DoD Breast Cancer Breakthrough Award | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the DoD Breast Cancer Breakthrough Award (BCRP Breakthrough Award)?

The DoD Breast Cancer Breakthrough Award is a discretionary research funding opportunity under the Department of the Army/USAMRAA (CFDA 12.420, Military Medical Research and Development). It supports breast cancer research projects that can plausibly produce a true breakthrough, with an emphasis on outcomes that go beyond incremental advances.

What is the main goal or theme of this award?

The central theme is impact. Proposals are expected to aim for results that could meaningfully accelerate progress toward ending breast cancer. Applicants must clearly explain how the research could ultimately matter for breast cancer patients, even if direct clinical impact is not expected immediately.

Does the program support near-term or long-term research payoffs?

Both. The program allows for projects with near-term and long-term payoff, as long as the application clearly articulates how the work could ultimately affect breast cancer patients and accelerate progress.

What funding levels are available under this opportunity?

The solicitation offers two funding levels. Investigators choose the level that matches their project scope and maturity stage: Funding Level 1 and Funding Level 2.

What is Funding Level 1 intended for?

Funding Level 1 is intended for innovative, high-risk/high-reward concepts at the earliest stages. The focus may be on proof of concept and creating entirely new research directions, and preliminary data are not required.

Are preliminary data required for Funding Level 1?

No. Preliminary data are not required for Funding Level 1.

What is Funding Level 2 intended for?

Funding Level 2 is intended for research that already has preliminary data and is positioned to make major advances toward translation from the lab to the clinic. The expectation is stronger evidence and readiness, reflecting a clearer path toward application in patient care.

What level of evidence or readiness is expected for Funding Level 2?

At Funding Level 2, the solicitation signals an expectation for stronger evidence and readiness, such as demonstrating efficacy in relevant in vivo models or, where appropriate, through clinical research studies, indicating a clearer trajectory toward clinical application.

What is a required element of applications across both funding levels?

A detailed implementation plan is a defining requirement across both levels. Applications must lay out critical milestones and describe the expertise, resources, and any technical innovations that will be used to reach those milestones.

What does the solicitation say about statistics and quantitative rigor?

Where the science calls for quantitative rigor, the program expects a robust statistical plan and access to statistical expertise. This signals a preference for well-justified study designs and credible, reproducible conclusions rather than exploratory claims.

Does this opportunity encourage collaboration?

Yes. The award explicitly encourages collaboration through a Partnering PI Option, allowing two principal investigators to apply together as equal scientific partners within a single integrated application.

What is the Partnering PI Option?

The Partnering PI Option allows two PIs to apply together, with one designated as the Initiating PI and the other as the Partnering PI. Each PI receives a separate award while contributing to one integrated application.

Do the two PIs need to be from the same discipline?

No. Collaborators may come from similar fields or entirely different disciplines, but each PI is expected to bring distinct strengths to the project.

Are new partnerships required under the Partnering PI Option?

No. New partnerships are welcomed but not mandatory. The key expectation is that the collaboration is meaningful, productive, and clearly improves the ability to answer the research question.

How should applicants justify a two-PI collaboration?

Applications are expected to explain why the work is stronger as a true collaboration rather than two parallel efforts, and to show that each PI contributes distinct strengths that improve the integrated project.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this solicitation?

The Funding Opportunity Number listed is W81XWH 13 BCRP BREAKTHROUGH2.

What type of funding mechanism was used?

This opportunity was offered as a grant/cooperative agreement mechanism in the science and technology/research and development category.

How much total funding was estimated, and how many awards were anticipated?

The estimated total funding level was $13.1 million, with an anticipated 20 awards.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was listed as unrestricted (open to any entity type), subject to any additional eligibility notes that may have been included in the full announcement.

Was cost sharing or matching required?

No. There was no cost sharing or matching requirement.

When was this opportunity posted and when did it close?

The posting date was August 23, 2013, and the closing date was January 15, 2014. It was archived on February 14, 2014.

Who should applicants contact for access or submission issues?

For access or submission issues, applicants were directed to the CDMRP Help Desk at 301-682-5507 or help@cdmrp.org.

Which CFDA program is associated with this opportunity?

This opportunity is associated with CFDA 12.420, Military Medical Research and Development.

Which organization administers this award?

The award is administered through the Department of the Army/USAMRAA.