DoD Melanoma, Focused Program Award Rare Melanomas

The FY25 Melanoma Research Program (MRP) Focused Program Award – Rare Melanomas (FPA-RM) is offered through the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and administered by the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) under the Defense Health Program. The MRP was established in 2019 to support high-impact and scientifically meritorious research aimed at preventing melanoma, improving early intervention, and enhancing quality of life. For FY25, Congress has allocated $40 million to the MRP, which continues to prioritize rare melanomas through this award mechanism. The FPA-RM is designed to fund multidisciplinary research programs composed of two to three complementary projects addressing a central question relevant to rare melanomas. Projects may range across the full research continuum, from biology to treatment and survivorship, with the intent to address unmet needs and progress toward clinical application. A key aspect of the FPA-RM is its emphasis on collaborative work, requiring a team consisting of an Initiating Principal Investigator (PI) and one or two Partnering PIs, each leading a distinct project. While collaboration with the rare melanoma consumer community is encouraged, it is not mandatory. Approximately $5.6 million will be allocated to support two awards, with each application having a combined total cost cap of $2.8 million for a maximum four-year period of performance. Clinical trials are allowed and must be supported by preliminary data. The funding will be granted through separate awards for each PI, and each award must follow separate administrative requirements. Required costs include travel for a Milestone Meeting in year three, and optional costs may cover research subject compensation and scientific meeting participation. Eligible applicants include domestic and foreign, public or private, for-profit or nonprofit organizations. Both extramural and intramural DoD organizations are permitted to apply. The Initiating PI must be an independent investigator at or above the Associate Professor level, while Partnering PIs must be at or above the Assistant Professor level. Matching funds are not required. The application process involves a two-step submission through eBRAP and Grants.gov. The pre-application, due June 30, 2025, must be submitted by the Initiating PI. Selected applicants will be invited to submit a full application, with a deadline of October 1, 2025. Peer review will occur in December 2025, followed by programmatic review in February 2026. Awards will be finalized by September 30, 2026. Applications are evaluated based on alignment with the program’s vision and mission, scientific merit, team qualifications, impact, and feasibility. Consumer collaboration, data sharing, and post-award transition planning are additional factors in the review process. Contact information for support includes help@eBRAP.org and support@grants.gov.