The FY18 Defense Appropriations Act provides $100 million (M) to the Department of Defense Prostate Cancer Research Program (PCRP) to support innovative, high-impact prostate cancer research. As directed by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, the Defense Health Agency, Research, Development, and Acquisition (DHA RDA) 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).

FY18 PCRP Program Announcements and General Application Instructions for the following award mechanisms are posted on Grants.gov.

The mission of the PCRP is to fund research that will lead to the elimination of death from prostate cancer and enhance the well-being of Service members, Veterans, and all men experiencing the impact of the disease.  Applications submitted to the FY18 PCRP must addresses one or more of the Overarching Challenges (revised for FY18):

·        Develop treatments that improve outcomes for men with lethal prostate cancer

·        Reduce lethal prostate cancer in African Americans, Veterans, and other high-risk populations

·        Define the biology of lethal prostate cancer to reduce death

·        Improve the quality of life for survivors of prostate cancer

http://cdmrp.army.mil/funding/pcrp

Impact Award – Preproposal due July 19, 2018

• Independent investigators at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent)
• Preproposal is required; application submission is by invitation only.
• Supports research projects that have the strong potential to make a major impact on scientific and clinical prostate cancer issues.
• Must address at least one of the FY18 PCRP Overarching Challenges.
• The potential impact of the research is expected to be near-term, with the potential to transform the clinical management of prostate cancer within 5 years after the end of the award.
• Proposed projects may include basic, translational, or clinical research, including small scale clinical trials.
• Detailed transition plan to describe the pathway for moving the project’s findings to the next phase of development after the award is required.
• Preliminary data to support feasibility are required.
• Maximum funding of $750,000 for direct costs (plus indirect costs).
• Maximum period of performance is 3 years.

Idea Development Award – Preproposal due July 6, 2018

• Established Investigators:  Independent investigators at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent)
• Or New Investigators:  Investigators that meet the following criteria at the application submission deadline date:
• Have the freedom to pursue individual aims without formal mentorship
• Have not previously received a PCRP Health Disparity Research Award and/or Idea Development Award
• Have completed at least 3 years of postdoctoral training or fellowship and are within 10 years after completion of terminal degree (excluding residency or family medical leave)
• Preproposal is required; application submission is by invitation only.
• Supports new ideas that represent innovative, high-risk/high-gain approaches to prostate cancer research and have the potential to make an important contribution to eliminating death and enhancing the well-being of men with prostate cancer.
• Emphasis is equally placed on Innovation and Impact.
• Preliminary data are encouraged, but not required.
• Clinical trials are not allowed.
• New Investigator Option supports applicants early in their faculty appointments or in the process of developing independent research careers.
• Maximum funding of $600K for direct costs (plus indirect costs).
• Maximum period of performance is 3 years.

Physician Research Award – Letter of Intent due August 16, 2018

• At the time of application submission, the PI must be either:
• In the last year of an accredited graduate medical education program, either as a resident or fellow:
• or
• Within 3 years of having initiated an appointment as Instructor, Assistant Professor, or equivalent
• Supports a mentored research experience to prepare physicians with clinical duties for careers in prostate cancer research.
• PIs must demonstrate a commitment to a career at the forefront of prostate cancer research and clinical practice.
• PIs must have a designated mentor with an established research program in prostate cancer.
• Institutions must provide at least 40% protection of PI’s time for research.
• Projects that focus on basic research are highly encouraged.
• Must address at least one of the FY18 PCRP Overarching Challenges.
• Maximum funding of $750,000 for direct costs (plus indirect costs).
• Maximum period of performance is 4 years.

Early Investigator Research Award- Letter of Intent due August 16, 2018

By March 31, 2019

Postdoctoral Ph.D. or M.D. PIs:

• Must have successfully defended a doctoral thesis or possess an M.D. degree
• Have 3 years or less of postdoctoral research experience
• Supports research opportunities focused on prostate cancer for individuals in the early stages of their careers.
• PIs must have a designated mentor who is an experienced prostate cancer researcher.
• Must address at least one of the FY18 PCRP Overarching Challenges.
• Maximum funding of $200,000 for direct costs (plus indirect costs).
• Maximum period of performance is 2 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.  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 PCRP or other CDMRP-administered programs, please visit the CDMRP website.

Point of Contact:

CDMRP Help Desk

301-682-5507
help@eBrap.org