RRP Program Collaborations

As a national resource in radiation oncology and radiobiology research, the Radiation Research Program (RRP) coordinates its activities with several other research programs across NCI, NIH, Federal agencies, national and international research organizations, and scientific professional societies to enhance synergy in innovation, development, and translation of radiation research applied to radiation oncology and radiation biology. Below are only a few examples of these collaborative activities.

NCI Programs

Cancer Imaging Program

The Cancer Imaging Program (CIP) is vital in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and NCI activities. RRP collaborates with CIP to integrate imaging with radiation therapy and theranostics, including emerging technologies such as nanotechnology, proteomics, and high-throughput screening. In addition to funding projects in key areas, this collaboration supports researchers by providing pooled resources and developing protocols that encourage resource and data sharing.

Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program

By reviewing radiation therapy-, theranostics-, and medical physics-related aspects of clinical trials, RRP supports the mission of the Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program (CTEP). CTEP's mission is to improve the lives of cancer patients by finding better ways to treat, control, and cure cancer related to the development of drug radiation combinations and mechanisms of combinations.

Developmental Therapeutics Program

The Developmental Therapeutics Program (DTP) provides services and resources to the academic and private-sector research communities worldwide to facilitate the discovery and development of new cancer therapeutic agents. RRP contributes to DTP’s mission in the areas of Drug discovery and development, radiopharmaceuticals, Drug-radiation combinations, biological testing, immuno-oncology, and Stepping Stone. Stepping Stone is a recent initiative that provides critical resources to advance innovative anti-cancer agents toward clinical development.

Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics

RRP collaborates with the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics (DCEG) to discover the causes of and approaches to preventing and mitigating treatment-related cancer recurrence, as well as conduct studies on cancer survivorship.

NIH Institutes/Centers (I/C)

Radiation Nuclear Countermeasures Program

The Radiation and Nuclear Countermeasures Program (RNCP), coordinated by the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), focuses on developing medical countermeasures to treat radiation injuries, especially in the event of a radiological or nuclear attack. The growing threat of terrorism and the potential use of weapons of mass destruction, including radiological devices, have made this a national security priority. NIAID is leading the efforts to accelerate research and development of medical countermeasures through grants, agreements, and scientific collaborations. Members of RRP collaborate with RNCP in medical countermeasures and technology development efforts relevant to radiation oncology/biology research.

Health and Human Services

The Center for Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) is part of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It provides an integrated, systematic approach to developing and purchasing the necessary vaccines, drugs, therapies, and diagnostic tools for public health medical emergencies. Members of the Radiation Research Program routinely participate in activities related to developing medical countermeasures against radiological and nuclear exposures.

Interagency Efforts

RRP staff provides subject matter expertise to various government agencies as needed. These include the Department of Defense, Department of Energy, Department of Homeland Security, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the White House’s Office of Science and Technology. RRP works on topics of mutual interest in radiation research.

Professional Societies

RRP collaborates with several professional societies and supports scientific sessions, workshops, and symposia relevant to the programmatic goals. These professional societies include, but are not limited to, the American Association for Cancer Research, the American Society for Clinical Oncology, the American Society for Therapeutic Radiation Oncology, the International Congress of Radiation Research, the Radiation Research Society, the Radiological Society of North America, and the Society for Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging.

International Collaborations

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

RRP members are involved in various international collaborations for scientific education in radiobiology and clinical trials in radiation oncology. They have long-standing interests in and experience in global cancer networking and research. They help build strategic partnerships to maximize the complementary expertise of the global cancer community and benefit low- and middle-income countries. Several RRP staff members serve as honorary consultants to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and assist in developing coordinated research programs and initiatives.

International Cancer Expert Corps (ICEC)

Professionals within NCI developed the International Cancer Expert Corps (ICEC), notably the Radiation Research Program, led by the Late Dr. C. Norman Coleman. While it is not an NCI activity, RRP plays a central role in developing mechanisms for a public-private partnership related to cancer health disparities. Opportunities exist for those within NCI and the academic and private sectors to help close the enormous gap in cancer care for the underserved. Thus, ICEC can help extend the reach of NCI's outreach programs.

Radiation Research Program (RRP)/Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Collaborations

SBIR/STRR Funding Opportunities

The RRP collaborates with NCI’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Development Center to provide funding to for-profit small businesses to support American entrepreneurs, translate, and commercialize laboratory science in radiation oncology and related research through SBIR/STTR grants and SBIR contracts.

RRP Program Directors work closely with SBIR Program Directors, assist in areas for development in radiation oncology, advising potential applicants, and monitoring progress of awardees. RRP-SBIR funded projects include both grants and contracts. Since the establishment of this collaboration, RRP has helped develop several requests for proposals to address specific research, development, and clinical needs in radiation oncology. Targeted contract solicitations include, but are not limited to development of:

radiation-effect modulators
targeted radionuclide therapies
radiation biomarkers
radiation immune modulators
sensing tools to measure response to therapy
sensing tools to locally activate or release systemically delivered therapeutics
artificial intelligence tools to improve treatment planning, and mobile application for the surveillance of post-5R01CA245139-06 treatment quality-of-life.

Details of SBIR awards can be found in NIH RePORTER which allows users to perform customized search of the repository of NIH-funded research projects, and access publications and patents resulting from NIH funding.

SBIR funding has become a critical resource in NCI-funded radiation oncology research, its translation, application to clinical cancer care and commercialization. This collaboration has strengthened academic-small business relationships in radiation oncology and accelerated clinical translation of grants in RRP’s portfolio.

Support is provided to small businesses in radiation oncology and related research using several funding mechanisms available through SBIR Development Center. Many topics are of high interest to the RRP.

Find current omnibus solicitations, with standard receipt dates of September 5, 2024; January 5, 2025; April 5, 2025.

Find current contract solicitations. The topics below are of particular interest to the radiation research community.

RRP Point-of-Contact

Pataje G Prasanna, Ph.D.
Program Director
240-276-5690
Pat.Prasanna@nih.gov