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Ovarian Cancer

NEWS RELEASE

Released: December 21, 2023

Department of Defense
Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP)
Ovarian Cancer Research Program
Anticipated Funding Opportunities for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24)

The FY24 Defense Appropriations Bill has not been signed into law. Although FY24 funds have not been appropriated for the Ovarian Cancer Research Program (OCRP), the OCRP is providing the information in this pre-announcement to allow investigators time to plan and develop ideas for submission to the anticipated FY24 funding opportunities. This pre-announcement should not be construed as an obligation by the government.

The FY24 Defense Appropriations Act is anticipated to provide funding for the OCRP to support patient-centered research to prevent, detect, treat, and cure ovarian cancer to enhance the health and well-being of Service Members, Veterans, their Family members, and all women impacted by this disease. The managing agent for the anticipated funding opportunities is the CDMRP at the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC).

The OCRP is providing the information in this pre-announcement to allow investigators time to plan and develop ideas for submission to the anticipated FY24 funding opportunities. The FY24 OCRP funding opportunity announcements for the following award mechanisms will be posted on the Grants.gov website. Pre-application and application deadlines will be available when the announcements are released.

Applications submitted to the FY24 OCRP must address one or more of the following Areas of Emphasis:

  • Understand the basic biology and etiology of ovarian cancer initiation, progression, metastasis, recurrence, genetics, proteogenomics and other critical events
  • Develop novel therapeutic strategies for treatment
  • Investigate innovative approaches for ovarian cancer prevention
  • Identify and develop new strategies for screening, early-stage detection, prevention, accurate diagnosis, and prognosis
  • Identify and implement strategies to improve the survivorship and quality of life
  • Address health disparities
  • Improve precision medicine

Alternatively, with adequate justification, applications may identify and address another area of importance related to the ovarian cancer. Justification must be provided in the application.


Award Mechanism Eligibility Key Mechanism Elements Funding
Clinical Trial Award Independent investigators at all academic levels. Supports rapid implementation of clinical trials with the potential to have a significant impact on ovarian cancer.
  • Proposed projects may range from small proof-of-concept trials through large-scale, definitive trials, including early-phase or pilot clinical trials (phase 0, 1, or 1/2).
Preliminary data are required. Larger, more-definitive clinical trials, including expansion of previous promising pilot trials, must include preliminary data with respect to safety in an ovarian cancer population.
Submission of a Letter of Intent (LOI) is required prior to full application submission.
  • Maximum funding of $2,000,000 for direct costs (plus indirect costs); funding requested must be commensurate with the phase and size of trial proposed.
  • Maximum period of performance is 4 years.
NEW!  Clinical Trial Translational Endpoints Award The Principal Investigator (PI) must be at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent). Supports correlative studies that address translational research in high-impact or unmet needs in ovarian cancer and have a clinical emphasis.
  • Clinical trials are not allowed.
  • Preclinical studies in animals are not allowed.
Submission of an LOI is required prior to full application submission.
  • Maximum funding of $1,000,000 for direct costs (plus indirect costs); funding requested must be commensurate with the phase and size of trial proposed.
  • Maximum period of performance is 3 years.
Investigator-Initiated Research Award Investigators at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent).

Partnering PI Option:
Up to two investigators may collaborate on a single application, each of whom will be recognized as a PI and receive a separate award.

Supports high-impact research that addresses a critical need and has the potential to make an important contribution to ovarian cancer or patient/survivor care.
  • Clinical trials are not allowed.
  • If cell lines or animals are used, justification for use is required.
  • Research aimed at extending the lives of advanced state and recurrent patients is encouraged.
  • Preliminary data are required.
Pre-application is required; application submission is by invitation only.
  • Maximum funding of $1,000,000 for direct costs (plus indirect costs).
  • Maximum funding of $1,200,000 for direct costs (plus indirect costs) for the Partnering PI Option.
  • Maximum period of performance is 4 years.
NEW!  Ovarian Cancer Academy – Leadership Award Leadership team should have strong expertise in ovarian cancer research.
  • The Dean must be an established ovarian cancer researcher. The embedded Assistant Dean must be an independent ovarian cancer research at a different institution from the Dean.
  • A joint application of the Dean and Assistant Dean is required.
Supports visionary individuals who are established ovarian cancer researchers with a strong record of mentoring and commitment to leadership.
  • The Academy Dean, with the Assistant Dean, will oversee an interactive academy of Early-Career Investigators (ECIs) and their Designated Mentors, facilitate regular interactive communication among all Academy members and assess the research progress and career progression of the ECIs.
Submission of a Letter of Intent is required prior to full application submission.
  • Maximum funding of $1,750,000 in direct costs (plus indirect costs).
  • The Dean and Assistant Dean are expected to be partners in leading the Academy, and the direct cost funding should be divided accordingly.
  • Maximum period of performance is 4 years.
Ovarian Cancer Academy Award – Early-Career Investigator Investigators must be within 5 years of their last postdoctoral research position (Ph.D.) or clinical fellowship (M.D.), or equivalent as of the full application submission deadline. A letter attesting to eligibility is required. Supports the addition of new ECIs to the unique, interactive virtual academy that provides intensive mentoring, national networking, collaborations, and a peer group for junior faculty.
  • ECIs whose ability to commit to conducting ovarian cancer research is limited by lack of resources or other overwhelming obstacles are encouraged to apply.
  • A Designated Mentor who is an experienced ovarian cancer researcher with ovarian cancer funding is required.
  • A Designated Mentor may only mentor one ECI.
  • The Designated Mentor is not required to be at the same institution as the ECI.
  • Preliminary data are required.
  • Clinical trials are not allowed. ECIs that wish to propose a clinical trial may see the “Ovarian Cancer Clinical Trial Academy Award – Early-Career Investigator” award mechanism.
  • Investigators who apply to both the Ovarian Cancer Academy – Early-Career Investigator Award and the Ovarian Cancer Clinical Trial Academy – Early-Career Investigator Award mechanisms may not accept an award from both mechanisms.
Pre-application is required; application submission is by invitation only.
  • Maximum funding of $725,000 for direct costs (plus indirect costs).
  • Maximum period of performance is 4 years.
NEW!  Ovarian Cancer Clinical Trial Academy – Early-Career Investigator Award Investigators that have never received a Clinical Trial Award are eligible for this award. Supports the addition of new ECIs to the unique, interactive virtual academy that provides intensive mentoring, national networking, collaborations, and a peer group for junior faculty.
  • ECIs whose ability to commit to conducting ovarian cancer research is limited by lack of resources or other overwhelming obstacles are encouraged to apply.
  • A Designated Mentor who is an experienced ovarian cancer researcher with ovarian cancer funding is required.
  • A Designated Mentor may only mentor one ECI.
  • The Designated Mentor is not required to be at the same institution as the ECI.
  • Preliminary data are required.
  • Clinical trials are allowed.
  • Investigators who apply to both the Ovarian Cancer Academy – Early-Career Investigator Award and the Ovarian Cancer Clinical Trial Academy – Early-Career Investigator Award mechanisms may not accept an award from both mechanisms.
Submission of an LOI is required prior to full application submission.
  • Maximum funding of $1,000,000 for direct costs (plus indirect costs).
  • Maximum period of performance is 4 years.
Pilot Award Supports innovative, high-risk/high-reward research in ovarian cancer that could ultimately lead to critical discoveries or major advancements that will drive the field forward. Supports innovative, high-risk/high-reward research that could ultimately lead to critical discoveries or major advancements that will drive the field forward.
  • Innovation is an important review criterion.
  • The goal is to develop preliminary data; thus, preliminary data are not required, but are allowed.
  • Clinical trials are not allowed.
  • Research aimed at extending the lives of advanced-state and recurrent patients is encouraged.
Pre-application is required and blinded; application submission is by invitation only.
  • Maximum funding of $300,000 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 funding opportunity announcements that will be 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.

Submission deadlines are not available until the funding opportunity announcements are released. For email notification when announcements are released, subscribe to program-specific news and updates under “Email Subscriptions” on the eBRAP homepage. For more information about the OCRP 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@health.mil


Last updated Thursday, February 8, 2024