Through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) solicits applications for Human Tumor Atlas (HTA) 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 HTA Research Center will construct one human precancer or advanced cancer atlas with an explicit focus on how evolving spatial relationships contribute to important transitions in cancer from tumor initiation to metastasis. The other two HTAN components are Precancer Atlas (PCA) Research Centers and a Data Coordinating Center (DCC). Each PCA Research Center will construct one 3D precancer atlas that comprehensively characterizes a premalignant lesion with an explicit focus on understanding the transition from a precancerous lesion to malignancy. 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 that 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 locoregional recurrence or metastasis, 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 are clinically useful for all populations in the United States and the construction process must be mindful of this important aspect. Each Research Center 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.