-based organizations to address barriers to screening and follow-up.

Overall, this FOA supports a single, centrally funded coordinating center meant to accelerate and strengthen implementation research aimed at improving colorectal cancer screening and the critical follow-up and referral processes that determine whether screening actually leads to timely diagnosis and care. The underlying rationale is that colorectal cancer outcomes can be improved substantially by increasing screening uptake and ensuring completion of the entire care cascade, especially for communities that historically experience lower screening rates and worse outcomes due to access barriers, fragmented care pathways, and systemic inequities.

• The Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Accelerating Colorectal Cancer Screening and follow-up through Implementation Science (ACCSIS): Coordinating Center (U24)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.353, 93.394.
• This funding opportunity was created on Oct 20, 2017.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 18, 2018. (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 $400,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• 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 (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for RFA CA 17 039

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