The purpose of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is to solicit applications for Precancer Atlas (PCA) Research Centers, one of the three scientific components of the Human Tumor Atlas Network (HTAN) (NCI Human Tumor Atlas Network). HTAN is a collaborative research initiative for constructing 3-dimensional (3D) and dynamic atlases of the cellular, morphological, molecular, and spatial features of human cancers and their surrounding microenvironments as they progress from precancerous lesions to advanced disease. Each PCA Research Center will construct one 3D precancer atlas that comprehensively characterizes a pre-malignant lesion with an explicit focus on understanding the transition from a precancerous lesion to malignancy. The other two HTAN components are Human Tumor Atlas (HTA) Research Centers RFA-CA-23-039 , U01) and a Data Coordinating Center (DCC) (RFA-CA-23-041 , U24). Each HTA Research Center will conduct research to develop one spatial tumor atlas at single-cell resolution driven by specific topics in cancer biology across the continuum from cancer initiation to metastasis. The DCC will serve the dual role of network and data coordination. It will also be responsible for meeting coordination. Research Centers have three major areas of responsibility: (1) biospecimen acquisition, processing, and annotation, (2) molecular, cellular, and spatial characterization, and (3) data processing, analysis, modeling, and visualization.
The HTAN is a community resource generating program and is tasked with generating spatial atlases of cancer transitions for a diverse set of precancers and advanced cancers that build upon the current set of public HTAN atlases. HTAN research will span across pivotal points in tumor evolution that include progression from premalignancy to malignancy, primary tumor to metastasis, tumor recurrence, and response and/or resistance to treatment. These atlases will enable the development of new classifiers and risk prediction tools, identification of potential targets for preventive interceptions, enhancement of diagnostic and treatment strategies for advanced cancers, and generation of compelling hypotheses to facilitate future research on underlying biological mechanisms. It is imperative that the HTAN atlases have the potential to be clinically useful. Research Centers will collaborate with other PCA and HTA Research Centers and the DCC. Research Centers will work with the DCC to make the data and analytical tools available to the research community.