DoD Ovarian Cancer, Ovarian Cancer Academy- Early-Career Investigator Award | W81XWH 18 OCRP OCA

Opportunity Information: Apply for W81XWH 18 OCRP OCA

The DoD Ovarian Cancer Research Program (OCRP) Ovarian Cancer Academy Early-Career Investigator (OCA-ECI) Award is a four-year funding and structured mentorship opportunity designed to help junior faculty build an independent, high-impact research career in ovarian cancer. Rather than operating like a typical career development award that is mostly centered within one institution, this program is built around a virtual "academy" model that combines intensive mentoring, national networking, collaboration, and career skills training. The overall purpose is to grow a cohort of highly productive ovarian cancer researchers by placing them in an organized environment with peer support, guidance from established investigators, and active engagement with the broader research and advocacy communities.

A defining feature of the award is mandatory participation in the Ovarian Cancer Academy itself. Early-Career Investigators are expected to take part in monthly webinars, attend in-person workshops (a multi-day biennial Academy workshop and a one-day workshop in alternate years), and routinely interact with other Academy members, including fellow Early-Career Investigators, multiple mentors, and Academy leadership (a Dean and Assistant Dean). The Academy is structured to encourage real scientific exchange and professional growth, and it also emphasizes visibility and service in the field; historically, Academy participants have gone on to present at ovarian cancer symposia, chair conference sessions, serve on review committees, and act as peer reviewers for DoD OCRP and other funding organizations.

From a research standpoint, the award supports an ovarian cancer project that can be basic, translational, or clinical in nature, and for FY18 the program explicitly allowed clinical trials as an eligible research activity. The announcement uses a standard definition of a clinical trial: a prospective study that enrolls human subjects and tests an intervention (such as a drug, biologic, device, surgery, behavioral approach, or similar) for measurable outcomes related to safety, effectiveness, and/or efficacy. Applicants must include preliminary data to show feasibility, but the program is flexible in that the preliminary data do not have to come directly from ovarian cancer research, as long as they credibly support the proposed hypotheses and approach.

Eligibility is aimed at investigators in an early career stage, with the Early-Career Investigator serving as the Principal Investigator (PI). Each PI must work under the guidance of a Designated Mentor who is experienced in ovarian cancer research and has a strong record of training early-career scientists. Importantly, the Designated Mentor does not have to be at the same institution as the PI, which is meant to remove common barriers for investigators at smaller or less-resourced institutions. In fact, the OCRP explicitly encourages applications from Early-Career Investigators who face significant obstacles to building an ovarian cancer research program, such as limited local mentoring options, lack of access to specialized tools or resources, or difficulty establishing collaborations. In addition to mentoring their assigned PI, Designated Mentors must also agree to serve as a secondary mentor to another Academy Early-Career Investigator, which helps expand the mentorship network across the Academy. The program also places limits on who can serve as a Designated Mentor: current Ovarian Cancer Academy Designated Mentors generally can mentor only one OCA-ECI at a time, and Academy leadership (the Dean and Assistant Dean) cannot be listed as Designated Mentors.

The award provides both research support and protected time for the PI to conduct intensive research and career development over four years. While the Academy leadership monitors progress and helps facilitate connections across the cohort and with national communities, the PI and Designated Mentor remain responsible for building the PI's career development plan and for designing and carrying out the proposed research. The application must clearly communicate the PI's long-term commitment to becoming an ovarian cancer researcher and to actively contributing to the Academy community.

On the funding side, the anticipated maximum direct costs for the full period of performance were capped at $725,000. The opportunity anticipated making a small number of awards (two expected awards were listed). Awards were made as assistance agreements, meaning either a grant or a cooperative agreement, with the final mechanism depending on how much substantial involvement the DoD expected to have during project performance. The funding opportunity was administered by the Department of Defense, Department of the Army, U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA), under CFDA 12.420, and was broadly open to applicants (unrestricted eligibility, subject to any additional clarifications in the full announcement). The research proposed needed to be relevant to active duty Service members, Veterans, military beneficiaries, and/or the American public.

The announcement also highlights regulatory review requirements that matter for planning timelines. Any DoD-funded work involving human subjects, human anatomical substances, or human cadavers must undergo review by the USAMRMC Office of Research Protections, Human Research Protection Office (HRPO), in addition to local IRB or ethics review. Local IRB approval was not required at submission, but investigators were advised to budget at least 2 to 3 months for HRPO review and approval before initiating human-related research activities. Similarly, animal research requires review by the Animal Care and Use Review Office (ACURO) in addition to the local IACUC, with IACUC approval also not required at submission but typically needed prior to starting animal work; applicants were again advised to plan for a 2 to 3 month approval window. Finally, the program underscores an expectation that data, findings, and research resources generated through funded projects should be made available to the broader research and advocacy communities and the public, consistent with CDMRP sharing goals.

Key administrative details from the posted opportunity include the funding opportunity number W81XWH-18-OCRP-OCA, a posting/creation date of April 11, 2018, and an original closing date of August 8, 2018, with awards expected to be issued no later than September 30, 2019. Overall, the award is best understood as a combined research grant and structured professional development program, where success is measured not only by the proposed science but also by the investigator's engagement with an active, collaborative Academy designed to accelerate independence and leadership in ovarian cancer research.

• 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 Ovarian Cancer, Ovarian Cancer Academy- Early-Career Investigator 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 11, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 08, 2018. (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 2 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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