Due to the current Continuing Resolution, the Fiscal Year 2018 (FY18) Defense Appropriations bill has not been passed. Although funds have not been appropriated for the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program (BCRP), the BCRP is providing the information in this pre-announcement to allow investigators time to plan and develop ideas for submission to the anticipated FY18 funding opportunities.

FY18 BCRP Program Announcements and General Application Instructions for the following award mechanisms are anticipated to be posted on Grants.gov in March 2018.  Pre-application and application deadlines will be available when the Program Announcements are released.  This pre-announcement should not be construed as an obligation by the Government, and funding of research projects received in response to these Program Announcements is contingent on the availability of Federal funds appropriated for the BCRP.

As directed by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, the Defense Health Agency (DHA), J9 Research and Development Directorate manages the Defense Health Program (DHP) Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) appropriation.  The managing agent for the anticipated Program Announcements/Funding Opportunities is the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP).

Applications submitted to the FY18 BCRP must address one or more of the following overarching challenges:

• Prevent breast cancer (primary prevention)
• Identify determinants of breast cancer initiation, risk, or susceptibility
• Distinguish deadly from non-deadly breast cancers
• Conquer the problems of over diagnosis and overtreatment
• Identify what drives breast cancer growth; determine how to stop it
• Identify why some breast cancers become metastatic
• Determine why/how breast cancer cells lie dormant for years and then re-emerge; determine how to prevent lethal recurrence
• Revolutionize treatment regimens by replacing them with ones that are more effective, less toxic, and impact survival
• Eliminate the mortality associated with metastatic breast cancer

Breakthrough Award

·       Investigators at all academic levels (or equivalent)

• Senior postdoctoral fellows who do not meet the eligibility requirements of the Breakthrough Fellowship Award are encouraged to apply under Funding Levels 1 and 2
• Supports promising research that has the potential to lead to or make breakthroughs in breast cancer.

• Potential impact of the research may be near-term or long-term, but it must be significant and go beyond an incremental advancement.
• Partnering PI Option allows two PIs, termed Initiating and Partnering PIs, to collaborate on a single application.
• Four different funding levels, based on the scope of research, are available.  It is the responsibility of the PI to select the funding level that is most appropriate for the research proposed.  The funding level should be selected based on the scope of the research project, rather than the amount of the budget.

The following are general descriptions, although not all-inclusive, of the scope of research projects that would be appropriate to propose under each funding level:

• Funding Level 1:  Innovative, high-risk/high-reward research that is in the earliest stages of idea development.  Research with potential to yield new avenues of investigation.  Proof of concept.  No preliminary data required.
• Funding Level 2:  Research that is already supported by preliminary data and has potential to make significant advancements toward clinical translation.
• Funding Level 3:  Advanced translational studies that have potential for near-term clinical investigation.  Small-scale clinical trials may apply.
• Funding Level 4:  Large-scale projects that will transform and revolutionize the clinical management and/or prevention of breast cancer.  Near-term clinical impact is expected.  Human clinical testing is required. 
• PIs are expected to have experience in successfully leading large-scale projects.

Funding Levels 1 and 2:

·       Submission of a Letter of Intent is required prior to full application submission.

·       Each PI may submit only one application as a PI or Initiating PI.  There are no limitations on the number of applications for which an investigator may be named as a Partnering PI.  However, applicants are discouraged from submitting as a Partnering PI on multiple applications unless they are clearly unique, meaningful collaborations addressing distinct research questions.

·       Additional funds are available for applications submitted under the Partnering PI Option.

·       Clinical trials are not allowed.

Funding Levels 3 and 4:

·       Preproposal is required; application submission is by invitation only.

·       Each PI may submit only one application as a PI or Initiating PI.  There are no limitations on the number of applications for which an investigator may be named as a Partnering PI.  However, applicants are discouraged from submitting as a Partnering PI on multiple applications unless they are clearly unique, meaningful collaborations addressing distinct research questions.

·       Additional funds are available for Funding Level 3 applications submitted under the Partnering PI Option.

·       PIs must include two or more breast cancer advocates on their research team.

• Clinical trials are allowed.

Funding Level 1:

Maximum funding of $375,000 for direct costs (plus indirect costs)

Maximum period of performance is 3 years

Funding Level 1 – Partnering PI Option:

Maximum funding of $600,000 for direct costs (plus indirect costs)

Maximum period of performance is 3 years

Funding Level 2:

Maximum funding of $750,000 for direct costs (plus indirect costs)

Maximum period of performance is 3 years

Funding Level 2 – Partnering PI Option:

Maximum funding of $1M for direct costs (plus indirect costs)

Maximum period of performance is 3 years

Funding Level 3:

Maximum funding of $2.5M in direct costs (plus indirect costs)

Maximum period of performance is 4 years

Funding Level 3 – Partnering PI Option:

Maximum funding of $4M for direct costs (plus indirect costs)

Maximum period of performance is 4 years

Funding Level 4 and Funding Level 4 – Partnering PI Option:

Maximum funding of $10M for direct costs (plus indirect costs)

Maximum period of performance is 4 years

Breakthrough Fellowship Award

As of the application submission deadline, all eligible PIs must have:

·        Successfully completed the requirements for a doctoral or medical degree, and

·        Been in the laboratory or clinical research setting in which the proposed research is to be performed for no more than 2 years, and

·        A total of less than 4 years’ experience in a postdoctoral fellowship or mentored clinical research training program (excludes any clinical residency or fellowship training)

Mentor

Must have breast cancer research experience, including current funding and recent publications

·       Supports exceptionally talented, “best and brightest” recent doctoral or medical graduates in pursuit of promising research that has the potential to lead to or make breakthroughs in breast cancer.

·       Potential impact of the research may be near-term or long-term, but it must be significant and go beyond an incremental advancement.

·       Individualized researcher development plan and mentorship should prepare the PI for an independent career at the forefront of breast cancer research or patient care.

·       The PI is not required to have previous experience in breast cancer research.

·       Maximum funding of $300,000 for direct costs (plus indirect costs)

• Maximum period of performance is 3 years

Era of Hope Scholar Award

Independent, non-mentored investigators within 6 years of their last training position (e.g., postdoctoral fellowship, medical residency, clinical fellowship) as of the application submission deadline

·       Submission of a Letter of Intent is required prior to full application submission.

·       Supports exceptionally talented, creative early-career scientists who have demonstrated that they are the “best and brightest” in their fields.

·       PIs should articulate a vision that challenges current dogma and demonstrates an ability to look beyond tradition and convention.

·       PIs must exhibit strong potential for leadership in breast cancer.

• PIs are required to include breast cancer advocates on their research team.

·       Maximum funding of $2.5M for direct costs (plus indirect costs)

• Maximum period of performance is 4 years

Innovator Award

Associate Professor or above (or equivalent).

·       Supports visionary individuals who have demonstrated creativity, innovative work, and leadership in any field.

·       Provides opportunity to pursue novel, visionary, high-risk ideas that will accelerate progress toward ending breast cancer.

·       PIs must include breast cancer advocates on their research team.

• Preproposal is required; application submission is by invitation only.

·       Maximum funding of $5M for direct costs (plus indirect costs).

• Maximum period of performance is 4 years

Distinguished Investigator Award

Assistant Professor or above (or equivalent) and more than 6 years beyond the PI’s last training position as of the application submission deadline

·       Seeks new paradigms in breast cancer research by supporting investigators who are established and recognized leaders with a renowned reputation in their field and who propose a fundamental shift from their track record of research.

·       Does not support continuation of or minor advancement from the PI’s published line of research.

·       If the PI is not an established breast cancer researcher, he/she must clearly articulate a motivation and commitment for proposing a conceptual shift in his/her research and must include at least one collaborator with breast cancer expertise.

·       PIs must include two or more breast cancer advocates on their research team.

·       High-risk/high-reward projects pursuing innovative new paradigms are encouraged, but not required.

• Preproposal is required; application submission is by invitation only.

·       Maximum funding of $3M for direct costs (plus indirect costs)

• Maximum period of performance is 4 years

A pre-application is required and must be submitted through the electronic Biomedical Research Application Portal (eBRAP) at https://eBRAP.org prior to the pre-application deadline.  All applications must conform to the final Program Announcements and General Application Instructions that will be available for electronic downloading from the Grants.gov website.  The application package containing the required forms for each award mechanism will also be found on Grants.gov.  A listing of all CDMRP funding opportunities can be obtained on the Grants.gov website by performing a basic search using CFDA Number 12.420. 

Applications must be submitted through the federal government’s single-entry portal, Grants.gov.  Submission deadlines are not available until the Program Announcements are released.  For email notification when Program Announcements are released, subscribe to program-specific news and updates under “Email Subscriptions” on the eBRAP homepage at https://eBRAP.org.  For more information about the BCRP or other CDMRP-administered programs, please visit the CDMRP website (http://cdmrp.army.mil).

Point of Contact:

CDMRP Public Affairs
301-619-9783
usarmy.detrick.medcom-cdmrp.mbx.cdmrp-public-affairs@mail.mil