DoD Prostate Cancer Physician Research Award | Apply Online

DoD Prostate Cancer Physician Research Award (PRA) - Frequently Asked Questions

1) What is the DoD Prostate Cancer Physician Research Award designed to support?

The DoD Prostate Cancer Physician Research Award is built to help early-career physicians who still have meaningful clinical responsibilities develop a strong, research-focused career in prostate cancer. The award emphasizes a structured, mentored research experience that creates real space for research while the physician remains clinically connected.

2) Who is expected to lead the project and application?

The physician applicant is expected to serve as the Principal Investigator (PI), meaning the physician leads the application, directs the proposed project, and owns the project direction. While the award is mentored, it is not structured as the physician simply joining someone else's lab as a trainee; the physician remains the lead scientist on the proposal.

3) How are applications evaluated at a high level?

The program places equal weight on (1) the strength and rigor of the proposed prostate cancer research and (2) the quality of the PI's career development plan that demonstrates how the award will move the physician toward long-term independence as a prostate cancer investigator.

4) What kinds of prostate cancer research projects are allowed?

Projects may be in basic science, population science, translational research, or clinical research, as long as they are clearly grounded in prostate cancer and positioned to matter to patients.

5) What career stage is the award targeting?

Eligibility is aimed at physicians in a specific window: by the submission deadline, the PI must either be in the last year of an accredited residency or fellowship program, or be within three years of starting a faculty-level appointment (such as Instructor, Assistant Professor, or an equivalent position). The opportunity is specifically framed for early-career physicians who also carry clinical duties.

6) Are clinical duties required for the PI?

Yes. The eligibility description is tailored to physicians who have clinical duties and are still balancing clinical responsibilities alongside building a research career.

7) Is prior prostate cancer research experience required?

No. Prior prostate cancer research experience is not required. What matters is a credible, demonstrated commitment to becoming an investigator who advances prostate cancer research while staying connected to clinical practice.

8) How much protected time for research does the award intend to provide?

The award is intended to protect at least 40 percent of the PI's time for prostate cancer research. This is meant to ensure the physician has meaningful, dedicated time away from clinical workload to execute the research and training plan.

9) Is mentorship required?

Yes. Mentorship is a core pillar of this award and is not optional. Each application must include at least one designated Mentor.

10) What qualifications should the Mentor have?

The Mentor must have an established prostate cancer research program. The opportunity text indicates this track record is expected to be demonstrated through recent publications, active research funding, and evidence of successful mentorship of prior trainees.

11) What is the Mentor expected to do beyond having strong credentials?

The Mentor is expected to show a clear commitment to helping the PI progress toward independence. The mentoring relationship should be structured and intentional (not informal), and the application should reflect appropriate guidance from the Mentor(s) while keeping the physician applicant centered as the lead scientist.

12) Is preliminary data required to apply?

No. Preliminary data is encouraged but not required. This helps make the opportunity more accessible to physicians transitioning into prostate cancer research or pivoting from a primarily clinical path.

13) If preliminary data is included, whose data can it be?

If included, preliminary findings should come from the PI, the Mentor(s), or collaborators on the project team.

14) What does the program expect from the research strategy and methods?

The scientific rationale and methods are expected to show deep understanding of the problem and a realistic, feasible plan to reach the project goals. Reviewers are looking for clarity in design and execution, including how experiments or analyses will be carried out and how obstacles will be handled.

15) What expectations are there around feasibility and available resources?

The application needs to identify the resources required to complete the work and support those claims with documentation. The project should be ready to run in an environment that can realistically deliver the proposed aims.

16) What is the Researcher Development Plan and is it required?

An individualized Researcher Development Plan is required. It is created with Mentor input and should lay out how the PI will gain the skills and experience needed to complete the project and mature into an independent prostate cancer researcher.

17) What should be included in the Researcher Development Plan?

The plan should be practical and specific, spelling out training goals, skill gaps, and the steps the PI will take to build competence and expertise over the course of the award.

18) What needs to be described about the mentoring and research environment?

The application should describe the mentoring and research environment in a concrete way. It should make clear that the setting, team, institutional support, and available infrastructure align with the proposed science and the training objectives.

19) How does the opportunity define impact in relation to prostate cancer?

Impact expectations are tied to the mission of the Prostate Cancer Research Program (PCRP): reducing deaths from prostate cancer and improving the well-being of men affected by the disease. Projects are expected to be positioned to matter to patients and move the field forward in a meaningful way.

20) Are projects required to fit within PCRP priorities?

Yes. Proposed projects are expected to address at least one PCRP focus area and are strongly encouraged to align with one or more PCRP overarching challenges.

21) What if a project does not target a PCRP overarching challenge?

If a project does not target an overarching challenge, the applicant must clearly explain why the work still addresses a critical unmet need in prostate cancer research or patient care and how it fills an important gap.

22) Who issued this opportunity and what is the funding opportunity number?

The opportunity was issued by DOD-AMRAA. The Funding Opportunity Number is W81XWH-16-PCRP-PRA.

23) What is the CFDA number and program category noted in the posting?

The posting lists CFDA 12.420 under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category.

24) What award mechanism is associated with this opportunity?

The award mechanism listed includes cooperative agreements and grants.

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

According to the opportunity details provided, it was posted on May 5, 2016 and had a closing date of July 21, 2016.

26) Approximately how many awards were anticipated?

The opportunity indicated that approximately five awards were anticipated.

27) Who can apply as an applicant organization?

The eligible applicant pool is described as unrestricted (open to any entity type). However, the practical eligibility constraints are driven by the physician PI career stage requirements and the mentorship requirements described in the opportunity text.