DoD Breast Cancer, Era of Hope Scholar Award | HT9425 23 BCRP EOHS 2

Opportunity Information: Apply for HT9425 23 BCRP EOHS 2

The DoD Breast Cancer, Era of Hope Scholar Award (funding opportunity number HT9425 23 BCRP EOHS 2) is a Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program opportunity administered through the Department of the Army, USAMRAA. It is designed specifically to support early-career investigators who have already shown exceptional promise and are viewed as potential future leaders in the breast cancer research space. The program is framed around identifying and elevating individuals who stand out as unusually creative, productive, and visionary, with a track record that suggests they can drive meaningful change rather than simply contribute incremental advances.

A defining feature of this award is that it is intended to recognize the scientist more than a single, narrowly defined project. In practical terms, the application is expected to make a strong case that the Principal Investigator can consistently think beyond standard approaches in their field and bring innovative contributions that could help move the needle toward ending breast cancer. Reviewers are looking for a clear, compelling vision that challenges current dogma, questions entrenched assumptions, and shows the applicant is willing and able to look beyond conventional wisdom and traditional methods. The emphasis is on originality, intellectual leadership, and a credible plan for impact in breast cancer, rather than on routine hypothesis-testing within well-worn research pathways.

While prior experience specifically in breast cancer research is not required, the proposed work must be focused on breast cancer, and the PI must commit at least 25 percent level of effort during the performance period to breast cancer research under the award. The solicitation explicitly encourages applicants from other scientific or technical disciplines who can import novel concepts, tools, or perspectives into breast cancer research, which signals that cross-disciplinary or unconventional approaches are welcome as long as they are clearly connected to breast cancer impact.

Collaboration is also built into the structure of the opportunity. Applicants are encouraged to assemble a research team that brings the necessary expertise to achieve the research goals and to demonstrate the ability to form effective partnerships. A non-negotiable requirement is the inclusion of at least two breast cancer consumer advocates as part of the research team. These advocates must be individuals diagnosed with breast cancer who are actively involved in a breast cancer advocacy organization. They must serve as lay representatives providing independent, objective input; they cannot be employees of any organization participating in the application, and their role should be separate from any employment relationship. The opportunity expects these consumer advocates to have a strong understanding of current breast cancer issues and enough background or training in breast cancer research to provide meaningful contributions throughout the effort, with a particular focus on keeping the work grounded in real-world relevance and potential impact for people with breast cancer or those at risk.

From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary funding opportunity and may be offered under either a grant or cooperative agreement mechanism. The CFDA number listed is 12.420. Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning a wide range of entity types may apply, subject to any additional eligibility notes in the full announcement. The posting lists an expected number of awards as one. The announcement was created on May 2, 2023, with an original closing date of August 8, 2023, and the award ceiling is shown as 0 in the source data (which typically indicates the ceiling is not specified in that field and would need to be confirmed in the full solicitation details or associated program announcements).

• The Department of Defense, Dept. of the Army -- USAMRAA in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "DoD Breast Cancer, Era of Hope Scholar Award" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.420.
• This funding opportunity was created on May 02, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 08, 2023. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.

Apply for HT9425 23 BCRP EOHS 2

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