DoD Lung Cancer Concept Award | Apply Online

DoD Lung Cancer Concept Award (W81XWH-15-LCRP-CA) FAQs

1) What is the DoD Lung Cancer Concept Award?

The DoD Lung Cancer Concept Award is a lung cancer research funding mechanism under the Lung Cancer Research Program (LCRP), managed through the Department of the Army, U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA). It supports bold, early-stage lung cancer ideas intended to shift how lung cancer is understood or studied, rather than extending a mature, well-established research trajectory.

2) What is the goal or purpose of this award?

The central purpose is to give investigators room to test a highly innovative concept or an untested theory aimed at an important lung cancer problem. The award is meant to enable high-risk, high-reward science, including concepts that may arise from unexpected or serendipitous observations, with the potential to open new directions for lung cancer research.

3) What types of projects are a good fit for this Concept Award?

Projects that propose a highly innovative concept or untested theory and clearly explain why it is worth testing are a good fit. The mechanism emphasizes ideas that could meaningfully add something new to the lung cancer field, either by enhancing existing knowledge in a fresh way or by launching a novel investigative path.

4) What types of projects are not the best fit for this opportunity?

Work that simply extends an already well-developed research track is not the intended focus. The Concept Award is positioned for early-stage, potentially disruptive ideas rather than incremental advancements on a mature line of research.

5) Is preliminary data required or expected?

No. A key feature of this award is that it intentionally discourages the inclusion of preliminary data. Instead of relying on strong pilot results, applicants are expected to make a credible case based on logical reasoning, clear scientific rationale, and a well-argued explanation of the concept and its importance to lung cancer.

6) If preliminary data is discouraged, what should the application rely on?

Applications should rely on a clear scientific rationale, logical reasoning, and a strong argument for why the concept is important and testable. The proposal must clearly describe how the idea would add something meaningfully new to the lung cancer field.

7) How should an applicant describe the novelty of the proposed work?

Applicants should clearly explain how the proposed idea contributes something meaningfully new, either by reframing or enhancing current knowledge in a fresh way or by creating a novel investigative path that could open new research directions.

8) Is the Concept Award intended to support follow-on funding efforts?

Yes, in practice it is often positioned as a springboard. If the concept works, the project may generate initial evidence needed to support a more traditional, data-driven application later.

9) Is military relevance important for this award?

Yes. Military relevance is a formal consideration during programmatic review. Proposals are expected to connect their lung cancer aims to the real health needs of Service members, Veterans, and their families.

10) What kinds of collaborations are encouraged?

The opportunity strongly encourages collaboration with, or submissions from, investigators connected to military and Veteran health and research settings. Partnerships involving military treatment facilities, military laboratories, and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers or research labs are explicitly promoted.

11) How can an application demonstrate military relevance?

Examples provided include: using military or Veteran populations or datasets; collaborating with DoD or VA investigators; involving military consultants or specialty leaders aligned with the Surgeons General; and clearly explaining how the lung cancer issue being targeted matters directly to military health system beneficiaries (Service members, Veterans, and their families).

12) Which organization runs this funding opportunity?

The funding mechanism is run through the Department of the Army, U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA), under the Lung Cancer Research Program (LCRP).

13) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this award?

The Funding Opportunity Number is W81XWH-15-LCRP-CA.

14) When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?

The opportunity was posted on May 26, 2015. The original and current closing date is listed as August 11, 2015. The archive date is September 10, 2015.

15) What type of funding instrument is used?

The funding instrument type is listed as a cooperative agreement and grant.

16) What category does this opportunity fall under?

It is listed under the Science and Technology / Research and Development category.

17) What is the CFDA number for this program?

The CFDA number is 12.420 (Military Medical Research and Development).

18) How many awards were anticipated and what was the estimated total funding?

The program anticipated making about 13 awards, with an estimated total funding level of $2,080,000.

19) Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The opportunity states that it did not require cost sharing or matching.

20) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility was described as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), subject to any additional eligibility clarifications in the full announcement.

21) Where do applicants go for access or technical help?

For access or technical issues related to the announcement, the listed point of contact is the CDMRP Help Desk. Phone: 301-682-5507. Email: help@eBRAP.org. This reflects that submissions and applicant support commonly run through the eBRAP portal used by CDMRP-managed programs.