Jun 28, 2025, 14:27

DoD FY25 Rare Cancers Research Program (RCRP) Idea Development Award

Supports early‐stage, high‐impact projects in rare cancers (≤6 cases per 100,000/year in the U.S.), requiring preliminary data and focused on novel biology, preclinical models, or therapeutic strategies to accelerate breakthroughs for underserved patient populations.

Eligibility Criteria:

Applicant Organization: Extramural or intramural U.S. or foreign academic institutions, biotech companies, foundations, DOD labs, and other non-DOD/DOD entities (for-profit and non-profit) .
Principal Investigator: Independent investigator at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent) by award activation; postdoctoral fellows may apply under a mentorship plan .
Research Sites: Non-profit academic/medical/research centers (U.S. or abroad); for-profit institutions may participate but cannot receive funds.
Scope: Projects must address at least one focus area—biology, preclinical research models, or novel therapies—and include disease-specific preliminary data (which may originate outside the rare cancer subtype under study) .
Human Subjects: Observational clinical research permitted; clinical trials are excluded.

Funding Details:

Total Cost Cap: Up to 490,000 USD (direct + indirect) over a maximum 3-year period.
Anticipated Budget Pool: Approximately 6.86 M USD to fund ~14 awards.
Allowable Costs: Personnel, supplies, equipment, travel (limited), and indirect costs per negotiated rate. No clinical trial costs or tuition .

Deadline:

Pre-Application (LOI): July 1, 2025, 5 p.m. ET
Invitation to Apply: August 8, 2025
Full Application: October 6, 2025, 11:59 p.m. ET
Verification Period Ends: October 9, 2025, 5 p.m. ET

Where to Go for Further Information & Application:

View the program announcement.
Application details.

academic institutions biomedical research cancer CDMRP early-stage research faculty-grant idea-development OncoDaily Oncology Preclinical models preliminary-data Rare Cancers research funding translational research underserved populations

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