DoW Melanoma Research Program Melanoma Academy Scholar Award | HT942526MRPMASA

FAQs: DoW Melanoma Research Program (MRP) Melanoma Academy Scholar Award

What is the Melanoma Academy Scholar Award?

The Melanoma Academy Scholar Award is a discretionary grant opportunity within the DoW Melanoma Research Program (MRP), run through the Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity (DHACA). It is designed to bring new, independent early career faculty into the MRP Melanoma Academy and strengthen the melanoma research pipeline by accelerating both scientific progress and long-term career development in melanoma.

What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?

The opportunity is intended to function as a career-launching mechanism for early career, independent melanoma investigators. It supports research while also deliberately building the applicant's career capacity through structured mentorship and an active, connected research network.

Who is this award designed for?

This award targets investigators who are new, independent early career faculty. Specifically, the program focuses on investigators who are no more than seven years from their initial faculty appointment.

How does the program define "early career" eligibility?

Based on the listing, the program targets investigators who are no more than seven years from their initial faculty appointment. Details on how that timeframe is calculated (for example, treatment of career breaks or part-time appointments) are not provided in the summary and would require consulting the full announcement.

Is eligibility restricted to certain institutions or applicant types?

The listing states eligibility is "unrestricted." The summary does not provide additional constraints or definitions, so applicants would need to review the full announcement for any specific eligibility conditions that may apply in practice.

What is the Melanoma Academy?

The Melanoma Academy is described as an interactive virtual academy that connects early career Scholars with established melanoma investigators. It is intended to create an active network where participants collaborate, share expertise, and develop into highly productive melanoma research leaders.

Is participation in the Melanoma Academy a required part of the award?

The opportunity emphasizes participation in the Melanoma Academy as a central feature. The program is described as not only funding a project but also building a structured environment for mentorship, professional growth, and research progress in parallel.

What makes this award different from a standard research grant?

Rather than focusing only on a research project, this mechanism explicitly evaluates and supports both the Scholar's research potential and their career potential in melanoma. It combines research support with organized mentorship and networking through the Melanoma Academy.

Does the program require mentorship?

Yes. Applicants are required to designate a Career Guide. The program places strong emphasis on pairing early career investigators with an experienced mentor to provide hands-on guidance and help shape a coherent career plan.

What qualifications are expected of the Career Guide?

The Career Guide is expected to have a proven mentorship track record and strong melanoma-relevant funding and publication history. This signals that the program is designed to provide high-quality, melanoma-specific mentorship aligned with developing a sustainable research career.

What is the role of the Career Guide in this award?

The Career Guide is intended to support the Scholar with hands-on guidance, help shape a coherent career plan, and support the Scholar in building a sustainable, externally funded melanoma research program. The award structure suggests mentorship and professional development are meant to advance alongside the research.

Are preliminary data required to apply?

No. The listing notes that preliminary data are not required. This lowers a common barrier for new faculty who may have strong ideas but limited time to generate extensive pilot datasets soon after starting an independent appointment.

Does "no preliminary data required" mean the application can be purely conceptual?

The summary indicates preliminary data are not required, but it also emphasizes the need for strong potential, a credible plan, and high-quality mentorship. Any specific expectations for application content beyond that are not provided here and would be defined in the full announcement.

How many awards does the agency expect to make?

The agency anticipates making 2 awards.

What is the funding opportunity number for this grant?

The Funding Opportunity Number is HT942526MRPMASA.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA number listed is 12.420.

What category does this funding opportunity fall under?

It is categorized as "Science and Technology and other Research and Development."

What type of funding instrument is used?

The listing indicates it uses a grant funding instrument.

When is the closing date?

The original closing date listed is 2026-10-14.

What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling is not specified in the provided listing. Applicants would need to consult the full announcement to confirm budget limits, the project period, and any cost restrictions.

Does the summary provide the project period or allowable costs?

No. The summary notes that the award ceiling is not specified and indicates applicants should consult the full announcement for budget limits, project period, and any cost restrictions.

What is the overall goal of the program for Scholars?

The stated intent is to strengthen the melanoma research pipeline by accelerating both the Scholar's scientific trajectory and their long-term career development within the melanoma field, supported through mentorship and a collaborative network.

What agency runs this opportunity?

The opportunity is run through the Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity (DHACA).