The FY20 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. Emphasis is on exposures, conditions, or circumstances that are unique to the military, disproportionately represented in a military beneficiary population, or may affect force readiness. Cancers or circumstances with cancer risk that may affect the Service members’ support system (military families) are of special importance for total mission readiness. 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 FY20 PRCRP Military Health Focus Areas in Section II.A.2, and the mission of the DHP and the FY20 PRCRP. For more information, review the following websites:
· PRCRP Vision Video (https://cdmrp.army.mil/pubs/video/prc/prcrp_vision_video)
· PRCRP (https://cdmrp.army.mil/prcrp/default)
· PRCRP Report to Congress (https://cdmrp.army.mil/prcrp/reports/reports)
· Military Health System (https://www.health.mil)
· VA (https://www.va.gov/)
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 FY20 PRCRP Impact Award (W81XWH-20-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. 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.
A Congressionally mandated Metastatic Cancer Task Force was formed with the purpose of identifying ways to help accelerate clinical and translational research aimed at extending the lives of advanced state and recurrent patients. As a member of the Metastatic Cancer Task Force, CDMRP encourages applicants to review the recommendations (https://health.mil/Reference-Center/Congressional-Testimonies/2018/05/03/Metastatic-Cancer- Research) and submit research ideas to address these recommendations provided they are within the limitations of this funding opportunity and fit within the FY20 PRCRP priorities.