Opportunity Information: Apply for HT9425 23 MRP MCAA

The DoD Melanoma Mid-Career Accelerator Award (MCAA) is a Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) funding opportunity under the Melanoma Research Program (MRP) designed specifically for independent, mid-career investigators who are ready to push melanoma research forward in a way that is both scientifically meaningful and career-defining. The main idea is to support researchers who already have a track record in melanoma research and/or melanoma patient care and who have generated melanoma-relevant preliminary data, but who would benefit from a targeted boost to accelerate their work, expand their influence, and solidify their trajectory as future leaders in the melanoma field. The program emphasizes research that is impactful and moves promising concepts closer to real-world clinical usefulness, whether the work is basic, translational, or otherwise positioned to influence patient outcomes.

Eligibility is centered on the career stage and independence of the Principal Investigator (PI). Applicants must be mid-career researchers or physician-scientists at the Assistant or Associate Professor level (or equivalent) and must be at least seven years past their first faculty-level appointment. The opportunity explicitly excludes instructors and full professors (or equivalents), reinforcing that it is meant for investigators who are established but not yet senior. In addition, the PI must show prior success securing at least one peer-reviewed extramural funding award, signaling that this award is intended to build on an already functioning research program rather than launch a first independent effort. Reviewers will consider the PI's accomplishments (such as publications, presentations, patents, and related outputs) alongside the proposed research to gauge the investigator's potential to make sustained contributions to the melanoma research landscape.

From a scientific standpoint, applications must clearly align the proposed work with at least one of the FY23 MRP Focus Areas (referenced in the announcement) and must explain the expected impact in both the short term and long term. The program places weight on the idea of "impact" not just as novelty, but as a practical acceleration of melanoma advances toward clinical utility. That means applicants need to make a convincing case for why the work matters to melanoma research and/or melanoma patient care, how it could change scientific understanding or clinical decision-making, and why the project is positioned to meaningfully move the field forward rather than remain purely exploratory.

A distinctive requirement of this award is the Continuity Plan, which is meant to evaluate leadership potential and long-range commitment to melanoma beyond the life of a single project. This plan should describe how the PI will continue developing and sustaining a melanoma-focused research program and how they intend to establish themselves as a leader in the broader community, not only within their own lab or institution. In practice, this asks applicants to think ahead about the next steps after the award: how the work will grow, how it will attract follow-on funding, how it may influence collaborations, and how it will continue benefiting melanoma research and/or patients over time.

The award is also designed to connect investigators into a broader network through coordination with the MRP Melanoma Academy. While participation in Melanoma Academy activities (like networking events and seminars) is encouraged to foster collaboration and visibility, there is also a required engagement: MCAA PIs must attend one meeting hosted by the Melanoma Academy Leadership during the second year of the award to present project information or share results. This requirement signals that the program values community-building, dissemination, and cross-pollination of ideas, not just isolated project execution.

Administratively, this opportunity is run by the Department of Defense (Department of the Army, USAMRAA). It was posted under Funding Opportunity Number HT9425 23 MRP MCAA, categorized as a discretionary program, and uses grant and/or cooperative agreement mechanisms. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted by entity type (open broadly), subject to any additional eligibility clarifications in the full notice. The opportunity anticipated making about three awards, and the public listing did not specify an award ceiling in the provided metadata. The original closing date for the posted cycle was September 22, 2023.

  • 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 Melanoma Mid-Career Accelerator 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 May 18, 2023.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 22, 2023. (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 3 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 Melanoma Mid-Career Accelerator Award (MCAA)

What is the DoD Melanoma Mid-Career Accelerator Award (MCAA)?

The Melanoma Mid-Career Accelerator Award (MCAA) is a funding opportunity offered through the Department of Defense (DoD) Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) under the Melanoma Research Program (MRP). It is designed to support independent, mid-career investigators whose melanoma research is positioned to make a meaningful scientific and career-defining leap.

What is the main goal of this award?

The main goal is to provide a targeted boost to established but not-yet-senior investigators so they can accelerate melanoma research that is positioned to have real-world impact. The program emphasizes moving promising concepts closer to clinical usefulness and influencing patient outcomes, whether the work is basic, translational, or otherwise clinically relevant.

Who is this award intended for?

This award is intended for independent mid-career researchers and physician-scientists who already have a track record in melanoma research and/or melanoma patient care and who have generated melanoma-relevant preliminary data, but would benefit from focused support to expand their influence and solidify their trajectory as future leaders in melanoma.

What career stage is required for the Principal Investigator (PI)?

The PI must be a mid-career investigator at the Assistant Professor or Associate Professor level (or equivalent) and must be at least seven years past their first faculty-level appointment.

Who is explicitly excluded from applying as PI?

Instructors and full professors (or equivalents) are explicitly excluded, reinforcing that the award is intended for investigators who are established but not yet senior.

Does the PI need to be independent?

Yes. The opportunity is designed specifically for independent investigators, and eligibility is centered on the PI's independence and mid-career stage.

Is prior external funding required?

Yes. The PI must show prior success securing at least one peer-reviewed extramural funding award. This indicates the award is meant to build on an already functioning research program rather than serve as a first independent funding mechanism.

What types of PI accomplishments are considered in review?

Reviewers may consider the PI's accomplishments such as publications, presentations, patents, and related outputs alongside the proposed research to assess potential for sustained contributions to the melanoma research landscape.

What kind of science does the award support?

The award supports melanoma research intended to be impactful and positioned to move promising concepts toward clinical utility. The program description allows for work that is basic, translational, or otherwise designed to influence patient outcomes.

Do projects need to align with specific program priorities?

Yes. Applications must clearly align the proposed work with at least one of the FY23 MRP Focus Areas referenced in the announcement.

How should applicants describe impact?

Applicants are expected to explain impact in both the short term and long term, emphasizing practical acceleration of melanoma advances toward clinical usefulness. The application should make a convincing case for why the work matters to melanoma research and/or melanoma patient care, how it could change scientific understanding or clinical decision-making, and why it is positioned to meaningfully move the field forward rather than remain purely exploratory.

What is the Continuity Plan and why is it required?

The Continuity Plan is a distinctive requirement intended to evaluate the PI's leadership potential and long-range commitment to melanoma beyond a single project. It should describe how the PI will continue developing and sustaining a melanoma-focused research program and how they intend to establish themselves as a leader in the broader community.

What should be covered in the Continuity Plan?

Based on the opportunity description, the Continuity Plan should address how the work will grow after the award, how it may attract follow-on funding, how it could influence collaborations, and how it will continue benefiting melanoma research and/or patients over time.

Is participation in the MRP Melanoma Academy required?

Coordination with the MRP Melanoma Academy is part of the award design. Participation in activities like networking events and seminars is encouraged, and there is at least one specific required engagement for MCAA PIs.

What is the required Melanoma Academy engagement?

MCAA PIs must attend one meeting hosted by the Melanoma Academy Leadership during the second year of the award to present project information or share results.

When does the required meeting take place?

The required meeting is during the second year of the award, hosted by the Melanoma Academy Leadership.

What is the administering organization for this opportunity?

The opportunity is run by the Department of Defense, specifically the Department of the Army (USAMRAA), under the CDMRP Melanoma Research Program (MRP).

What is the funding opportunity number (FON)?

The Funding Opportunity Number listed is HT9425 23 MRP MCAA.

What type of program is it categorized as?

It is categorized as a discretionary program.

What funding mechanisms are used?

The opportunity uses grant and/or cooperative agreement mechanisms.

Is eligibility restricted by applicant organization type?

Eligibility is listed as unrestricted by entity type (open broadly), subject to any additional eligibility clarifications in the full notice.

How many awards were anticipated for this cycle?

The opportunity anticipated making about three awards.

Is there a stated maximum award amount (ceiling)?

The public listing metadata provided did not specify an award ceiling.

What was the closing date for the posted cycle?

The original closing date for the posted cycle was September 22, 2023.

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