DoD Rare Cancers, Resource and Community Development Award

The FY25 Rare Cancers Research Program (RCRP) Resource and Community Development Award (RCDA), offered by the Department of Defense (DOD) through the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP), is designed to support the development of research platforms, clinical and preclinical data sets, and other resources to advance rare cancer research. The RCRP aims to improve outcomes for individuals affected by cancers that impact six or fewer individuals per 100,000 annually in the United States. The program addresses key research gaps such as limited access to clinical specimens, ineffective data-sharing infrastructure, and a shortage of communication strategies within scientific and patient communities. The RCDA specifically seeks to fund research that builds robust platforms capable of sharing data, biospecimens, and research models to enhance rare cancer investigations. Projects must engage patient advocates from the outset and throughout the project lifecycle. These advocates must be directly affected by rare cancer and actively involved in advocacy organizations. Their input is essential in shaping the research questions, implementation, and evaluation of the proposed platforms. Applications must emphasize sustainability and community building while clearly articulating the advantages of the proposed resources over existing solutions. Eligible applicants include both domestic and foreign, for-profit and non-profit organizations, encompassing extramural institutions such as academic centers, federal agencies outside the DOD, and biotechnology companies, as well as intramural DOD entities. Principal Investigators must be independent researchers at or above the Assistant Professor level or equivalent. Cost-sharing is not a requirement for eligibility. Research projects involving human subjects are permissible, but clinical trials are explicitly prohibited. The application process is two-phased. A pre-application (preproposal) must be submitted via eBRAP by July 1, 2025. Selected applicants will be invited to submit full applications by October 6, 2025, through either eBRAP (intramural applicants) or Grants.gov (extramural applicants). Required materials include a project narrative, technical and lay abstracts, statements of work, detailed dissemination and sustainment plans, justification for rare cancer classification, and patient advocate engagement documentation. Full applications will be peer and programmatically reviewed on criteria including impact, design, personnel qualifications, patient advocate integration, dissemination, and sustainability. Approximately $5.6 million in total program funding is available to support up to five awards, each with a maximum budget of $1.12 million in total costs (direct and indirect), for a performance period of up to four years. Funding decisions are expected by September 30, 2026, with award funds expiring for use by September 30, 2031. For application support, applicants may contact the eBRAP Help Desk (help@eBRAP.org, 301-682-5507) or the Grants.gov Contact Center (support@grants.gov, 800-518-4726).