DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE - CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED MEDICAL RESEARCH PROGRAMS

NEWS RELEASE

Released: February 17, 2012

Defense Health Program
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PROSTATE CANCER RESEARCH PROGRAM
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2012

The Fiscal Year 2012 (FY12) Defense Appropriations Act provides $80 million (M) to the Department of Defense Prostate Cancer Research Program (PCRP) to support innovative, high-impact prostate cancer research. The mission of the PCRP is to eliminate death and suffering from prostate cancer. This program is administered by the US Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC) through the Office of Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP).

The PCRP is providing the information in this pre-announcement to allow investigators time to plan and develop applications. FY12 PCRP Program Announcements and General Application Instructions for the following award mechanisms are anticipated to be posted on Grants.gov in March 2012. Pre-application and application deadlines will be available when the Program Announcements are released. This pre-announcement should not be construed as an obligation by the government.

Award Mechanism Eligibility Key Mechanism Elements Funding
(New for FY12!)

Biomarker Validation Award
Independent investigators at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent)
  • Preproposal is required; application submission is by invitation only.
  • Supports high-impact research aimed at qualifying and validating prostate cancer biomarkers for rapid transfer to clinical practice.
  • Applications that address validation of multiple biomarkers are highly encouraged.
  • Multi-institutional efforts are highly encouraged.
  • Presentation of preliminary data demonstrating biomarker qualification and validation on test samples is required.
  • PIs must demonstrate availability and accessibility of samples and /or data, and are encouraged to utilize pre-existing biospecimen banks.
  • Studies are expected to be initiated within 6 months of the award date.
  • Maximum funding of $2.25M for direct costs (plus indirect costs)
  • Maximum period of performance is 3 years
(New for FY12!)

Clinical Trial Pilot Award
Independent investigators at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent)
  • Preproposal is required; application submission is by invitation only.
  • Supports rapid execution of hypothesis-based, early phase clinical trials (e.g., Phase 0, Phase I, pilot Phase II) to test interventions that will have a major impact on prostate cancer management. It is anticipated that proposed studies will explore innovative and untested concepts to provide scientific rationale or initial proof-of-principle for larger clinical trials in prostate cancer.
  • Also supports patient-based, innovative, hypothesis-driven correlative studies associated with existing/ongoing clinical trials.
  • Interventions may include drugs, devices, biologics, surgical procedures, behavior modifications, or other.
  • Investigational New Drug or Investigational Device Exemption approvals, if applicable, must be in place before submission of the application.
  • Clinical trials are expected to be initiated within 12 months of the award date.
  • Maximum funding of $450K for direct costs (plus indirect costs)
  • Maximum period of performance is 3 years
Collaborative Undergraduate Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Student Summer Training Program Award Independent investigators at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent) with a proven record in prostate cancer research and training
  • Supports new or existing summer training programs for undergraduate HBCU students at host institutions with thriving prostate cancer research programs.
  • Must enroll a minimum of four undergraduate HBCU trainees per year.
  • Host institution must have a record of achievement in prostate cancer research and training.
  • Maximum funding of $185K for direct costs (plus indirect costs)
  • Maximum period of performance is 3 years
Exploration - Hypothesis Development Award Investigators at or above postdoctoral fellow (or equivalent)
  • Supports the exploration of highly innovative, untested, potentially groundbreaking concepts in prostate cancer.
  • Emphasis is on innovation; potential impact may be difficult to predict.
  • Human subject studies are permitted provided the studies are exempt or eligible for expedited review.
  • Preliminary data are strongly discouraged.
  • Maximum funding of $75K for direct costs (plus indirect costs)
  • Maximum period of performance is 1 year
Health Disparity Research Award (Modified!) Established Investigators: Independent investigators at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent); or

New Investigators: Investigators that meet the following criteria at the application submission deadline date:
  • Have the freedom to pursue individual aims without formal mentorship
  • Have not previously received a PCRP Health Disparity Research Award
  • Have either completed at least 3 years of postdoctoral training or fellowship or are within 5 years of having begun first independent faculty position (or equivalent)
  • Supports new ideas for prostate cancer disparity research that have the potential to make an important contribution to reducing and ultimately eliminating disparities in prostate cancer incidence, morbidity, and mortality.
  • Preliminary data are encouraged, but not required.
  • New Investigator Option supports applicants early in their faculty appointments or in the process of developing independent research careers.
  • Qualified Collaborator Option supports a higher level of funding for PIs who include a collaborator that significantly contributes to the research project such that it could not otherwise be accomplished and contributes a minimum 10% level of effort to the project.
  • Nested Training Option supports predoctoral and postdoctoral training for individuals committed to pursuing careers as independent investigators in prostate cancer health disparity research.
  • Maximum funding of $450K for direct costs (plus indirect costs)
  • If applying for the Qualified Collaborator Option, maximum funding of $600K for direct costs (plus indirect costs)
  • Maximum period of performance is 3 years
  • Additional funds can be requested if including the Nested Training Option
Idea Development Award Established Investigators: Independent investigators at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent); or

New Investigators: Investigators that meet the following criteria at the application submission deadline date:
  • Have the freedom to pursue individual aims without formal mentorship
  • Have not previously received a PCRP Idea Development Award
  • Have either completed at least 3 years of postdoctoral training or fellowship or are within 5 years of having begun first independent faculty position (or equivalent)
  • Preproposal is required; application submission is by invitation only.
  • Supports new ideas that represent innovative, high-risk/high-gain approaches to prostate cancer research, and have the potential to make an important contribution to eliminating death and suffering from prostate cancer.
  • Preliminary data are encouraged but not required.
  • Innovation and Impact are the most important review criteria.
  • Clinical trials are not allowed.
  • New Investigator Option supports applicants early in their faculty appointments or in the process of developing independent research careers.
Established PIs:
  • Maximum funding of $375K for direct costs (plus indirect costs)
New Investigator Option:
  • Maximum funding of $225K for direct costs (plus indirect costs)
  • Maximum period of performance is 3 years
Laboratory - Clinical Transition Award (Modified!) Independent investigators at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent)
  • Preproposal is required; application submission is by invitation only.
  • Supports product-driven preclinical studies of promising novel lead agents (including devices) that have the potential to revolutionize prostate cancer clinical care.
  • PIs are expected to demonstrate within the application (1) a validated target, (2) access to either one lead agent or a limited number of lead agents for optimization, and (3) the agent�s mechanism of action.
  • The presentation of preliminary data is required to demonstrate validated target availability and distribution in relevant human tissues and substantive information from model systems that supports potential efficacy of the lead agent(s) in humans.
  • Supports research that ranges from preclinical study through cGMP production.
  • Maximum funding of $1.5M for direct costs (plus indirect costs)
  • Maximum period of performance is 3 years
Physician Research Training Award At the time of application submission, the PI must be either:
  • In the last year of an accredited medical residency or medical fellowship program; or
  • Within 3 years of having initiated an appointment as Instructor, Assistant Professor, or equivalent
  • Supports training of physicians with clinical duties for careers in prostate cancer research.
  • PIs must demonstrate a commitment to a career at the forefront of prostate cancer research and clinical practice.
  • PIs must have a designated mentor with an established research program in prostate cancer.
  • Institutions must provide at least 40% protection of PI's time for research.
  • Projects that focus on providing training in basic research are highly encouraged.
  • Maximum funding of $130K per year for direct costs (plus indirect costs)
  • Maximum period of performance is 4 years
Postdoctoral Training Award By December 31, 2012, the PI must:
  • Have successfully defended a doctoral thesis or posses an M.D. degree
  • Have 3 years or less of postdoctoral fellowship experience
  • Supports prostate cancer research training opportunities for postdoctoral trainees who are recent doctoral graduates.
  • PIs must have a designated mentor who is an experienced prostate cancer researcher.
  • Maximum of $115K for direct costs (plus indirect costs up to a maximum rate of 8%)
  • Maximum period of performance is 2 years
Synergistic Idea Development Award Independent investigators at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent)
  • Preproposal is required; application submission is by invitation only.
  • Supports new or existing partnerships between two or three independent investigators to address a central innovative question or problem in prostate cancer that may include high risk, provided there is a potential for significant impact.
  • Preliminary data are encouraged but not required.
  • Synergy, Innovation, and Impact are the most important review criteria.
  • Clinical trials are not allowed.
  • Maximum funding of $750K for direct costs (plus indirect costs)
  • Maximum period of performance is 3 years
(New for FY12!)

Transformative Impact Award
Independent investigators at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent)
  • Preproposal is required; application submission is by invitation only.
  • Supports prostate cancer research efforts with near-term, transformative impact for prostate cancer patients.
  • Research efforts based on team science are expected, with support by a lead PI with demonstrated success in leading large, focused projects.
  • Consistent with the goal of near-term benefit for patients, the scope of the research effort must include translational studies, clinical research, and/or clinical trials.
  • Applicants must demonstrate that they are prepared to initiate the study immediately upon receiving the award (i.e., as of the award date).
  • Maximum funding of $5.5M for direct costs (plus indirect costs)
  • Maximum period of performance is 3 years

All applications must conform to the final Program Announcements and General Application Instructions that will be available for electronic 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 USAMRMC funding opportunities can be obtained on the Grants.gov website by performing a basic search using CFDA Number 12.420.

A pre-application is required and must be submitted through the CDMRP eReceipt website (http://cdmrp.org) prior to the pre-application deadline. Applications must be submitted through the federal government's single-entry portal, Grants.gov. Submission deadlines are not available until the Program Announcements are released. Requests for email notification of the Program Announcements release may be sent to help@cdmrp.org. Email notifications of funding opportunities are sent as a courtesy and should not be used as a sole source of notification; applicants should monitor Grants.gov for official postings of funding opportunities.

For more information about the PCRP or other CDMRP-administered programs, please visit the CDMRP website (https://cdmrp.army.mil).

Point of Contact:

CDMRP Public Affairs
301-619-9783
CDMRP.PublicAffairs@amedd.army.mil