Opportunity Information: Apply for W81XWH 19 PCRP PRA
The DOD Prostate Cancer Research Program (PCRP) Physician Research Award is designed to help physicians who still carry clinical responsibilities build a strong, research-focused career in prostate cancer through a structured, mentored experience. In this mechanism, the physician is the Principal Investigator (PI) and is expected to take the lead in writing the application and shaping both the science and the career development plan, with guidance from one or more established mentors. The program places equal weight on the quality and feasibility of the research project and on how well the award will develop the PI into a productive, independent investigator working in basic science, population science, translational research, or clinical research related to prostate cancer.
Eligibility is targeted to early-career physicians who are at a key transition point toward independence: applicants must have clinical duties and, by the application deadline, must either be in the final year of an accredited residency or fellowship program, or within five years of starting a faculty appointment (including Instructor roles). A prior track record specifically in prostate cancer research is not required, but the PI must clearly show commitment to becoming a leading investigator whose work connects research and clinical practice. Because the award is built around mentorship, at least one mentor is required, and that mentor must already run a credible prostate cancer research program, demonstrated through recent publications, active research funding, and a history of successful mentorship. The mentor team also needs to show a real, concrete commitment to advancing the PI's development, not just supervising the project.
On the research side, proposed projects must directly address one or more FY19 PCRP Overarching Challenges, meaning the topic must align with the program's stated problem areas and priorities rather than being a general prostate cancer study. Applications are expected to present a well-reasoned scientific rationale and a detailed, carefully justified approach, with clear methods, defined milestones, and a realistic plan for achieving the aims. Preliminary data are encouraged but not mandatory; if included, they should come from the PI, the mentor(s), or close collaborators, and the application should clearly document access to any critical resources, tools, cohorts, datasets, specimens, or specialized facilities needed to complete the work. Reviewers will be looking for evidence that the design is feasible in the proposed environment and timeframe, and that the project is set up to produce interpretable, meaningful results.
A central requirement is an individualized Researcher Development Plan, created with mentor input, that explains exactly how the PI will acquire the skills and experiences needed to complete the project and grow into an independent prostate cancer researcher. This plan should spell out training goals, technical or analytic skill-building, mentorship structure, and professional development activities, while also describing the institutional environment supporting the PI. If the home institution lacks certain resources or expertise, the program allows those gaps to be addressed through collaborations, including cross-institution arrangements; when substantial resources will be used at another institution, designating a co-mentor at that partner site is strongly encouraged to ensure consistent guidance and access.
Impact is a major emphasis: the proposed research must not only align with an Overarching Challenge but also be positioned to meaningfully advance the PCRP mission of eliminating death from prostate cancer and improving well-being for Service members, Veterans, and the broader public affected by the disease. Applicants are encouraged to strengthen rigor and translational value by incorporating best practices such as authenticating proposed cell lines, applying appropriate statistical rigor in animal studies, and including experiments that test clinical relevance and real-world applicability. The announcement points applicants toward existing program-related resources that can increase impact, including the PCRP-funded Prostate Cancer Biorepository Network (PCBN) and the North Carolina-Louisiana Prostate Cancer Project (PCaP), especially when retrospectively collected human specimens and linked data are important. The program also encourages approaches that leverage large patient datasets with longitudinal health records and biospecimens, especially when combined with modern genomic or proteomic methods, bioinformatics, or mathematical modeling. In addition, because the DOD participates in broader federal efforts to accelerate progress against advanced disease, applicants are encouraged to consider the Metastatic Cancer Task Force recommendations and develop ideas that fit within this award's rules and the FY19 PCRP priorities.
From a funding and administrative standpoint, the anticipated maximum direct cost budget for the full performance period is $750,000. Program leadership expected to allocate about $6.0 million total to fund roughly five awards, with final selections depending on federal fund availability, application volume, and scientific and programmatic review outcomes. Awards were expected to be made no later than September 30, 2020, and the mechanism can be issued either as a grant or a cooperative agreement depending on the level of DOD involvement anticipated during performance. The listing identifies the opportunity as W81XWH 19 PCRP PRA under CFDA 12.420, managed by the Department of Defense, Department of the Army (USAMRAA), with an original closing date of June 27, 2019.
The opportunity allows research involving human subjects, but it explicitly prohibits clinical trials under its FY19 definition (prospective assignment of human subjects to interventions to evaluate health outcomes). PIs can still engage with clinical trials in limited ways, such as participating for training purposes or conducting correlative studies tied to an existing trial, but the trial itself cannot be funded by this award. Correlative studies are particularly encouraged when they are no more than minimal risk and meet both local Institutional Review Board (IRB) requirements and the DOD's additional oversight requirements. Any DOD-funded work involving human subjects, human anatomical substances, or human cadavers must also be reviewed and approved by the USAMRMC Office of Research Protections, Human Research Protection Office (HRPO), in addition to local review, and applicants are advised to plan for at least 2 to 3 months for that regulatory process. If human recruitment is involved, the application must include quarterly enrollment targets, and continued support may depend on meeting agreed recruitment milestones.
If the project depends on access to DOD or VA populations, databases, or facilities, the application must explain how that access will be obtained and maintained and must include supporting documentation such as letters of support signed by appropriate authorities. VA-related access has its own documentation expectations, often involving confirmation from facility leadership (for example, the VA Facility Director or designee such as ACOS/RandD), and in some situations the VA-affiliated nonprofit corporation may be the appropriate applicant institution. The announcement also flags a practical constraint: certain DOD or VA datasets and patient resources may only be accessible through collaboration with investigators who already have the necessary affiliation or permissions, and failure to confirm access can jeopardize funding.
Animal research is permitted but must go through both local IACUC review and a separate DOD review through the Animal Care and Use Review Office (ACURO) before animal work can begin, with a similar expectation of 2 to 3 months for regulatory review. The program emphasizes rigorous, reproducible study design and reporting, pointing applicants to widely recognized standards and guidelines such as principles discussed by Landis et al. and the ARRIVE guidelines, including practices like randomization, blinding where feasible, appropriate sample-size estimation, and transparent data handling.
Finally, the PCRP expects that information, datasets, and research resources generated under funded awards will be shared with the broader research community and, where appropriate, the public, reflecting the program's focus on accelerating progress through transparency and reuse. Overall, this award is best understood as a structured launching pad for clinically active early-career physicians who want to become independent prostate cancer researchers, pairing a well-justified, challenge-driven research project with a tightly planned mentorship and training pathway, all under DOD-specific oversight and compliance requirements.Apply for W81XWH 19 PCRP PRA
- 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 Prostate Cancer, Physician 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 05, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 27, 2019. (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.
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FAQs: DOD Prostate Cancer Research Program (PCRP) Physician Research Award (PRA)
What is the PCRP Physician Research Award (PRA) intended to support?
The PCRP Physician Research Award is designed to help physicians who still have clinical responsibilities build a strong, research-focused career in prostate cancer through a structured, mentored experience. The award places equal emphasis on (1) the quality and feasibility of the proposed prostate cancer research project and (2) how effectively the award will develop the physician into a productive, independent investigator.
Who is expected to serve as the Principal Investigator (PI)?
The physician applicant is the Principal Investigator (PI). The PI is expected to take the lead in writing the application and shaping both the scientific plan and the career development plan, with guidance from one or more established mentors.
Is this award specifically for physicians with ongoing clinical duties?
Yes. Eligibility is targeted to early-career physicians who have clinical duties and are at a key transition point toward research independence.
What career stage is eligible for this mechanism?
By the application deadline, the PI must either (1) be in the final year of an accredited residency or fellowship program, or (2) be within five years of starting a faculty appointment (including Instructor roles). The PI must also have clinical duties.
Is prior prostate cancer research experience required to apply?
No. A prior track record specifically in prostate cancer research is not required. However, the PI must clearly demonstrate a commitment to becoming a leading investigator whose work connects research and clinical practice in prostate cancer.
Is mentorship required?
Yes. Because this mechanism is built around mentorship, at least one mentor is required.
What qualifications must the mentor (or mentor team) have?
The mentor must already lead a credible prostate cancer research program. The announcement describes this credibility as being demonstrated by recent publications, active research funding, and a history of successful mentorship. The mentor team is also expected to show a concrete commitment to advancing the PI's development, not merely supervising the research project.
Can the PI have more than one mentor?
Yes. The opportunity allows guidance from one or more established mentors, and it discusses mentor teams and the use of co-mentors when resources or expertise are provided at another institution.
What types of prostate cancer research are appropriate for this award?
The award supports prostate cancer research across basic science, population science, translational research, and clinical research, as long as the project directly addresses one or more FY19 PCRP Overarching Challenges.
Does the research topic have to match specific PCRP priorities?
Yes. Proposed projects must directly address one or more FY19 PCRP Overarching Challenges. The topic must align with the program's stated problem areas and priorities rather than being a general prostate cancer study.
What are reviewers likely to look for in the research plan?
Applications are expected to include a well-reasoned scientific rationale and a detailed, carefully justified approach, with clear methods, defined milestones, and a realistic plan for achieving the aims. Reviewers will look for evidence that the study is feasible in the proposed environment and timeframe and that the design will produce interpretable, meaningful results.
Are preliminary data required?
No. Preliminary data are encouraged but not required. If included, preliminary data should come from the PI, the mentor(s), or close collaborators.
How should applicants address access to key resources like specimens, datasets, or specialized facilities?
If the project depends on critical resources (such as tools, cohorts, datasets, specimens, or specialized facilities), the application should clearly document access to those resources. The review process will consider whether the work is feasible given the resources available to the PI and team.
What is the Researcher Development Plan, and why does it matter?
A central requirement is an individualized Researcher Development Plan created with mentor input. It must explain how the PI will acquire the skills and experiences needed to complete the project and grow into an independent prostate cancer researcher. The plan should cover training goals, technical or analytic skill-building, mentorship structure, professional development activities, and the institutional environment supporting the PI.
Can collaborations be used to fill gaps in the home institution's resources or expertise?
Yes. If the home institution lacks certain resources or expertise, those gaps may be addressed through collaborations, including cross-institution arrangements. When substantial resources will be used at another institution, designating a co-mentor at the partner site is strongly encouraged to ensure consistent guidance and access.
How is "impact" defined or emphasized in this opportunity?
Impact is a major emphasis. The research must align with an Overarching Challenge and be positioned to meaningfully advance the PCRP mission of eliminating death from prostate cancer and improving well-being for Service members, Veterans, and the broader public affected by the disease.
Are there recommended best practices to strengthen rigor and translational value?
Yes. The announcement encourages best practices such as authenticating proposed cell lines, applying appropriate statistical rigor in animal studies, and including experiments that test clinical relevance and real-world applicability.
Are there specific PCRP-related resources applicants are encouraged to consider?
Yes. The opportunity points to program-related resources that can increase impact, including the PCRP-funded Prostate Cancer Biorepository Network (PCBN) and the North Carolina-Louisiana Prostate Cancer Project (PCaP), especially when retrospectively collected human specimens and linked data are important.
Does the program encourage the use of large datasets and modern analytic approaches?
Yes. The opportunity encourages approaches that leverage large patient datasets with longitudinal health records and biospecimens, especially when combined with modern genomic or proteomic methods, bioinformatics, or mathematical modeling.
Is there a funding cap for this award?
Yes. The anticipated maximum direct cost budget for the full performance period is $750,000.
How many awards were expected to be made under this opportunity?
Program leadership expected to allocate about $6.0 million total to fund roughly five awards, with final selections depending on federal fund availability, application volume, and scientific and programmatic review outcomes.
What type of award instrument will be used (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
The mechanism can be issued either as a grant or a cooperative agreement, depending on the level of Department of Defense involvement anticipated during the performance period.
What is the opportunity identifier and administering organization?
The listing identifies the opportunity as W81XWH 19 PCRP PRA under CFDA 12.420. It is managed by the Department of Defense, Department of the Army (USAMRAA).
What was the original application closing date listed for this opportunity?
The original closing date listed was June 27, 2019.
Are human subjects studies allowed?
Yes. The opportunity allows research involving human subjects, but it comes with Department of Defense-specific oversight requirements.
Are clinical trials allowed under this award?
No. Clinical trials are explicitly prohibited under the FY19 definition referenced in the opportunity (prospective assignment of human subjects to interventions to evaluate health outcomes).
Can the PI participate in a clinical trial in any way under this award?
Limited involvement is allowed. The PI can participate in clinical trials for training purposes or conduct correlative studies tied to an existing trial, but the clinical trial itself cannot be funded by this award.
What kinds of correlative studies are encouraged?
Correlative studies are particularly encouraged when they are no more than minimal risk and meet both local Institutional Review Board (IRB) requirements and the Department of Defense's additional oversight requirements.
What additional human research approvals are required beyond the local IRB?
Any Department of Defense-funded work involving human subjects, human anatomical substances, or human cadavers must also be reviewed and approved by the USAMRMC Office of Research Protections, Human Research Protection Office (HRPO), in addition to local review.
How long should applicants plan for Department of Defense human research regulatory review?
Applicants are advised to plan for at least 2 to 3 months for the HRPO regulatory process.
If the project includes human recruitment, are enrollment milestones required?
Yes. If human recruitment is involved, the application must include quarterly enrollment targets, and continued support may depend on meeting agreed recruitment milestones.
What if the project depends on access to Department of Defense (DOD) or Veterans Affairs (VA) populations, databases, or facilities?
The application must explain how that access will be obtained and maintained and must include supporting documentation such as letters of support signed by appropriate authorities.
Are there special documentation expectations for VA-related access?
Yes. VA-related access often involves confirmation from facility leadership (for example, the VA Facility Director or a designee such as ACOS/RandD). In some situations, the VA-affiliated nonprofit corporation may be the appropriate applicant institution.
Why is confirming DOD/VA data or patient-resource access emphasized?
The opportunity notes that certain DOD or VA datasets and patient resources may only be accessible through collaboration with investigators who already have the necessary affiliation or permissions. Failure to confirm access can jeopardize funding.
Is animal research allowed under this award?
Yes. Animal research is permitted, but it requires both local IACUC review and a separate Department of Defense review through the Animal Care and Use Review Office (ACURO) before animal work can begin.
How long should applicants plan for Department of Defense animal research review?
A similar expectation of 2 to 3 months is stated for the regulatory review process before animal work can begin.
What rigor and reproducibility standards are emphasized for animal studies?
The program emphasizes rigorous, reproducible study design and reporting, pointing applicants to standards and guidelines such as principles discussed by Landis et al. and the ARRIVE guidelines. Examples of encouraged practices include randomization, blinding where feasible, appropriate sample-size estimation, and transparent data handling.
Does the program expect data and resource sharing?
Yes. The PCRP expects that information, datasets, and research resources generated under funded awards will be shared with the broader research community and, where appropriate, the public.
How should applicants think about the overall purpose of this award when preparing an application?
This award is best understood as a structured launching pad for clinically active early-career physicians who want to become independent prostate cancer researchers. Successful applications pair a well-justified, Overarching Challenge-driven research project with a tightly planned mentorship and training pathway, while addressing Department of Defense-specific oversight and compliance requirements.
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