The Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) have announced their research funding opportunities for fiscal year 2022. Here’s an overview of the breast cancer research funding opportunities. Learn more about these awards and others in our upcoming webinar, which is free of charge, Wednesday, March 30, 2022, 1 PM (Eastern).

The Breakthrough Awards

The Breakthrough Awards are for promising research that has high potential to lead to or make breakthroughs in breast cancer. Research should have the potential for a major impact and accelerate progress toward ending breast cancer. Potential impact of the research may be near-term or long-term, but it must move beyond a minor advancement and have the potential to lead to a new approach that is fundamentally better than interventions already approved or in clinical development.

Breakthrough Awards are offered for research projects at different levels of development. Roughly speaking, Levels 1 and 2 are for pre-clinical studies, Level 3 is for translational studies, possibly including clinical trials, and Level 4 is for large-scale projects that include human clinical trials.

Investigators at all academic levels may apply for these awards, and these awards are available internationally, not just for American citizens.

The Partnering PI Option allows two PIs, termed the Initiating PI and the Partnering PI, to partner on a single application. Each must contribute distinctly to the application. (If you want to use the Partnering PI option, make sure you understand precisely the details of the requirements.)

Breakthrough Awards, Levels 1 and 2

Research supported through this award

Your project may be eligible for a Level 1 Breakthrough Award if it’s innovative, high-risk/high-reward research that is in the earliest stages of idea development or is an untested theory that addresses an important problem. To foster research that yields new avenues of investigation, preliminary data are not required. Proof of concept is the anticipated outcome. The maximum amount of funding is $450,000 for direct costs for a project with a single PI and $750,000 for a project with Partnering PIs, and the maximum period of performance is 3 years.

Your project may be eligible for a Level 2 Breakthrough Award if it’s research that is already supported by substantial preliminary or published data and strongly validates clinical translation in a well-defined context within the breast cancer landscape. The maximum amount of funding is $1 million for direct costs for a project with a single PI and $1.5 million for a project with Partnering PIs, and the maximum period of performance is 3 years.

If your work is in population science and prevention studies, then it’s considered to be on Level 2 if it’s research that’s already supported by substantial preliminary or published data and strongly validates clinical translation in a well-defined context within the breast cancer landscape. The maximum amount of funding is $1.5 million for direct costs for a project with a single PI and $2 million for a project with Partnering PIs, and the maximum period of performance is 4 years. If you have a compelling justification, your population science and prevention study may request a higher level of funding and an additional year in the period of performance.

Get more details here.

Applying

Applications from postdoctoral fellows are encouraged.

Each investigator may be named as a Principal Investigator (PI) or Initiating PI on only one application per funding level for the Breakthrough Award Levels 1 and 2. There is no limit on the number of applications for which an investigator may be named as a Partnering PI; however, investigators are discouraged from being named as a Partnering PI on multiple applications for Breakthrough Awards on Levels 1 and 2 unless they are clearly unique, meaningful collaborations addressing distinct research questions.

Research with human subjects and human anatomical substances is permitted; however, clinical trials are not allowed under this funding opportunity. Applications seeking support for a clinical trial may be submitted to the FY22 BCRP Breakthrough Award Level 3 and Level 4 program announcements (W81XWH-22-BCRP-BTA3 and W81XWH-22-BCRP-BTA4, respectively).

Deadlines

Pre-Application (Letter of Intent): May 3, 2022, 5:00 PM (Eastern)

Application: May 17, 2022, 11:59 PM (Eastern)

Grants.gov Funding Opportunity Number

W81XWH-22-BCRP-BTA12

Breakthrough Award, Level 3

Research supported through this award

Your project may be eligible for a Level 3 Breakthrough Award if it’s an advanced translational study with a high degree of project readiness. On Level 3, clinical trials are allowed (e.g., first in human; phase 1/1b). The maximum amount of funding is $4 million for direct costs for a project with a single PI and $5 million for a project with Partnering PIs, and the maximum period of performance is 4 years.

Applying

There is no limit on the number of pre-applications for which an investigator may be named as a PI, Initiating PI, or Partnering PI for the Breakthrough Award Level 3. That said, investigators are discouraged from being named on multiple pre-applications unless they are clearly addressing distinct research questions.

Pre-application submission is required; application submission is by invitation only.

Applications must include two or more breast cancer advocates on the research team.

Where relevant, proof of availability of and access to necessary data, human samples, cohort(s), and/or critical reagents must be provided. If the proposed research would ultimately require U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) involvement, applications must demonstrate availability of and access to clinical reagents (e.g., therapeutic molecules) and patient population(s). Applications must state a realistic timeline for near-term clinical investigation.

Applications are expected to identify the breast cancer patients or at-risk individuals who would ultimately benefit from the proposed research.

Deadlines

Pre-Application (Preproposal): April 28, 2022, 5:00 PM (Eastern)

Invited Application: July 27, 2022, 11:59 PM (Eastern)

Grants.gov Funding Opportunity Number

W81XWH-22-BCRP-BTA3

 

Breakthrough Award, Level 4

Research supported through this award

Your project may be eligible for a Level 4 Breakthrough Award if it’s a large-scale project that will transform and revolutionize the clinical management and/or prevention of breast cancer. On Level 4, human clinical trials are required. The maximum amount of funding for direct costs for a project with a single PI or Partnering PIs is $10 million, and the maximum period of performance is 4 years.

Applying

There is no limit on the number of pre-applications for which an investigator may be named as a PI, Initiating PI, or Partnering PI for the Breakthrough Award Level 4. That said, investigators are discouraged from being named on multiple pre-applications unless they are clearly addressing distinct research questions.

Pre-application submission is required; application submission is by invitation only.

Applications must include two or more breast cancer advocates on the research team.

PIs are expected to have experience in successfully leading large-scale projects and demonstrated ability to implement a clinical project successfully (through personal experience or via a commitment from a collaborating clinical investigator).

Where relevant, applications must demonstrate availability of and access to necessary data, human samples, cohort(s), and/or critical reagents. For proposed research that will require FDA involvement, project readiness requirements at the time of application submission include: proof of availability of and access to clinical reagents (e.g., therapeutics) that meet regulatory compliance guidelines; proof of availability of and access to appropriate subject population(s); validated projections for patient recruitment; and submission of an Investigational New Drug or Investigational Device Exemption application to the FDA, if applicable.

Applications are expected to identify the breast cancer patients or at-risk individuals who would ultimately benefit from the proposed research.

Deadlines

Pre-Application (Preproposal): April 28, 2022, 5:00 PM (Eastern)

Invited Application: July 27, 2022, 11:59 PM (Eastern)

Grants.gov Funding Opportunity Number

W81XWH-22-BCRP-BTA3

 

Other Awards

Era of Hope Scholar Award

Research supported through this award

This award is for individuals early in their careers who have demonstrated significant potential to effect meaningful change in breast cancer. Individuals should be exceptionally talented scientists who have shown that they are the “best and brightest” in their field(s) through extraordinary creativity, vision, innovation, and productivity. PIs must demonstrate experience in forming effective partnerships and collaborations and exhibit strong potential for future leadership in breast cancer research.

Applications should articulate a vision that challenges current dogma and demonstrates an ability to look beyond tradition and convention.

Experience in breast cancer research is not required; however, the application must focus on breast cancer, and the PI must maintain a 50% dedication of their full-time effort during the award period to breast cancer research.

Clinical trials are allowed.

The maximum amount of funding for direct costs is $3 million, and the maximum period of performance is 4 years.

Applying

This award is for independent, non-mentored investigators within 6 years of their last training position as of the application submission deadline (excluding time spent on family medical leave). Postdoctoral fellows, clinical fellows, including residents and interns, and other researchers currently in training positions are not eligible. An investigator may be named as the PI on only one FY22 Era of Hope Scholar Award application.

Applications must include two or more breast cancer advocates on the research team.

Submission of a Letter of Intent is required prior to full application submission.

Deadlines

Pre-Application (Letter of Intent): May 3, 2022, 5:00 PM (Eastern)

Application: May 17, 2022, 11:59 PM (Eastern)

Confidential Letters of Recommendation: May 20, 2022, 5:00 PM (Eastern)

Grants.gov Funding Opportunity Number

W81XWH-22-BCRP-EOHS

Innovator Award

Research supported through this award

This award is for visionary individuals who have demonstrated exceptional creativity, innovative work, and paradigm-shifting leadership in any field including, but not limited to, breast cancer. It aims to provides these individuals with the opportunity and freedom to pursue novel, visionary, high-risk ideas that could accelerate progress toward ending breast cancer.

Experience in breast cancer research is not required; however, the application must focus on breast cancer, and the PI must maintain a 50% dedication of their full-time effort during the award period to breast cancer research.

Clinical trials are allowed.

The maximum amount of funding for direct costs is $7 million, and the maximum period of performance is 4 years.

Applying

To apply for this award, you must be an Associate Professor (or equivalent) or above. Previous BCRP Innovator Award recipients are ineligible. An investigator may be named as PI on only one Innovator Award pre-application.

Applications must include two or more breast cancer advocates on the research team.

Pre-application submission is required; application submission is by invitation only.

Deadlines

Pre-Application (Pre-Proposal): April 28, 2022, 5:00 PM (Eastern)

Invited Application: July 27, 2022, 11:59 PM (Eastern)

Confidential Letters of Recommendation: July 29, 2022, 5:00 PM (Eastern)

Grants.gov Funding Opportunity Number

W81XWH-22-BCRP-INNOV

Transformative Breast Cancer Consortium Award

Research supported through this award

This award is for research collaboration which should result in answers that will fundamentally and significantly transform and disrupt the present breast cancer landscape, transforming or improving the lives of individuals with, and/or at risk for, breast cancer, and significantly accelerating progress toward ending breast cancer.

It requires a synergistic, highly integrated, multidisciplinary, and multi-institutional research team of leading scientists, clinicians, and consumer advocates who will be assembled into a consortium to address a major problem in a way that could not be accomplished by a single investigator or group. The consortium should have four or five project teams, each investigating different projects under a central hypothesis. Each team’s work must be integrated within the consortium so that every component is working toward the consortium’s central hypothesis.

Clinical trials (up to and including phase 1 or equivalent) are allowed but not required, and the primary thrust of the application should not be a clinical trial.

The maximum amount of funding for direct costs is $25 million, and the maximum period of performance is 4 years. The award will include funds for “seed projects” to pursue brand new, high-risk/high-reward concepts that arise from the work, during the award period.

Applying

This award is for independent investigators at all academic levels (or equivalent). The Consortium Director is required to commit and maintain at least 25% level of time and effort during the award period. An investigator may be named as Consortium Director on only one pre-application. There are no limits on the number of pre-applications for which an investigator may be named as a Project Team PI.

Applications must include:

• Research that’s truly innovative and brand-new paradigm-shifting work in breast cancer that will address vital issues in a unique way. The issues may be one (or more) of the FY22 BCRP Overarching Challenges or, with justification, may be a different issue that meets the intent of the award mechanism and addresses the mission of ending breast cancer. If the application identifies a different fundamental issue, it must be coupled with at least one of the FY22 BCRP Overarching Challenges.
• Research that includes different disciplines that come together to address ending breast cancer with an ecologic approach. The consortium’s proposed research must look at all aspects of the disease and bring together these different perspectives into one overarching plan for a deep, definitive dive into the FY22 BCRP Overarching Challenge(s) or other fundamental issue identified in the application. The plan also should include issues related to the hypothesis that have not been previously addressed or answered.
• A plan that describes in detail the integration across the consortium in all aspects, including administration, logistics, and substance. Applications must describe the substantive integration across and among teams that are necessary for the work. The required communication plan and administrative management plan will not suffice to show integration, nor will identifying individual team members who will cross teams. A detailed explanation of the substantive research processes that will be integrated is required.

Applications that propose the following as the primary effort(s) or central hypothesis of the consortium will not meet the intent of this award mechanism:

• NCI Program Project or SPORE grants or applications
• Conducting drug screens or testing a “cocktail” of therapeutics
• Targeting a single gene or protein
• Developing a new derivative or formulation of an old drug
• Conducting genomic landscape mapping analyses
• Seeking to improve existing technologies (e.g., mammography or magnetic resonance imaging screening).

Pre-application submission is required; application submission is by invitation only.

Applications must include at least one breast cancer consumer advocate per project team.

This award is not intended to replace, supplement, duplicate, or compete with other collaborative research efforts, such as the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPOREs), and it should not represent a collection of related Program Project grants or sub-projects.

Deadlines

Pre-Application (Pre-Proposal): April 28, 2022, 5:00 PM (Eastern)

Invited Application: July 27, 2022, 11:59 PM (Eastern)

Grants.gov Funding Opportunity Number

W81XWH-22-BCRP-TBCCA