DoD Rare Cancers, Concept Award | HT942524RCRPCA

FY24 DoD Rare Cancers Research Program (RCRP) Concept Award - FAQs

What is the FY24 RCRP Concept Award?

The DoD Rare Cancers Research Program (RCRP) Concept Award (FY24) is a Department of Defense funding mechanism intended to spark bold, high-risk research ideas in rare cancers. It is designed for genuinely new and unproven concepts that could open entirely new lines of investigation, rather than incrementally extending an existing research program.

What is the main purpose of this award?

The central purpose is to support highly innovative, early-stage concepts that may be high-risk but have the potential to be transformative for rare cancers. A successful project is expected to generate insights or initial evidence that could support a larger future research application.

What kind of projects are a good fit for a "Concept Award"?

Projects built around novel hypotheses or unexpected/serendipitous observations are specifically encouraged. The emphasis is on originality and the potential to meaningfully expand what is known about rare cancers or create a distinctly innovative direction for the field.

Does the program require preliminary data?

No. Preliminary data are not required for this award mechanism, reflecting its focus on exploring early-stage, untested ideas.

Is high-risk research allowed or encouraged?

Yes. The program explicitly values potentially groundbreaking approaches even when the work is high-risk, as long as the concept is compelling and could lead to major advances in rare cancer research.

How should applicants demonstrate impact if the idea is untested?

The application is expected to clearly explain how the proposed concept could meaningfully expand knowledge in rare cancers or launch a distinctly innovative direction for the field. The narrative should stand on its own by communicating novelty, rationale, feasibility, and potential impact.

What expectations are stated around rigor and reproducibility?

Even though the award supports early-stage concepts, applicants are expected to use rigorous study design and transparent reporting practices that support reproducibility and translational relevance. The opportunity points to widely recognized standards for rigor in preclinical research, including randomization, blinding, sample-size estimation, and clear data handling practices.

Is the peer review process blinded?

Yes. Peer review is described as a blinded process, meaning reviewers will not know the identity of the Principal Investigator, collaborators, or their institutions. This is intended to keep evaluation focused on the strength of the concept and the proposed approach rather than reputation or organizational affiliation.

What does blinded review mean for how the application should be written?

Because the reviewers will not rely on investigator or institutional identity, the proposal narrative should clearly communicate the novelty, rationale, feasibility, and potential impact without depending on name recognition.

Does this opportunity connect to national priorities around metastatic and recurrent cancer?

Yes. The announcement references recommendations from a congressionally mandated Metastatic Cancer Task Force and encourages applicants to align ideas with those recommendations when appropriate, provided the proposal remains within the scope and priorities of the FY24 RCRP.

Is nuclear medicine research relevant to this funding opportunity?

Yes. The program highlights interest in innovative nuclear medicine and related technologies that could improve early diagnosis, treatment precision, and outcomes. Examples of areas mentioned include noninvasive diagnostic approaches, precision imaging, and targeted therapy concepts, with particular relevance to active-duty Service Members and their Families.

Is womens health specifically emphasized?

Yes. The opportunity emphasizes research that addresses health conditions affecting women uniquely, disproportionately, or differently than men. Applicants are encouraged to incorporate sex as a biological variable when relevant and to connect anticipated findings to improved womens health outcomes or closing knowledge gaps affecting women.

Are military investigators or partnerships encouraged?

Yes. The program strongly encourages applications from military investigators and multidisciplinary partnerships that may include academia, industry, the military services, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and other federal agencies. These collaborations are viewed as a way to leverage specialized expertise, infrastructure, and access to unique clinical populations, increasing the likelihood that discoveries will matter for Service Members, Veterans, and their Families.

If a project depends on special resources or databases, what must be included in the application?

If the proposed work depends on special resources or databases, the application must document access at the time of submission and include a plan to maintain access throughout the project.

Are clinical trials allowed under this award?

No. Clinical trials are not permitted under this award.

How does the funding announcement define a "clinical trial" for purposes of this restriction?

The announcement references the federal regulatory definition of a clinical trial (45 CFR 46.102) and emphasizes that studies where human subjects are prospectively assigned to interventions to evaluate biomedical or behavioral outcomes are not allowed.

Is any human subjects research allowed if clinical trials are prohibited?

The announcement notes that studies involving humans that do not evaluate the safety, effectiveness, or efficacy of an intervention are not considered clinical trials under the referenced definition. This leaves room for certain types of non-trial human subjects research when appropriate.

Which agency runs this opportunity?

The opportunity is run by the Department of the Army through USAMRAA.

Is this a discretionary grant, and what is the CFDA number?

Yes. It is listed as a discretionary grant under CFDA 12.420.

What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number is HT942524RCRPCA.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed as unrestricted in the provided listing.

What was the original closing date?

The original closing date shown in the listing was 2024-08-26.

How many awards were anticipated?

The program anticipated making about 18 awards.

What is the maximum award amount (ceiling)?

The award ceiling is not specified in the provided text.