DOD Peer Reviewed Cancer, Idea Award

The Department of Defense’s Fiscal Year 2025 Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program (PRCRP) Idea Award, under funding opportunity number HT942525PRCRPIA, is administered by the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) through the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command. The overarching mission of this program is to support highly innovative, untested, and high-risk/high-reward cancer research concepts that advance scientific knowledge and address the unique needs of military service members, their families, veterans, and the broader public. The CDMRP has administered the PRCRP since its congressional inception in 2009, with the FY25 funding totaling $130 million. The PRCRP Idea Award specifically seeks to fund novel basic research that proposes a shift in scientific paradigms or introduces uniquely creative approaches. Projects that present incremental advances or replications of existing models are not eligible. The proposed research must align with one of the congressionally mandated FY25 PRCRP topic areas, which include specific cancer types such as bladder, blood, brain, colorectal, endometrial, kidney, liver, lung, and several others, excluding breast, prostate, ovarian, and melanoma. Additionally, applications must clearly address at least one of the FY25 PRCRP strategic goals within their assigned portfolio (e.g., prevention, diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, epidemiology). Eligible applicants include both extramural and intramural organizations, such as academic institutions, nonprofits, for-profit organizations, and federal entities excluding the DOD for extramural applications. Principal Investigators must hold a faculty-level or equivalent position. Individuals of all ethnicities, nationalities, and citizenship statuses may apply. Cost sharing or matching is not required. Applications follow a two-step submission process involving a pre-application via eBRAP and a full application upon invitation. Pre-applications are due by June 20, 2025, and selected applicants will be invited by July 23, 2025, to submit full applications by September 25, 2025. The review process includes peer and programmatic review phases, with funding decisions expected by September 30, 2026. Pre-applications must identify the research’s alignment with PRCRP topic areas and military health relevance, and full applications require extensive supporting documentation, including detailed narratives, abstracts, biographical sketches, and data sharing plans. The total funding for the Idea Award is capped at $560,000 per award over a maximum two-year period, inclusive of both direct and indirect costs. Approximately 25 awards are expected to be funded, contingent on the availability of FY25 funds. Restrictions include a prohibition on clinical trials and limits on travel funding. All applicants must ensure active registration in SAM.gov, eBRAP, and Grants.gov. Evaluation criteria emphasize innovation, relevance to military health, the scientific merit of the research strategy, and potential impact. Applicants must also articulate how their research could translate to broader military or civilian applications, and demonstrate capability to carry the research forward post-award. Technical assistance is available through eBRAP and Grants.gov, with contact emails and phone numbers provided for both.