DOD Peer Reviewed Cancer, Impact Award

The FY25 Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program (PRCRP) Impact Award is administered by the Department of Defense (DOD) through the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP). The overarching mission of CDMRP is to foster novel approaches to biomedical research in response to the needs of military service members, veterans, and the general public. The PRCRP was created in 2009 and has allocated over $1 billion to date for high-impact cancer research projects. This program prioritizes studies that will yield near-term clinical impacts and enhance treatment options and healthcare outcomes for populations affected by cancer, particularly within the Military Health System (MHS). The PRCRP Impact Award funds mature, translational, and clinical research projects aimed at improving cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship. It is open to research targeting 25 congressionally specified cancer topic areas such as blood cancers, brain cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, and pediatric cancers, among others. Importantly, research related to breast, prostate, or ovarian cancers, as well as melanoma, is explicitly excluded. Projects must also align with one of the FY25 PRCRP strategic goals and demonstrate relevance to military health by addressing service-related risk exposures, mission readiness gaps, or survivorship and quality of life issues for military beneficiaries. Applications can be submitted by both extramural and intramural entities, including academic institutions, private organizations, and DOD medical centers. Principal Investigators (PIs) must be independent investigators at or above the Assistant Professor level. The award allows for either a single PI or a partnership model with Initiating and Partnering PIs. All projects must include preliminary data, demonstrate translational potential, and include a rigorous statistical and data analysis plan. Applications involving clinical trials must initiate them within one year of the award. Applicants must follow a two-step application process, beginning with a pre-application due by June 20, 2025, via the eBRAP portal. Selected applicants will be invited to submit a full application by September 25, 2025, through Grants.gov or eBRAP, depending on applicant status. Applications are peer-reviewed and evaluated based on scientific merit, impact potential, relevance to military health, and alignment with strategic goals. Award notices are expected by the end of FY2026. Each award supports up to three years of research, with total cost caps of $1.4 million for single PI submissions and $1.75 million for partnered PI models. Awards include both direct and indirect costs. No cost-sharing or matching is required. A comprehensive application package includes narratives, detailed budgets, statements of work, and documentation of military health relevance. Post-award requirements include annual and final progress reports, data sharing plans, and compliance with federal and DOD regulations regarding human and animal research protections. Contact information includes the eBRAP Help Desk (help@eBRAP.org, 301-682-5507) for technical assistance and Grants.gov support (support@grants.gov, 800-518-4726) for registration and submission guidance.