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Ovarian Cancer

NEWS RELEASE

Released: April 1, 2025

Department of Defense
Defense Health Agency Research and Development -
Medical Research and Development Command
Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP)
Ovarian Cancer Research Program
Anticipated Funding Opportunities for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25)

The Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act of 2025 provides $650M in funding for the CDMRP. Congress provided further guidance for CDMRP program-level funding, including funding for the Ovarian Cancer Research Program (OCRP). The FY25 OCRP intends 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 CDMRP is part of the Defense Health Agency Research and Development at the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC) and is the program office managing these anticipated FY25 funding opportunities.

The OCRP is providing the information in this pre-announcement to allow investigators time to plan and develop ideas for submission to the anticipated FY25 funding opportunities. This pre-announcement should not be construed as an obligation by the government. The FY25 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 FY25 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 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
  • Improve precision medicine

Award Mechanism Eligibility Key Mechanism Elements Funding
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 $1,050,000 for total costs (including direct and indirect costs).
  • Maximum funding of $1,400,000 for total costs (including direct and indirect costs) for the Partnering PI Option.
  • Maximum period of performance is 4 years.
Ovarian Cancer Clinical Trial Academy - Early-Career Investigator Award Investigators must be within 12 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 Clinical Trial Academy that provides intensive mentoring, national networking, collaborations and a peer group for junior faculty.
    • ECIs whose ability to commit to conducting ovarian cancer clinical trial research is limited by lack of resources or other overwhelming obstacles are encouraged to apply.
    • A Designated Mentor with clinical trial experience and an active clinical trial 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.
  • Pre-application is required; application submission is by invitation only.
  • Maximum funding of $1,400,000 for total costs (including direct and indirect costs).
  • Maximum period of performance is 4 years.
Pilot Award Investigators at the level of postdoctoral fellow or clinical fellow (or equivalent).
  • 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.
    • 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.
  • Early Detection or Prevention Option: Supports innovative, high-risk/high-reward research in ovarian cancer focused on the fields of ovarian cancer early detection or ovarian cancer prevention.
  • Pre-application is required and blinded; application submission is by invitation only.
  • Maximum funding of $350,000 for total costs (including direct and 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 at https://eBRAP.org. 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
dha.detrick.cdmrp.mbx.public-affairs@health.mil


Last updated Monday, March 31, 2025