DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE - CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED MEDICAL RESEARCH PROGRAMS

NEWS RELEASE

Released: March 3, 2014

Defense Health Program
Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program
Funding Opportunities for Fiscal Year 2014

The Fiscal Year 2014 (FY14) Defense Appropriations Act provides $120 million (M) to the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program (BCRP) to support innovative, high-impact breast cancer research. The BCRP is administered by the US Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC) through the Office of Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP).

The BCRP is providing the information in this pre-announcement to allow investigators time to plan and develop applications. FY14 BCRP Program Announcements and General Application Instructions for the following award mechanisms are anticipated to be posted on Grants.gov in late March 2014. 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 Principal Investigator (PI) Eligibility Key Mechanism Elements Funding
Era of Hope Scholar Award Independent, non-mentored investigators within 6 years of their last training position (e.g., postdoctoral fellowship, medical residency, clinical fellowship) as of the application submission deadline
  • Supports exceptionally talented, creative early-career scientists who have demonstrated that they are the "best and brightest" in their fields.
  • PIs should articulate a vision that challenges current dogma and demonstrates an ability to look beyond tradition and convention.
  • PIs should exhibit strong potential for leadership in the breast cancer community.
  • PIs must include breast cancer advocates on their research team.
  • Maximum funding of $2.5M for direct costs (plus indirect costs)
  • Period of performance not to exceed 5 years
Innovator Award Associate Professor or above (or equivalent)
  • Supports visionary individuals who have demonstrated creativity, innovative work, and leadership in any field.
  • Provides opportunity to pursue novel, visionary, high-risk ideas that will accelerate progress toward ending breast cancer.
  • PIs must include breast cancer advocates on their research team.
  • Nomination is required; self-nominations are accepted; application submission is by invitation only.
  • Maximum funding of $5M for direct costs (plus indirect costs)
  • Period of performance not to exceed 5 years
Breakthrough Award
  • Investigators at all academic levels (or equivalent)
  • Postdoctoral fellows are eligible to apply
  • Supports promising research that has the potential to lead to or make breakthroughs in breast cancer.
  • Potential impact of the research may be near-term or long-term, but it must be significant and go beyond an incremental advancement.
  • Partnering PI Option allows two PIs, termed Initiating and Partnering PIs, to collaborate on a single application.
  • Four different funding levels, based on the scope of research, are available. It is the responsibility of the PI to select the funding level that is most appropriate for the research proposed.
    Funding Levels 1 and 2
  • Submission of a Letter of Intent is required prior to full application submission.
  • Each PI may submit only one application as a single PI or Initiating PI.
  • Breast cancer advocate involvement is encouraged, but not required.
    Funding Levels 3 and 4
  • Submission of a preproposal is required; application submission is by invitation only.
  • Clinical trials are allowed.
  • Applicants must include breast cancer advocates on their research team.
Applications may be submitted under one of the following funding levels:
    Funding Level 1:
  • Maximum funding of $350,000 for direct costs (plus indirect costs)
  • Period of performance not to exceed 3 years
    Funding Level 2:
  • Maximum funding of $700,000 for direct costs (plus indirect costs)
  • Period of performance not to exceed 3 years
    Funding Level 3:
  • Maximum funding of $2.5M for direct costs (plus indirect costs)
  • Period of performance not to exceed 5 years
    Funding Level 4:
  • Maximum funding of $10M for direct costs (plus indirect costs)
  • Period of performance not to exceed 5 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.

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

Point of Contact:

CDMRP Public Affairs
301-619-9783
usarmy.detrick.medcom-cdmrp.mbx.cdmrp-public-affairs@mail.mil