US Dept of Defense – Melanoma Research Program

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Idea Award – HT9425-23-MRP-IA

up to USD$500,000 over 3 years
Pre-proposals due 10 July 2023
Supports new ideas that represent innovative, high-risk/high-gain approaches to melanoma research that are beyond an incremental advancement.
Emphasis on innovation and impact.
PIs new to the melanoma field are encouraged
preliminary data discouraged
clinical trials not allowed
must address at least one MRP focus area

Melanoma Academy Scholar Award – HT9425-23-MRP-MASA

up to USD$550,000 over 3 years
letters of intent due 31 August 2023
Supports the addition of new Scholars to the unique, interactive virtual Melanoma Academy that provides intensive mentoring, national networking, collaborations, and a peer group for early-career melanoma investigators.
must be within 7 years of first faculty-level appointment
Requires a Career Guide who is an experienced melanoma researcher with melanoma cancer funding, does not have to be a the same insititution
preliminary data not required
clinical trials not allowed
must address at least one MRP focus area

Mid-Career Accelerator Award – HT9425-23-MRP-MCAA

up to USD$725,000 over 3 years
letters of intent due 31 August 2023
Supports mid-career researchers conducting impactful melanoma research.
must be Assistant or Assoc Prof (or equivalent) at least 7 years from first faculty-level appointment. must show evidence of at least one peer-reviewed source of external funding
preliminary data relevant to melanoma required
clinical trials not allowed
must address at least one MRP focus area

Team Science Award – HT9425-23-MRP-TSA

up to USD$1.25M over 3 years
letters of intent due 31 August 2023
Supports new or existing partnerships to address a research problem or question in a manner that would be unachievable through separate efforts.
At least two and up to three Investigators must partner in one overarching
multidisciplinary research study. Independent investigators must be at level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent) or above
Inclusion of at least one military, US Department of Veterans Affairs, or ECR or is encouraged. Postdoctoral fellows are not eligible to be Initiating nor Partnering PIs.
Intended to fund a broad range of studies including, but not limited to:
- Correlative studies that associated with an open/ongoing or completed clinical trial
- Research involving analysis of large and/or complex melanoma datasets
- Projects focusing on bioengineering approaches to address diagnostics, high risk markers, dormancy, and/or metastasis
- Research seeking to better understand and/or reduce inequities and disparities that impact melanoma patients and/or caregivers.
Emphasis on synergy, multidisciplinary research, and impact.
Applicants are encouraged but not required to collaborate with the melanoma community
Preliminary data required
clinical trials not allowed
must address at least one MRP focus area

Focused Program Award – Rare Melanomas – HT9425-23-MRP-FPA-RM

up to USD$2M over 4 years
letters of intent due 31 August 2023
Supports a synergistic, multidisciplinary research program of at least two but not more than three distinct but complementary projects addressing an overarching question relevant to rare melanomas.
Applications may propose projects across the entire research spectrum (biology, etiology, prevention, diagnosis and detection, prognosis, treatment, and quality of life) and must address a critical unmet need relevant to rare melanomas (uveal, acral, mucosal, pediatric etc).
Individual research projects may range from exploratory, hypothesis-developing studies through clinical trials
Applicants are encouraged, but not required, to collaborate with the rare melanoma community
clinical trials allowed

MRP Focus Areas

Prevention

Identify and understand risk factors and biomarker determinants for melanoma, including rare subtypes.
Develop prediction and surveillance tools for distinguishing patient populations and/or early tumors at risk for second primary, recurrence, metastasis, and/or treatment toxicity.
Develop new tools for the detection of melanoma, which includes easily accessible technology (beyond the dermoscope) for primary care physicians, dermatologists, oncologists, and/or pathologists.
Understand how precursor lesions evolve, and/or how environmental/endogenous factors influence melanomagenesis and/or early dissemination.
Identify how the tumor microenvironment and/or microbiome impacts tumor initiation, response to therapy, progression, recurrence, and/or dormancy.
Delineate the cellular and/or molecular mechanisms that influence metastatic spread (eg site-specific adaptations), recurrence, and/or dormancy.
Develop new preclinical models of melanomagenesis, early dissemination, and progression that more faithfully represent the disease progression observed in humans.

Rare Melanoma

Address unmet needs across the entire cancer research spectrum (biology, etiology, prevention, early diagnosis and detection, prognosis, treatment, and survivorship) for rare melanomas

Survivorship

Address the physical and psychological impacts of a melanoma diagnosis, symptom trajectories, adverse effects of treatment, and other outcomes that affect individuals with melanoma and their family members.

Supporting documents

Refence Table of Award Mechanisms: 23mrpreftable

Melanoma Academy Scholar Award: HT9425-23-MRP-MASA-GG

Mid-Career Accelerator Award:HT9425-23-MRP-MCAA-GG

Focused Program Award – HT9425-23-MRP-FPA-RM-GG