DOD Peer Reviewed Cancer, Career Development Award Fellow and Resident Option

The Department of Defense’s Defense Health Program is offering the FY25 Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program (PRCRP) Career Development Award – Fellow and Resident Option (CDA-FRO) to support early-career investigators pursuing impactful research in cancer. This initiative is administered by the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) through the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC). The PRCRP was initiated in 2009 and has been allocated approximately $1.04 billion through FY24, with an additional $130 million for FY25. The purpose of this program is to promote scientific breakthroughs that address military-relevant cancers and critical research gaps across various cancer types while advancing the careers of junior researchers in the field. This opportunity includes two separate tracks: the Fellow Option for early-career researchers or physician-scientists within seven years of their terminal degree (excluding time spent in clinical training, family medical leave, or residency) and the Resident Option for medical residents in accredited graduate medical education programs. Both tracks require applicants to propose research aligned with one of the PRCRP’s congressionally designated topic areas and strategic goals and to include a detailed career development plan overseen by a qualified Career Guide with expertise in cancer research. Each application must demonstrate relevance to military health, especially focusing on environmental exposure risks, mission readiness, and quality of life improvements for service members and their families. Approximately $6.72 million is expected to fund about 12 awards. Funding caps are $280,000 for the Resident Option – Research Level 1 (1-year), and $560,000 for the Fellow Option and Resident Option – Research Level 2 (2-year Fellow/Resident research). The Fellow Option supports a maximum 3-year performance period. All funds must be obligated by September 30, 2026, and spent by September 30, 2031. Funding covers direct and indirect costs, including travel for scientific dissemination but excludes costs for clinical trials. Clinical research (non-intervention-based studies) is allowed, but clinical trials are not. Eligible applicants include both extramural and intramural organizations, including academic institutions, non-profits, federal agencies (excluding the DOD for extramural awards), and private entities. Postdoctoral fellows are not eligible. For the Fellow Option, PIs must have nominal external funding; those with major grants like NIH R01s are not eligible. Residents must commit to one or two years of research, and their institutions must support this with lab space and time protections. The Career Guide must hold a position of at least Associate Professor and demonstrate mentorship experience and a record in cancer research. The submission process involves two steps: a pre-application via eBRAP due by 5:00 p.m. ET on June 20, 2025, and a full application due by 11:59 p.m. ET on July 3, 2025, via Grants.gov or eBRAP (for intramural DOD organizations only). All applications must also include confidential letters of recommendation, one from the Career Guide and two from independent researchers, by July 8, 2025. Applications must include multiple documents such as project narrative, technical and lay abstracts, statement of work, impact and military relevance statements, and career development plans. Applications will be peer-reviewed in September 2025 and programmatically reviewed in November 2025. Funding notifications will be issued about six weeks after programmatic review, and awards will be finalized before September 30, 2026. Contact information for technical assistance includes the eBRAP Help Desk (help@eBRAP.org, 301-682-5507) and the Grants.gov Contact Center (support@grants.gov, 800-518-4726).

Carefully choose between Fellow or Resident option based on career stage Clearly align with one topic area, one strategic goal, and one military health focus Letters from Career Guide and institution confirming lab space and protected time are crucial