DOD Peer Reviewed Cancer, Career Development Award – Scholar Option | HT942525PRCRPCDASO

Opportunity Information: Apply for HT942525PRCRPCDASO

The DOD Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program (PRCRP) Career Development Award - Scholar Option (CDA-SO) for FY25 is a discretionary grant opportunity from the Department of the Army, administered through USAMRAA, aimed at helping outstanding early-career cancer researchers transition into stronger independence. The core idea is to support an early-career investigator, called the Scholar, to carry out impactful cancer research while also building the skills, track record, and professional network needed for a long-term research career. In this mechanism, the Scholar is the Principal Investigator (PI), so the application is expected to center on the PI's research plan and a clearly structured career development strategy, rather than being primarily driven by a senior mentor's program.

A defining feature of this award is the required pairing between the Scholar and an experienced cancer researcher who serves as the Career Guide. The Career Guide is not just a general mentor in name; they are an explicit part of the structure of the award, providing scientific and professional guidance as the Scholar carries out the research and develops as an investigator. There are also two important constraints on this role: the Career Guide may mentor only one CDA-SO applicant, and they must be willing to commit to participation in the program's Virtual Cancer Center.

Participation in the Virtual Cancer Center (VCC) is a required component for Scholars and is described as a unique, interactive environment designed to help develop the next generation of cancer researchers. In practical terms, that means the award is not only paying for a research project; it is also enrolling the Scholar in a broader community and set of activities intended to strengthen collaboration, mentorship, and professional development across the cohort of funded investigators and their guides. Applicants should expect that their proposal and planning will need to reflect this expectation of active engagement rather than treating it as a minor administrative requirement.

The opportunity is listed under CFDA 12.420, categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development, and uses a grant funding instrument. Eligibility is described as unrestricted, indicating that a wide range of applicant organizations or investigators may be able to apply, subject to the detailed requirements in the full funding announcement. The funding opportunity number is HT942525PRCRPCDASO, and the original application closing date is July 3, 2025. The government anticipates making about 9 awards under this mechanism.

One notable update for FY25 is how the funding limit is expressed. The announcement specifies that funding limits are now listed as total cost limits, meaning the cap includes both direct costs (the project expenses like salaries, supplies, research-related travel, etc.) and indirect costs (facilities and administrative costs charged by the institution). This matters for budgeting strategy, because applicants and their institutions need to ensure that the combined direct and indirect totals stay within the allowed ceiling, rather than assuming indirect costs sit outside the cap. The posted record includes an award ceiling field but does not display the numeric value in the provided excerpt, so the exact maximum budget would need to be confirmed in the full solicitation package.

Overall, this award is built for early-career investigators who are already highly accomplished and ready to lead a cancer research project as PI, but who will benefit from structured guidance, formalized mentorship through a Career Guide, and active participation in the Virtual Cancer Center. The strongest applications will typically be those that present a compelling, high-impact cancer research plan paired with a concrete, credible career development roadmap, showing how the award period will move the Scholar toward greater scientific independence and long-term contribution to the field.

• The Dept. of the Army -- USAMRAA in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "DOD Peer Reviewed Cancer, Career Development Award – Scholar Option" 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 2025-05-22.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-07-03. (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 9 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.

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