Opportunity Information: Apply for W81XWH 19 PRCRP CDA
The DoD Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program (PRCRP) Career Development Award (FY19) is a funding opportunity from the Department of Defense (U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity, USAMRAA) designed to help independent, early-career investigators launch strong, long-term careers in cancer research. Its main purpose is to pair a promising new principal investigator (PI) with an established cancer researcher who serves as a Career Guide, so the PI can pursue an impactful, discovery-focused research project while also building the skills and professional foundation needed to become a leading independent researcher. The application is expected to center on the PI: the science should be clearly driven by the PI's ideas and intellectual leadership rather than being an extension of the mentor's existing work.
A defining feature of this award is who can serve as the PI. The PI must be an independent early-career researcher or physician-scientist who is within 10 years of completing a terminal degree at the time of the application deadline. Certain time is excluded from that 10-year window, specifically residency, clinical training, and family medical leave, but time spent as a postdoctoral fellow does not stop the clock. Importantly, postdoctoral fellows are not eligible because the program requires independence. Reviewers consider both the PI's track record and the proposed project when judging whether the applicant is well-positioned to contribute to the PRCRP topic areas. They also look at the applicant's prior and current career development support (beyond institutional startup funds) to gauge whether additional developmental funding is truly needed.
Because this mechanism is explicitly about career development, the institution also has to show real commitment to the PI's success. The organization must confirm that the PI will have laboratory space and at least 50 percent protected time to conduct cancer research. This requirement signals that the award is meant to accelerate an independent research trajectory, not to be squeezed around heavy teaching or clinical loads without adequate support.
Another major requirement is a formal Career Development Plan. This plan must be developed with input from the Career Guide, who is expected to be a well-established cancer researcher with a strong publication and funding record. Beyond credentials, the Career Guide must demonstrate a genuine commitment to mentoring the PI and helping them grow into an independent leader in cancer research. The plan should spell out a practical strategy for the PI to gain the skills, expertise, and professional competencies needed to advance at the forefront of cancer research. It should be clearly tied to at least one of the FY19 PRCRP Topic Areas, meaning the research and the PI's training goals should align with the program's stated scientific priorities.
The proposed research itself must fit the PRCRP scope in two ways. First, it must address at least one of the FY19 PRCRP Topic Areas. Second, it must also address at least one of the FY19 PRCRP Military Health Focus Areas and be demonstrably relevant to military populations, including active duty Service members, Veterans, and their beneficiaries. This military relevance is not a vague preference but a core requirement, and applicants are directed to PRCRP and military health resources (including the Military Health System and the Department of Veterans Affairs) to help frame and justify that connection.
From a scientific readiness standpoint, the program does not require preliminary data, which lowers a common barrier for early-career investigators proposing new directions. Even so, the application still has to be convincing: the PI must provide clear logical reasoning, a strong scientific rationale, and a credible approach showing the work is feasible and well thought out. In other words, novelty is welcome, but the proposal cannot rely on speculation alone.
Finally, impact is central to how the DoD frames the value of the award. Applicants must explain how their research could meaningfully affect cancer research and/or patient care. The program emphasizes work that, if successful, could speed up the path from promising research ideas to clinical application, reinforcing the expectation that the project should aim for outcomes that matter beyond the lab.
Administratively, this opportunity was offered as a discretionary program under CFDA 12.420, using grant and cooperative agreement funding instruments. Eligibility was listed as unrestricted (open to many entity types, subject to any specific eligibility clarifications in the full announcement). The FY19 announcement was posted March 21, 2019, with an original closing date of September 11, 2019, and it anticipated making about 25 awards. The award ceiling was listed as 0 in the provided record, which typically indicates applicants needed to rely on the full solicitation for the actual budget cap and allowable costs.Apply for W81XWH 19 PRCRP CDA
- The Department of Defense, Dept. of the Army -- USAMRAA in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "DoD Peer Reviewed Cancer, Career Development Award" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.420.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 21, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 11, 2019. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 25 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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PRCRP Career Development Award (FY19) FAQs
What is the DoD PRCRP Career Development Award (FY19)?
The Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program (PRCRP) Career Development Award (FY19) is a Department of Defense funding opportunity (administered by the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity, USAMRAA) intended to help independent, early-career investigators launch strong, long-term careers in cancer research.
What is the main goal of this award?
The main goal is career development through a structured pairing: an independent early-career Principal Investigator (PI) is supported while working with an established cancer researcher who serves as a Career Guide. The PI is expected to pursue an impactful, discovery-focused cancer research project while building the skills and professional foundation needed to become a leading independent investigator.
How is this award different from a typical research grant?
This mechanism is explicitly built around the PI's career trajectory. In addition to the research project, the application must include a formal Career Development Plan, and the applicant's institution must demonstrate commitment (including protected research time and space) to support the PI's development as an independent cancer researcher.
Who is intended to apply as the Principal Investigator (PI)?
The PI must be an independent early-career researcher or physician-scientist. The program is specifically designed for investigators who are early in their independent careers (not trainees) and are positioned to grow into long-term leaders in cancer research.
What does "independent" mean for PI eligibility in this program?
Are postdoctoral fellows eligible to apply as PI?
No. Postdoctoral fellows are not eligible because the program requires the PI to be independent.
What is the "within 10 years of terminal degree" requirement?
The PI must be within 10 years of completing a terminal degree at the time of the application deadline.
Does the 10-year eligibility window exclude any time?
Yes. Certain time is excluded from the 10-year window, specifically residency, clinical training, and family medical leave.
Does time as a postdoctoral fellow pause the 10-year clock?
No. Time spent as a postdoctoral fellow does not stop the clock.
What is a Career Guide, and why is one required?
A Career Guide is an established cancer researcher who supports the PI's development. The award is designed around mentorship and structured career growth, so the PI must have a Career Guide who contributes to and supports the formal Career Development Plan.
What qualifications are expected of the Career Guide?
The Career Guide is expected to be a well-established cancer researcher with a strong publication and funding record. Beyond credentials, the Career Guide must demonstrate genuine commitment to mentoring the PI and helping them develop into an independent leader in cancer research.
What is the Career Development Plan?
The Career Development Plan is a required, formal plan developed with input from the Career Guide. It should present a practical strategy for the PI to gain skills, expertise, and professional competencies needed to advance at the forefront of cancer research.
Does the Career Development Plan need to align with PRCRP priorities?
Yes. The plan should be clearly tied to at least one of the FY19 PRCRP Topic Areas, so the PI's training goals and the research project align with the program's scientific priorities.
Does the research project need to align with PRCRP Topic Areas?
Yes. The proposed research must address at least one of the FY19 PRCRP Topic Areas.
Is military relevance required for the research?
Yes. Military relevance is a core requirement, not just a preference. The proposed research must be demonstrably relevant to military populations.
What military populations does the program emphasize?
The program notes relevance to active duty Service members, Veterans, and their beneficiaries.
In addition to PRCRP Topic Areas, what other scope requirement applies?
In addition to addressing at least one FY19 PRCRP Topic Area, the research must also address at least one FY19 PRCRP Military Health Focus Area.
Are applicants expected to use specific resources to support the military relevance justification?
Applicants are directed to PRCRP and military health resources, including the Military Health System and the Department of Veterans Affairs, to help frame and justify the military relevance connection.
Is preliminary data required for this award?
No. The program does not require preliminary data.
If preliminary data is not required, how should feasibility be demonstrated?
The application still must be convincing. The PI is expected to provide clear logical reasoning, a strong scientific rationale, and a credible approach demonstrating that the work is feasible and well thought out.
What is meant by "discovery-focused" in this opportunity?
The award supports impactful, discovery-focused research, while still expecting a well-reasoned and feasible plan. The program welcomes novelty, but proposals cannot rely on speculation alone.
How does the program define or emphasize "impact"?
Impact is central. Applicants must explain how the research could meaningfully affect cancer research and/or patient care. The program emphasizes work that could accelerate the path from research ideas to clinical application.
How do reviewers assess the PI?
Reviewers consider both the PI's track record and the proposed project to judge whether the applicant is well-positioned to contribute to PRCRP Topic Areas.
Do reviewers consider the PI's existing career development support?
Yes. Reviewers look at the applicant's prior and current career development support (beyond institutional startup funds) to gauge whether additional developmental funding is truly needed.
What institutional commitments are required?
The institution must confirm the PI will have laboratory space and at least 50% protected time to conduct cancer research.
Why is the 50% protected time requirement important?
It signals that the award is meant to accelerate an independent research trajectory and should not be squeezed around heavy teaching or clinical loads without adequate support.
Who is the sponsoring/issuing agency for this opportunity?
The opportunity is from the Department of Defense and is administered through the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA).
What is the program identifier (CFDA) associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity was offered as a discretionary program under CFDA 12.420.
What funding instruments are used?
The opportunity uses grant and cooperative agreement funding instruments.
Is eligibility restricted to certain organization types?
Eligibility was listed as unrestricted (open to many entity types), subject to any specific eligibility clarifications in the full announcement.
When was the FY19 announcement posted, and what was the closing date?
The FY19 announcement was posted on March 21, 2019, with an original closing date of September 11, 2019.
How many awards were anticipated under this FY19 opportunity?
The announcement anticipated making about 25 awards.
What is the maximum award amount (ceiling) for this opportunity?
The provided record lists an award ceiling of 0, which typically indicates applicants needed to rely on the full solicitation for the actual budget cap and allowable costs.
Does the award focus more on the mentor's work or the PI's work?
The application is expected to center on the PI. The science should be clearly driven by the PI's ideas and intellectual leadership, rather than being an extension of the Career Guide's existing work.
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| DoD Peer Reviewed Cancer, Horizon Award Apply for W81XWH 19 PRCRP HA Funding Number: W81XWH 19 PRCRP HA Agency: Department of Defense, Dept. of the Army -- USAMRAA Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| DoD Peer Reviewed Cancer, Idea Award with Special Focus Apply for W81XWH 19 PRCRP IASF Funding Number: W81XWH 19 PRCRP IASF Agency: Department of Defense, Dept. of the Army -- USAMRAA Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| DoD Peer Reviewed Cancer, Impact Award Apply for W81XWH 19 PRCRP IPA Funding Number: W81XWH 19 PRCRP IPA Agency: Department of Defense, Dept. of the Army -- USAMRAA Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| DoD Peer Reviewed Cancer, Translational Team Science Award Apply for W81XWH 19 PRCRP TTSA Funding Number: W81XWH 19 PRCRP TTSA Agency: Department of Defense, Dept. of the Army -- USAMRAA Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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