DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE - CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED MEDICAL RESEARCH PROGRAMS
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Breast Cancer

NEWS RELEASE

Released: January 15, 2016

Defense Health Program
Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program
Funding Opportunities for Fiscal Year 2016 (FY16)

The Fiscal Year 2016 (FY16) 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 to accelerate progress toward ending breast cancer. As directed by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, the Defense Health Agency, Research, Development and Acquisition (DHA RDA) Directorate manages the Defense Health Program (DHP) Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) appropriation. The managing agent for the anticipated Program Announcements/Funding Opportunities is the 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. FY16 BCRP Program Announcements and General Application Instructions for the following award mechanisms are anticipated to be posted on Grants.gov in February 2016. 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.

Applications submitted to the FY16 BCRP must address one or more of the following overarching challenges:

  • Prevent breast cancer (primary prevention)
  • Identify determinants of breast cancer initiation, risk, or susceptibility
  • Distinguish deadly from indolent breast cancer
  • Conquer the problems of overdiagnosis and overtreatment
  • Identify what drives breast cancer growth; determine how to stop it
  • Identify why some breast cancers become metastatic
  • Determine why/how breast cancer cells lay dormant for years and then re-emerge (recurrence); determine how to prevent recurrence
  • Revolutionize treatment regimens by replacing them with ones that are more effective and less toxic
  • Eliminate the mortality associated with metastatic breast cancer

Award Mechanism Principal Investigator (PI) Eligibility Key Mechanism Elements Funding
Breakthrough Award
  • Investigators at all academic levels (or equivalent)
  • Senior postdoctoral fellows who do not meet the eligibility requirements of the Breakthrough Fellowship Award are encouraged to apply under Funding Levels 1 and 2
  • 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. The funding level should be selected based on the scope of the research project, rather than the amount of the budget.
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 PI or Initiating PI. There are no limitations on the number of applications for which an investigator may be named as a Partnering PI. However, applicants are discouraged from submitting as a Partnering PI on multiple applications unless they are clearly unique, meaningful collaborations addressing distinct research questions.
  • Additional funds are available for applications submitted under the Partnering PI Option.
  • Clinical trials are not allowed.
Funding Levels 3 and 4:
  • Clinical trials are allowed.
  • Each PI may submit only one application as a PI or Initiating PI. There are no limitations on the number of applications for which an investigator may be named as a Partnering PI. However, applicants are discouraged from submitting as a Partnering PI on multiple applications unless they are clearly unique, meaningful collaborations addressing distinct research questions.
  • PIs must include two or more breast cancer advocates on their research team.
  • Preproposal is required; application submission is by invitation only.
 Funding Level 1:
  • Maximum funding of $375,000 for direct costs (plus indirect costs)
  • Maximum period of performance is 3 years
Funding Level 1 - Partnering PI Option:
  • Maximum funding of $600,000 for direct costs (plus indirect costs)
  • Maximum period of performance is 3 years
Funding Level 2:
  • Maximum funding of $750,000 for direct costs (plus indirect costs)
  • Maximum period of performance is 3 years
Funding Level 2 - Partnering PI Option:
  • Maximum funding of $1 million (M) for direct costs (plus indirect costs)
  • Maximum period of performance is 3 years
Funding Level 3:
  • Maximum funding of $2.5M in direct costs (plus indirect costs)
  • Maximum period of performance is 5 years
Funding Level 3 - Partnering PI Option:
  • Maximum funding of $4M for direct costs (plus indirect costs)
  • Maximum period of performance is 5 years
Funding Level 4 and Funding Level 4 - Partnering PI Option:
  • Maximum funding of $10M for direct costs (plus indirect costs)
  • Maximum period of performance is 5 years
  • Maximum funding of $300,000 for direct costs (plus indirect costs)
  • Maximum period of performance is 3 years
Breakthrough Fellowship Award (NEW!) As of the application submission deadline, all eligible PIs must have:
  • Successfully completed the requirements for a doctoral or medical degree, and
  • Been in the laboratory or clinical research setting in which the proposed research is to be performed for no more than 2 years, and
  • A total of less than 4 years experience in a postdoctoral fellowship or mentored clinical research training program (excludes any clinical residency or fellowship training)
Mentor
  • Must have breast cancer research experience, including current funding and recent publications
  • Supports exceptionally talented, "best and brightest" recent doctoral or medical graduates in pursuit of 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.
  • Individualized training program and mentorship should prepare the PI for an independent career at the forefront of breast cancer research or patient care.
  • The PI is not required to have previous experience in breast cancer research.
  • Maximum funding of $300,000 for direct costs (plus indirect costs)
  • Maximum period of performance is 3 years
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)
  • Maximum period of performance is 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.
  • Preproposal is required; application submission is by invitation only.
  • Maximum funding of $5M for direct costs (plus indirect costs).
  • Maximum period of performance is 5 years.
Distinguished Investigator Award Assistant Professor or above (or equivalent) and more than 6 years beyond the PI's last training position as of the application submission deadline
  • Seeks new paradigms in breast cancer research by supporting investigators who are established and recognized leaders in their field and who propose a fundamental shift or leap beyond their existing track record of research.
  • Does not support continuation of or incremental change from the PI's published line of research.
  • If the PI is an established breast cancer researcher, he/she must clearly articulate a motivation and commitment for proposing a fundamental shift in his/her research and must include at least one collaborator with breast cancer expertise.
  • PIs must include two or more breast cancer advocates on their research team.
  • High-risk/high-reward projects pursuing innovative new paradigms are encouraged, but not required.
  • Preproposal is required; application submission is by invitation only.
  • Maximum funding of $3M for direct costs (plus indirect costs)
  • Maximum period of performance is 5 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 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 CDMRP 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. For email notification when Program Announcements are released go to the CDMRP website (https://cdmrp.health.mil) and select Subscribe to Funding Opportunities & Program Communications. For more information about the BCRP or other CDMRP-administered programs, please visit the CDMRP website (https://cdmrp.health.mil).

Point of Contact:

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


Last updated Thursday, December 5, 2024