DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE - CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED MEDICAL RESEARCH PROGRAMS

NEWS RELEASE

Released: March 26, 2018

Defense Health Program
Department of Defense Prostate Cancer Research Program
Anticipated Funding Opportunities for Fiscal Year 2018 (FY18)

The FY18 Defense Appropriations Act provides $100 million (M) to the Department of Defense Prostate Cancer Research Program (PCRP) to support innovative, high-impact prostate cancer research. 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 PCRP is providing the information in this pre-announcement to allow investigators time to plan and develop applications. FY18 PCRP Program Announcements and General Application Instructions for the following award mechanisms are anticipated to be posted on Grants.gov in May 2018. Pre-application and application deadlines will be available when the Program Announcements are released.

The mission of the PCRP is to fund research that will lead to the elimination of death from prostate cancer and enhance the well-being of Service members, Veterans, and all men experiencing the impact of the disease. Applications submitted to the FY18 PCRP must addresses one or more of the Overarching Challenges (revised for FY18):

  • Develop treatments that improve outcomes for men with lethal prostate cancer
  • Reduce lethal prostate cancer in African Americans, Veterans, and other high-risk populations
  • Define the biology of lethal prostate cancer to reduce death
  • Improve the quality of life for survivors of prostate cancer
Award Mechanism Eligibility Key Mechanism Elements Funding
Impact 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, potentially high-risk studies (including clinical trials) that address a central question or problem in prostate cancer. As such, the primary emphasis of this mechanism is on impact.
  • The potential impact of the research is expected to be near-term and must be significant and go beyond an incremental advancement.
  • Proposed projects may include basic, translational, or clinical research, including clinical trials, but must demonstrate clinical relevance.
  • Preliminary data to support feasibility are required.
  • Each Principal Investigator (PI) may submit only one application.
  • Maximum funding of $750K for direct costs (plus indirect costs)
  • Maximum period of performance is 3 years
Health Disparity Research 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 Health Disparity Research Award and/or Idea Development Award
  • Have completed at least 3 years of postdoctoral training or fellowship and are within 10 years after completion of a terminal degree (excluding residency or family medical leave)
  • Supports new ideas for prostate cancer research that have the potential to make an important contribution to reducing and ultimately eliminating disparities in prostate cancer incidence, morbidity, and mortality.
  • Research ideas should be innovative, but primary emphasis will be placed on the potential impact of the proposed work.
  • Preliminary data are encouraged, but not required.
  • Proposed projects may include basic, translational, or clinical research, including clinical trials.
  • New Investigator Option supports applicants early in their faculty appointments or in the process of developing independent research careers.
Established Investigators:
  • Maximum funding of $750K for direct costs (plus indirect costs).
New Investigators:
  • Maximum funding of $450K for direct costs (plus indirect costs).
  • Maximum period of performance is 3 years
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 completed at least 3 years of postdoctoral training or fellowship and are within 10 years after completion of terminal degree (excluding residency or family medical leave)
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 enhancing the well-being of men with prostate cancer.
  • Emphasis is equally placed on Innovation and Impact.
  • Preliminary data are encouraged, but not required.
  • Clinical trials are not allowed.
  • Each PI may submit only one application.
  • New Investigator Option supports applicants early in their faculty appointments or in the process of developing independent research careers.
Established PIs (individual or partnering):
  • Maximum funding of $600K for direct costs (plus indirect costs)
New Investigator Option:
  • Maximum funding of $450K for direct costs (plus indirect costs)
  • Maximum period of performance is 3 years
Physician Research 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 mentored research experience to prepare 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 basic research are highly encouraged.
  • Maximum funding of $750K for direct costs (plus indirect costs)
  • Maximum period of performance is 4 years
Early Investigator Research Award By March 31, 2019

Postdoctoral Ph.D. or M.D. PIs:
  • Must have successfully defended a doctoral thesis or possess an M.D. degree
  • Have 3 years or less of postdoctoral research experience
  • Supports research opportunities focused on prostate cancer for individuals in the early stages of their careers.
  • PIs must have a designated mentor who is an experienced prostate cancer researcher.
  • Maximum of $200K for direct costs (plus indirect costs)
  • Maximum period of performance is 2 years
Health Disparity Scholar Award By March 31, 2019

Postdoctoral Ph.D. or M.D. PIs:
  • Must have successfully defended a doctoral thesis or possess an M.D. degree
  • Have 3 years or less of postdoctoral research experience
  • Supports research opportunities focused on reducing and ultimately eliminating disparities in prostate cancer incidence, morbidity, and mortality for individuals in the early stages of their careers.
  • PIs must have a designated mentor who is an experienced prostate cancer researcher.
  • Maximum of $200K for direct costs (plus indirect costs)
  • Maximum period of performance is 2 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, subscribe to program-specific news and updates under “Email Subscriptions” on the eBRAP homepage at https://eBRAP.org. 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
usarmy.detrick.medcom-cdmrp.mbx.cdmrp-public-affairs@mail.mil


Last updated Thursday, May 26, 2022