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

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1) What is the DoD OCRP Ovarian Cancer Academy Early-Career Investigator (OCA-ECI) Award?

The OCA-ECI Award is a four-year Department of Defense Ovarian Cancer Research Program (OCRP) funding opportunity that combines research support with a structured mentorship and professional development experience through a virtual "academy" model. It is designed to help junior faculty build an independent, high-impact ovarian cancer research career.

2) How is this award different from a typical career development award?

Instead of being primarily centered within a single institution, this program is built around participation in the Ovarian Cancer Academy, a cohort-based environment that emphasizes intensive mentoring, national networking, collaboration, and career skills training. It is meant to provide organized peer support, guidance from established investigators, and engagement with broader research and advocacy communities.

3) How long is the period of performance?

The award supports four years of research and career development activities.

4) Is participation in the Ovarian Cancer Academy required?

Yes. Participation in the Academy is a defining and mandatory feature of this award.

5) What activities are required as part of the Academy?

Early-Career Investigators are expected to participate 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 Academy members, including other Early-Career Investigators, multiple mentors, and Academy leadership (the Dean and Assistant Dean).

6) What is the purpose of the Academy cohort model?

The Academy is structured to encourage scientific exchange and professional growth, expand mentorship networks, and increase visibility and service in the field. The program aims to develop a cohort of highly productive ovarian cancer researchers through peer support and guidance from established investigators.

7) What kind of research can be supported under this award?

The award supports an ovarian cancer research project that can be basic, translational, or clinical in nature. The posted opportunity explicitly allowed clinical trials as an eligible research activity (as stated for FY18 in the provided summary).

8) Are clinical trials allowed under this opportunity?

Yes, clinical trials were described as eligible research activities for FY18. The opportunity used a standard definition of a clinical trial as a prospective study that enrolls human subjects and tests an intervention for measurable outcomes related to safety, effectiveness, and/or efficacy.

9) How does the opportunity define a clinical trial?

A clinical trial is defined as a prospective study that enrolls human subjects and tests an intervention (for example, a drug, biologic, device, surgery, behavioral approach, or similar) with measurable outcomes related to safety, effectiveness, and/or efficacy.

10) Is preliminary data required?

Yes. Applicants must include preliminary data to demonstrate feasibility.

11) Does preliminary data need to come from ovarian cancer research?

No. The program description indicates preliminary data do not have to come directly from ovarian cancer research as long as the data credibly support the proposed hypotheses and approach.

12) Who is intended to apply for this award?

Eligibility is aimed at investigators at an early career stage, with the Early-Career Investigator serving as the Principal Investigator (PI). The opportunity is designed to help junior faculty establish independence in ovarian cancer research.

13) Who serves as the Principal Investigator (PI) on the application?

The Early-Career Investigator is expected to serve as the PI.

14) Is a mentor required?

Yes. Each PI must work under the guidance of a Designated Mentor who has experience in ovarian cancer research and a strong record of training early-career scientists.

15) Does the Designated Mentor have to be at the same institution as the PI?

No. The Designated Mentor does not have to be at the same institution as the PI, which is intended to reduce barriers for investigators at smaller or less-resourced institutions.

16) Does the program encourage applicants facing institutional or resource barriers?

Yes. The program 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.

17) What additional mentoring responsibilities does the Designated Mentor have?

In addition to mentoring their assigned PI, Designated Mentors must agree to serve as a secondary mentor to another Academy Early-Career Investigator, expanding mentorship connections across the Academy.

18) Are there limits on who can serve as a Designated Mentor?

Yes. Current Ovarian Cancer Academy Designated Mentors generally can mentor only one OCA-ECI at a time. Also, Academy leadership (the Dean and Assistant Dean) cannot be listed as Designated Mentors.

19) What role does Academy leadership play?

Academy leadership (the Dean and Assistant Dean) monitors progress and helps facilitate connections across the cohort and with national communities. However, the PI and Designated Mentor remain responsible for developing the career development plan and designing and executing the research project.

20) What should the application emphasize besides the science?

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, in addition to presenting a feasible and impactful research plan.

21) What is the maximum funding amount?

The anticipated maximum direct costs for the full period of performance were capped at $725,000.

22) How many awards were expected to be made?

The opportunity anticipated making a small number of awards; two expected awards were listed.

23) What type of award mechanism is used?

Awards were made as assistance agreements, meaning either a grant or a cooperative agreement.

24) What determines whether it is a grant or a cooperative agreement?

The final mechanism depends on how much substantial involvement the DoD expects to have during project performance.

25) Which government office administered this funding opportunity?

The opportunity was administered by the Department of Defense, Department of the Army, U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA).

26) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA number provided was 12.420.

27) Who is eligible to apply (in general)?

The posted summary describes the opportunity as broadly open to applicants with unrestricted eligibility, subject to any additional clarifications in the full announcement.

28) Does the research need to address military relevance?

Yes. The proposed research needed to be relevant to active duty Service members, Veterans, military beneficiaries, and/or the American public.

29) Are there special DoD regulatory review requirements for human subjects research?

Yes. 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.

30) Is local IRB approval required at the time of application submission?

No. Local IRB approval was not required at submission based on the provided summary.

31) How much time should be planned for HRPO review before starting human-related work?

Applicants were advised to budget at least 2 to 3 months for HRPO review and approval before initiating human-related research activities.

32) Are there special DoD regulatory review requirements for animal research?

Yes. Animal research requires review by the Animal Care and Use Review Office (ACURO) in addition to the local IACUC.

33) Is local IACUC approval required at the time of application submission?

No. IACUC approval was not required at submission based on the provided summary, but it is typically required prior to starting animal work.

34) How much time should be planned for ACURO/IACUC approvals before starting animal work?

Applicants were advised to plan for a 2 to 3 month approval window for these reviews/approvals before initiating animal research activities.

35) Are there expectations for sharing data and resources produced under the award?

Yes. 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.

36) What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number provided was W81XWH-18-OCRP-OCA.

37) When was this opportunity posted?

The posting/creation date provided was April 11, 2018.

38) What was the original closing date?

The original closing date provided was August 8, 2018.

39) When were awards expected to be issued?

Awards were expected to be issued no later than September 30, 2019.

40) How is success measured in this program?

Based on the provided summary, success is measured both by the quality and impact of the proposed ovarian cancer research and by the investigator's engagement in the Academy, including active participation in mentoring, collaboration, professional development activities, and contributions to the broader ovarian cancer research community.