Ovarian Cancer Research Program Ovarian Cancer Academy Award | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): OCRP Ovarian Cancer Academy Award

1) What is the OCRP Ovarian Cancer Academy Award?

The Ovarian Cancer Research Program (OCRP) Ovarian Cancer Academy Award is a Department of the Army (USAMRAA) funding opportunity created to build a structured, career-focused training environment for junior faculty working in ovarian cancer research. Instead of supporting a single standalone research project, it supports a virtual "academy" that combines intensive mentoring, national-level networking, and a peer cohort to accelerate early career development.

2) What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?

The central goal is to accelerate the professional development of early career investigators so they become successful, independent, and highly productive ovarian cancer researchers. The program is designed to do this through a collaborative, cohort-based training framework with structured mentoring and cross-institution engagement.

3) Is this award intended to fund one research project?

No. The award is described as a career development and training infrastructure investment. It is structured to create an academy environment (mentoring, networking, cohort support) rather than funding a single standalone research project.

4) What does the "academy" model look like?

The academy model is organized around a small, intentionally networked group: up to five Early Career Investigator (ECI) and Designated Mentor pairs drawn from different institutions, plus one Academy Dean who provides overarching leadership. The academy is described as interactive and virtual, emphasizing ongoing engagement across institutions.

5) How many investigator slots are included in the academy?

The model includes up to five Early Career Investigator (ECI) and Designated Mentor pairs, plus one Academy Dean role that provides overall leadership for the academy.

6) Who leads the academy?

An Academy Dean provides overarching leadership for the academy. The Dean role is supported through a separate Dean application track, where the Dean is the Principal Investigator (PI).

7) What is the role of an Early Career Investigator (ECI) in the application?

The Early Career Investigator applies as the PI on an ECI/Designated Mentor application. In other words, the junior faculty member is the primary applicant and lead for that paired submission.

8) What is the role of the Designated Mentor?

The Designated Mentor is paired with the Early Career Investigator as part of the ECI/Designated Mentor application. The program emphasizes individualized guidance from the designated mentor within a broader, national-level networking and cohort structure.

9) Are applications submitted as a single package for the whole academy?

No. Applications can be submitted in two distinct tracks: (1) ECI/Designated Mentor applications where the ECI is the PI, and (2) a separate Academy Dean application where the Dean is the PI. These tracks support both the leadership structure and the mentored investigator slots within one academy ecosystem.

10) Can the Academy Dean also serve as a Designated Mentor?

Yes. The Academy Dean may also serve as a Designated Mentor for an ECI application, but this is optional and not required.

11) What type of award mechanism is used?

The opportunity was categorized as a discretionary award using a cooperative agreement/grant mechanism.

12) What activity category does this opportunity fall under?

The activity category is listed as science and technology research and development.

13) Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The announcement specifies that there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.

14) How many awards were anticipated?

The agency anticipated making a total of six awards.

15) What was the estimated total funding amount?

The estimated total funding amount across the opportunity was $6,600,000.

16) Who was eligible to apply?

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

17) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this announcement?

The Funding Opportunity Number provided was W81XWH-09-OCRP-OCA.

18) What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

The associated CFDA number was 12.420, titled Military Medical Research and Development, indicating it falls within the Department of Defense medical research portfolio.

19) What were the key dates for posting and closing?

The posting date was March 2, 2009. The original and current closing date was May 22, 2009. The archive date was June 21, 2009.

20) What kind of support structure does the academy provide to junior faculty?

The academy is designed to provide a high-touch, structured mentoring environment with intensive mentoring, cohort-based peer support, and national-level networking. It emphasizes cross-institution participation and ongoing engagement through an interactive, virtual platform.

21) Why does the program emphasize cross-institution participation?

The program is described as drawing ECI/Mentor pairs from different institutions and building a national community of ovarian cancer experts and peers. This structure is intended to strengthen collaboration opportunities, improve research direction, and support a stronger long-term career trajectory for early career investigators.

22) Where can applicants get help accessing the full announcement?

Operational support contacts included PA HELP at 301-619-7079 and cdmrp.pa@amedd.army.mil for assistance accessing the full announcement.

23) Where can applicants get help with submission issues?

Submission help contacts included eReceipt HELP at 301-682-5507 and help@cdmrp.org, as well as the CDMRP Help Desk.