DoD Ovarian Cancer Investigator-Initiated Research Award | W81XWH 18 OCRP IIRA

Opportunity Information: Apply for W81XWH 18 OCRP IIRA

The DoD Ovarian Cancer Research Program (OCRP) Investigator-Initiated Research Award (IIRA) is a competitive funding opportunity designed to back high-impact ovarian cancer research that could meaningfully improve scientific understanding of the disease and/or enhance patient and survivor care. The program is intentionally broad in terms of scientific scope, allowing projects across the research pipeline from basic laboratory studies through translational work, as long as the project is not a clinical trial. In practice, this means applicants can propose mechanistic studies, biomarker discovery and validation efforts, development and testing of preclinical models, target identification, or other translational approaches that move discoveries closer to clinical use, but they cannot prospectively enroll human participants to test an intervention for safety or efficacy.

A key expectation is that the proposed work is strongly justified and grounded in evidence. Applications are expected to show clear logical reasoning and a sound scientific rationale built on a critical review and analysis of existing literature, not just a general statement of need. The program also requires preliminary data that are directly relevant to ovarian cancer and that support the feasibility and direction of the proposed research. In other words, this is not meant for early concept-only ideas; reviewers are looking for proof-of-principle results that make the next steps credible and compelling.

The award emphasizes research relevance to Department of Defense priorities and populations. Proposed studies must be relevant to active duty Service members, Veterans, military beneficiaries, and/or the broader American public. This does not necessarily require a military-only cohort, but the application should clearly connect the research problem and anticipated outcomes to those communities, such as addressing prevention, detection, treatment challenges, survivorship issues, or care delivery gaps that affect them.

Funding is provided as an assistance agreement, meaning awards will be made either as a grant or a cooperative agreement. The determining factor is how involved the DoD expects to be during the project. If substantial involvement is anticipated (for example, collaboration or active participation by the funding agency), a cooperative agreement may be used; if not, a standard grant is more likely. For FY18, the anticipated maximum direct costs for the entire period of performance are capped at $450,000. The announcement notes that detailed budget rules and restrictions are addressed elsewhere in the full instructions, but applicants should plan within that overall direct-cost limit.

The opportunity places a strong emphasis on rigor and reproducibility in preclinical research. Projects are expected to adhere to widely recognized standards for transparent reporting and robust study design, specifically referencing the Landis et al. Nature (2012) recommendations intended to improve the predictive value of preclinical studies. This signals that reviewers will pay attention to issues like experimental design quality, appropriate controls, blinding and randomization when applicable, statistical power considerations, and clear reporting of methods so findings are credible and potentially translatable.

A wide range of research materials and systems are permitted, including cell lines, animal models, human subjects research (non-trial), and work with human anatomical substances. However, any DoD-funded research involving human anatomical substances, human subjects, or human cadavers must receive additional administrative review and approval from the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC) Office of Research Protections, specifically the Human Research Protection Office (HRPO), before the research can begin. This HRPO review is separate from, and in addition to, the applicant institution’s IRB or ethics committee review. Importantly, local IRB approval is not required at the time of application submission, but applicants should plan for the HRPO process to take at least 2 to 3 months and should write protocols that match the scope of the DoD-funded work to avoid delays and extensive revisions.

Similarly, animal research is allowed, but it also carries an additional DoD-level oversight requirement. Any DoD-funded animal work must be reviewed and approved by the USAMRMC Animal Care and Use Review Office (ACURO), in addition to the institution’s IACUC. As with human subjects, IACUC approval is not required at submission, but if selected for funding the PI will need to provide the animal use protocol, IACUC approval documentation, and a required appendix, and should anticipate a 2 to 3 month ACURO review timeline before animal work can start.

The funding opportunity (W81XWH-18-OCRP-IIRA) was issued by the Department of Defense, Department of the Army, through USAMRAA, and is listed under CFDA 12.420. Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning it is broadly open to many entity types unless otherwise clarified in the official instructions. The original posting date was April 11, 2018, with an original closing date of August 22, 2018, and the program anticipated making about five awards. The announcement also highlights an expectation that data, results, and research resources produced with these funds be shared with the wider research and advocacy communities and the public, consistent with CDMRP goals around openness and public benefit. Awards were expected to be issued no later than September 30, 2019.

• 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 Ovarian Cancer Investigator-Initiated Research 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 Apr 11, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 22, 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 5 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 W81XWH 18 OCRP IIRA

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