The FY26 Breast Cancer Research Program (BCRP) Breakthrough Award Levels 1 and 2 supports promising research with high potential to lead to or make breakthroughs in breast cancer.
The program is designed to support research addressing major challenges in breast cancer, from prevention and cancer initiation to metastasis, recurrence, treatment, and metastatic disease. Level 1 supports innovative, high-risk/high-reward research at early stages of idea development, while Level 2 supports research backed by substantial preliminary or published data.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Extramural and intramural U.S. Department of War organizations are eligible to apply.
- Eligible organizations may include foreign or domestic organizations.
- Both for-profit and nonprofit organizations may apply.
- Public and private entities are eligible.
- Investigators affiliated with an eligible organization may serve as Principal Investigator (PI), Initiating PI, or Partnering PI regardless of ethnicity, nationality, or citizenship.
- A postdoctoral fellow serving as PI must include a Mentorship Statement.
Funding Details
- Level 1: Up to $750,000 for a single PI or $1.25 million through the Partnering PI Option.
- Level 2: Up to $1.65 million for a single PI or $2.5 million through the Partnering PI Option.
- Level 2 – Population Science Studies: Up to $2.5 million for a single PI or $3.35 million through the Partnering PI Option.
- Level 1 and Level 2 have a maximum period of performance of 3 years.
Deadline
- Pre-Application (LOI): November 4, 2026, 5:00 PM ET
- Full Application: November 18, 2026, 11:59 PM ET
- Application Verification Deadline: November 25, 2026, 5:00 PM ET
- Peer Review: January 2027
- Programmatic Review: March 2027
Further Information
- The research must address at least one of the FY26 BCRP overarching challenges or provide adequate justification for an exception.
- The application process is two-step: a pre-application through eBRAP, followed by a full application through Grants.gov for extramural organizations.
- Official Website
- View the full program announcement
- View the opportunity on Grants.gov