DoD Melanoma Research Program Funding Opportunities - September Deadlines

How to Apply: 

The FY22 Defense Appropriations Act provides funding for the MRP to support innovative, high-impact melanoma research.  The managing agent for the anticipated funding opportunities is the CDMRP at the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC).

 

The FY22 MRP funding opportunity announcements for the following award mechanisms is posted on the Grants.gov website. 

 

Applications submitted to the FY22 MRP must address one or more of the following Focus Areas:

 

  • ·        Investigate topics relevant to rare melanomas (e.g., uveal, acral, mucosal melanoma, etc.) that cover the entire research spectrum, from risk factors and initiation to distant macro-metastases, in model organisms and/or patients.
  • ·        Identify and understand risk factor determinants for melanoma.
  • ·        Develop prediction and surveillance tools for distinguishing patient populations at risk for a second primary diagnosis, recurrence, and/or metastasis.
  • ·        Understand how precursor lesions and environmental/endogenous factors influence melanomagenesis, including, but not limited to, the skin microbiome, race, and biological sex as a variable.
  • ·        Develop new tools for the detection and diagnosis of melanoma, which includes easily accessible technology (beyond the dermoscope) for primary care physicians and dermatologists.
  • ·        Identify how the tumor microenvironment (e.g., stromal, immune, microbiome) impacts tumor initiation, response to therapy, progression, recurrence, and/or dormancy.
  • ·        Delineate the molecular pathways that influence metastatic spread, recurrence, and/or dormancy.

 

The MRP challenges the research community to redefine the concept of prevention and has issued a FY22 MRP Challenge Statement that must be addressed when responding to the FY22 MRP Focus Areas and funding opportunities. For additional information, applicants are encouraged to review the FY21 MRP Landscape and abstracts from previously funded MRP awards.

 

Funding Opportunities-FY22 Melanoma Research Program, Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) (army.mil)

 

Focused Program Award – Rare Melanomas – Letter of intent due September 14, 2022

NEW FOR FY22

Independent investigators at or above the level of Associate Professor (or equivalent).

Project Leader(s) for the complementary and synergistic research project(s) must be at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent).

  • ·      A letter of intent is required; an invitation to submit a full application is not required.
  • ·      Applications may propose research across the entire spectrum (biology, etiology, prevention, diagnosis and detection, prognosis, treatment, and quality of life) and must address a critical unmet need relevant to rare melanomas (uveal, acral, mucosal, pediatric, etc.).
  • ·      Supports a synergistic, multidisciplinary research program of at least two, but not more than three, distinct but complementary projects addressing an overarching question relevant to rare melanomas.
  • ·      Individual research projects may range from exploratory, hypothesis-developing studies through pilot clinical trials.
  • ·      The research team assembled by the PI should be highly qualified and multidisciplinary, with an identified Project Leader(s) for the complementary and synergistic research project(s).
  • ·      Applicants are encouraged, but not required, to include at least one rare melanoma patient advocate as part of the project team to optimize research impact.
  • ·      Pilot clinical trials are allowed.
    • ·     The maximum allowable funding for the entire period of performance is $2,000,000 for direct costs.
    • ·     The maximum period of performance is 4 years.

 

 

Melanoma Academy Scholar Award – Letter of Intent September 14, 2022

Must be within 7 years of their last terminal degree, as of the full application submission deadline. 

  • ·     A letter of intent is required; an invitation to submit a full application is not required
  • ·     Supports the addition of new Scholars to the unique, interactive virtual academy that provides intensive mentoring, national networking, collaborations, and a peer group for early-career melanoma investigators/faculty.
  • ·     A Career Guide who is an experienced melanoma researcher with melanoma cancer funding is required.
  • ·     The Career Guide is not required to be at the same institution as the Scholar.
  • ·     The Career Guide must be committed to participating in the Melanoma Academy, to include serving in advisory roles as requested by Academy Leadership.
  • ·     Must address at least one of the FY22 MRP Focus Areas.
  • ·     Preliminary data are not required.
  • ·     Clinical trials are not allowed.
  • ·     The maximum allowable funding for the entire period of performance is $550,000 for direct costs.
  • ·     Indirect costs may be proposed in accordance with the institution’s negotiated rate agreement.
  • ·     The maximum period of performance is 3 years.

 

Mid-Career Accelerator Award – Letter of Intent due September 14, 2022

Assistant or Associate Professors (or equivalents) at least 7 years or more from first faculty appointment.

  • ·       A letter of intent is required; an invitation to submit a full application is not required.
  • ·       Supports mid-career researchers to conduct impactful melanoma research.
  • ·       Must address at least one of the FY22 MRP Focus Areas.
  • ·       Must show evidence of at least one peer-reviewed extramural funding award.
  • ·       Preliminary data relevant to melanoma are required.
  • ·       Clinical trials are not allowed
  • ·     The maximum allowable funding for the entire period of performance is $725,000 for direct costs.
  • ·     Indirect costs may be proposed in accordance with the institution’s negotiated rate agreement.
  • ·     The maximum period of performance is 3 years.

 

Team Science Award – Letter of Intent due September 14, 2022

Modified for FY22

At least two and up to three investigators must partner in one overarching multidisciplinary research study.

Independent investigators at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent).

Inclusion of at least one military, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, or early-career investigator is encouraged.

  • ·       A letter of intent is required; an invitation to submit a full application is not required.
  • ·       Supports new or existing partnerships to address a research problem or question in a manner that would be unachievable through separate efforts.
  • ·       Intended to fund a broad range of studies including, but not limited to:

o  Correlative studies that are associated with an open/ongoing or completed clinical trial

o  Research involving the analysis of large and/or complex melanoma datasets

o  Projects focusing on bioengineering approaches to address diagnostics, high risk markers, dormancy, and/or metastasis

o  Research seeking to better understand and/or reduce inequities and disparities that impact melanoma patients and/or caregivers.

  • ·       Emphasis on synergy, multidisciplinary research, and impact.
  • ·       Must address at least one of the FY22 MRP Focus Areas.
  • ·       Preliminary data are required.
  • ·       Clinical trials are not allowed.
  • ·     The maximum allowable funding for the entire period of performance is $1,000,000 for direct costs.
  • ·     Indirect costs may be proposed in accordance with the institution’s negotiated rate agreement.
  • The maximum period of performance is 3 years.

 

A pre-application is required and must be submitted through the electronic Biomedical Research Application Portal (eBRAP) at https://eBRAP.org prior to the pre-application deadline.  All applications must conform to the final funding opportunity announcements available for downloading from the Grants.gov website.  The application package containing the required forms for each award mechanism will also be found on Grants.gov.  A listing of all CDMRP and other USAMRDC extramural funding opportunities can be obtained on the Grants.gov website by performing a basic search using CFDA Number 12.420.

 

  For email notification when announcements are released, subscribe to program-specific news and updates under “Email Subscriptions” on the eBRAP homepage at https://eBRAP.org.  For more information about the MRP or other CDMRP-administered programs, please visit the CDMRP website (https://cdmrp.army.mil).

 

Point of Contact:

CDMRP Help Desk
301-682-5507
help@eBrap.org

 

For more information, please contact Jill Sherman, International Research Facilitator, at intl.research@lakeheadu.ca.

 

External Deadline: 
Wednesday, September 14, 2022
URL: 

https://cdmrp.army.mil/funding/mrp

Agency: 
Department of Defense
Funding Source: 
External
Funding Level: 
Research