Opportunity Information: Apply for W81XWH 18 BCRP BTA34
The DoD Breast Cancer Research Program (BCRP) Breakthrough Award Levels 3 and 4 (Funding Opportunity Number W81XWH-18-BCRP-BTA34) is a competitive Department of Defense research funding opportunity administered through the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA). Its central purpose is to back ambitious, high-impact breast cancer research that has a real chance of producing a major leap forward, not just incremental progress. The program is designed for projects that could accelerate the path toward ending breast cancer by generating new approaches that are meaningfully better than what is already approved or currently being tested in clinical development. Applicants are expected to clearly define who the work is meant to help, meaning the proposal should identify the specific breast cancer patient population or at-risk group that would ultimately benefit if the research succeeds.
A key emphasis of this opportunity is "impact" in the strongest sense: the funded work needs to be positioned to change the field, either in the near term or the longer term, but in a way that goes beyond a modest improvement. Reviewers are looking for a credible case that the project can lead to a fundamentally improved intervention, management strategy, or prevention approach. In other words, the scientific idea can be bold, but the proposal still needs to connect the dots between what will be done, why it is different from current standards, and how it could translate into better outcomes for people affected by breast cancer.
The announcement covers two higher-tier funding levels that are differentiated by the scope and maturity of the research rather than by simply aiming for a certain budget size. Level 3 is intended for advanced translational research that is close enough to the clinic to support near-term clinical investigation. This includes studies that have already moved beyond early discovery and are now focused on translating findings toward human use; small-scale clinical trials are allowed at this level. Level 4 is aimed at large-scale efforts that are expected to transform or revolutionize the clinical management and/or prevention of breast cancer, with near-term clinical impact being a clear expectation. Level 4 proposals must include human clinical testing, and the principal investigator is expected to have a track record of successfully leading large, complex projects. An additional process requirement applies to Level 4: applicants must be prepared for an invited oral presentation as part of the application review process, which signals that DoD anticipates a more intensive evaluation of these big, practice-changing proposals.
Collaboration is strongly encouraged through an optional Partnering PI structure. Under this option, two principal investigators can apply together as an Initiating PI and a Partnering PI, and each PI receives a separate award while working on a single, integrated project. The program expects both PIs to play substantial roles across the core submission elements, including the project narrative and the statement of work, and it expects each PI to bring distinct expertise that strengthens the science. The application has to make a convincing case that the collaboration is truly necessary and that the work is better done as a unified team effort rather than as two separate projects. While new collaborations are welcomed, the arrangement is not meant to function as a traditional mentorship setup; proposals pairing a mentor with their current postdoc or junior investigator as the two PIs are explicitly described as not meeting the intent. The program also discourages applicants from serving as a Partnering PI on multiple submissions unless the applications clearly address different research questions, which is a way of preventing superficial or duplicative collaborations.
Team composition and project execution capacity are treated as serious considerations. The PI is expected to assemble a robust, appropriately skilled research team with the breast cancer-relevant expertise needed to deliver on the project goals, especially given the translational and clinical expectations at Levels 3 and 4. Importantly, the opportunity requires meaningful consumer advocate involvement, not as a token advisory role but as an integrated part of the research process. Each application must include at least two breast cancer consumer advocates who are engaged throughout planning and implementation. Their involvement should span activities like shaping the research question, contributing to the study design, participating in oversight, informing recruitment approaches, and helping evaluate the work and its relevance. The program is clear that consumer advocate engagement must be ongoing and well-integrated, rather than limited to occasional attendance at meetings.
The consumer advocate requirements are specific: advocates must be lay representatives who have been diagnosed with breast cancer and should be active in a breast cancer advocacy organization. They cannot be employees of any organization participating in the application, and their role must be independent of employment to help ensure objective input focused on patient impact. At the same time, they are expected to have a strong understanding of current breast cancer issues and enough background or training in breast cancer research to contribute effectively. This requirement reflects the program's broader goal of keeping the research tightly connected to real patient needs and practical clinical relevance.
From an eligibility and administrative standpoint, the opportunity is listed as open to a wide range of applicant organizations (unrestricted eligibility, subject to any specific clarifications in the full announcement). The funding instrument types include grants and cooperative agreements, under the Science and Technology / Research and Development activity category (CFDA 12.420). The posting indicates an expected number of awards of about four. The original posting dates show it was created March 27, 2018, with an original closing date of August 14, 2018. The notice also underscores that proposed research must be relevant to active duty Service members, Veterans, military beneficiaries, and/or the broader American public, aligning the scientific objectives with the DoD mission and the populations it serves.
Overall, this Breakthrough Award mechanism is built for serious translational and clinical efforts with a clear line of sight to meaningful change in breast cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, or management. Level 3 supports advanced translational work and smaller clinical studies poised for near-term clinical investigation, while Level 4 is reserved for large, clinically driven programs that include human testing and are expected to reshape clinical practice or prevention strategies in the near term, supported by experienced leadership, strong collaboration when appropriate, and deep, continuous patient advocate participation.Apply for W81XWH 18 BCRP BTA34
- 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, Breakthrough Award Levels 3 and 4" 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 Mar 27, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 14, 2018. (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 4 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the DoD BCRP Breakthrough Award Levels 3 and 4 opportunity?
This is a competitive breast cancer research funding opportunity from the Department of Defense (DoD) Breast Cancer Research Program (BCRP). It is administered through the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA) under Funding Opportunity Number W81XWH-18-BCRP-BTA34.
What is the main purpose of this award?
The central goal is to support ambitious, high-impact breast cancer research that has a real chance of producing a major leap forward rather than incremental progress. Projects are expected to propose new approaches that are meaningfully better than what is already approved or currently being tested in clinical development.
What does the program mean by "breakthrough" or "high impact"?
Impact is defined in the strongest sense: the proposed work should be positioned to change the field in a significant way, either in the near term or longer term. Reviewers are looking for a credible, well-connected case that the project could lead to a fundamentally improved intervention, management strategy, or prevention approach, not just a modest improvement.
Do applicants need to identify who will benefit from the research?
Yes. Applicants are expected to clearly define the intended beneficiary by identifying the specific breast cancer patient population or at-risk group that would ultimately benefit if the research succeeds.
What are the two funding levels covered in this announcement?
The announcement includes Level 3 and Level 4. These are differentiated mainly by the scope and maturity of the research (how close it is to clinical use and how large and practice-changing the effort is), not simply by targeting a particular budget size.
What types of projects are appropriate for Level 3?
Level 3 is intended for advanced translational research that is close enough to the clinic to support near-term clinical investigation. This includes projects that have moved beyond early discovery and are focused on translating findings toward human use. Small-scale clinical trials are allowed at Level 3.
What types of projects are appropriate for Level 4?
Level 4 is intended for large-scale efforts expected to transform or revolutionize the clinical management and/or prevention of breast cancer, with near-term clinical impact as a clear expectation. Level 4 proposals must include human clinical testing.
Is human clinical testing required for Level 4?
Yes. The opportunity specifies that Level 4 proposals must include human clinical testing.
Are clinical trials allowed under Level 3?
Yes. Level 3 allows small-scale clinical trials as part of advanced translational research positioned for near-term clinical investigation.
What is the expectation for the Principal Investigator (PI) at Level 4?
For Level 4, the PI is expected to have a track record of successfully leading large, complex projects, reflecting the scale and clinical expectations of this funding level.
Is there an additional review step for Level 4 applications?
Yes. Level 4 applicants must be prepared for an invited oral presentation as part of the application review process, indicating a more intensive evaluation of these larger, practice-changing proposals.
Does the program encourage collaboration?
Yes. Collaboration is strongly encouraged through an optional Partnering PI structure, where two PIs can apply together on a single, integrated project.
How does the Partnering PI option work?
Under the Partnering PI option, two principal investigators apply together as an Initiating PI and a Partnering PI. Each PI receives a separate award while working on one unified, integrated project.
What is expected of each PI in a Partnering PI application?
Both PIs are expected to play substantial roles across core submission elements, including the project narrative and the statement of work. Each PI should bring distinct expertise that strengthens the overall project, and the application should explain why the collaboration is necessary and better than two separate projects.
Are new collaborations allowed?
Yes. New collaborations are welcomed, as long as the proposal demonstrates that the team-up is truly necessary for the science and the work is best done as an integrated effort.
Is the Partnering PI structure meant to be a mentorship arrangement?
No. The announcement states that the Partnering PI option is not intended to function as a traditional mentorship arrangement. Pairing a mentor with their current postdoc or junior investigator as the two PIs is explicitly described as not meeting the intent of the mechanism.
Can someone serve as a Partnering PI on multiple applications?
The program discourages applicants from serving as a Partnering PI on multiple submissions unless the applications clearly address different research questions. This is meant to prevent superficial or duplicative collaborations.
What are the expectations for the research team and execution capacity?
The PI is expected to assemble a robust, appropriately skilled team with breast cancer-relevant expertise needed to deliver the project goals, especially given the translational and clinical expectations of Levels 3 and 4.
Is consumer advocate involvement required?
Yes. Meaningful consumer advocate involvement is required and must be integrated into the research process rather than treated as a token advisory role.
How many breast cancer consumer advocates are required?
Each application must include at least two breast cancer consumer advocates who are engaged throughout the planning and implementation of the research.
What does "meaningful, integrated" consumer advocate involvement look like in this program?
The announcement describes advocates contributing across planning and implementation, such as shaping the research question, contributing to study design, participating in oversight, informing recruitment approaches, and helping evaluate the work and its relevance. Their involvement should be ongoing, not limited to occasional meeting attendance.
Who qualifies as a breast cancer consumer advocate for this opportunity?
Advocates must be lay representatives who have been diagnosed with breast cancer and should be active in a breast cancer advocacy organization. They are also expected to understand current breast cancer issues and have enough background or training in breast cancer research to contribute effectively.
Can consumer advocates be employees of an organization participating in the application?
No. The opportunity specifies that consumer advocates cannot be employees of any organization participating in the application. Their role must be independent of employment to help ensure objective input focused on patient impact.
Who is eligible to apply?
The posting indicates unrestricted eligibility (open to a wide range of applicant organizations), subject to any specific clarifications in the full announcement.
What types of funding instruments are used?
The funding instrument types include grants and cooperative agreements.
What is the program category and CFDA number listed?
The activity category is Science and Technology / Research and Development, and the CFDA number listed is 12.420.
How many awards are expected?
The posting indicates an expected number of awards of about four.
What were the original posting and closing dates shown?
The opportunity was created March 27, 2018, and the original closing date shown is August 14, 2018.
Does the proposed research need to align with a DoD mission or population?
Yes. The notice underscores that proposed research must be relevant to active duty Service members, Veterans, military beneficiaries, and/or the broader American public, aligning the work with DoD mission priorities and the populations it serves.
What kinds of outcomes is the program ultimately trying to drive?
The mechanism is built for serious translational and clinical efforts with a clear line of sight to meaningful change in breast cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, or management, emphasizing approaches that could substantially improve outcomes compared with current standards or approaches in clinical development.
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