The FY21 PRCRP Idea Award supports innovative, untested, high-risk/potentially high-reward concepts, theories, paradigms, and/or methods in cancer research that are relevant to active-duty Service Members, Veterans, other military beneficiaries, and the American public. Cancers or circumstances with cancer risk that may affect the Service Members’ support system (military families) are of special importance. The advancement of knowledge in cancer research, patient care, and/or treatment options in the Military Health System (MHS) is critical to active-duty Service Members, Veterans, other military beneficiaries, and the American public. Relevance to military health should be articulated with respect to the overall MHS, the FY21 PRCRP Military Health Focus Areas in Section II.A.2, and the mission of the DHP and the FY21 PRCRP.
The Idea Award is not intended to support a logical progression of an already established research project. The proposed research should be innovative. A key characteristic of this funding opportunity is innovation. Innovative research may introduce a new paradigm, challenge existing paradigms, look at existing problems from new perspectives, or exhibit other highly creative qualities. Incremental advances, the next logical step, or switching a model system from one cancer to another cancer is not considered innovative. The proposed research project should include a well-formulated, testable hypothesis based on strong scientific rationale and study design. It is the responsibility of the Principal Investigator (PI) to select the funding opportunity that is most appropriate for the research proposed.
For studies with strong preliminary data that support the next step in research with potential to impact patient outcomes, please consider the FY21 PRCRP Impact Award (W81XWH-21-PRCRP-IPA).
Inclusion of preliminary data is not required. This award is not intended to support ongoing research in the applicant’s laboratory; therefore, inclusion of preliminary data other than serendipitous findings is not consistent with the exploratory nature of this award. If preliminary data are included in the application, it will be subjected to evaluation. The outcome of research supported by this award should be the generation of robust preliminary data that can be used as a foundation for future research projects to understand the mechanisms of initiation or progression of cancer, the quality of life during and following cancer treatment, etc.