DoW Breast Cancer, Breakthrough Award Levels 1 and 2
The FY26 DoW Breast Cancer Breakthrough Award Levels 1 and 2 fund innovative research with high potential for major impact, supporting single or partnered investigators and including options for population science studies.
Funder: Dept. of the Army -- USAMRAA
Due Dates: June 24, 2026 (Pre-Application/LOI) | July 8, 2026 (Full Application) | July 13, 2026 (End of Verification Period)
Funding Amounts: ~$31.8M total; Level 1: up to $750K (single PI, 3 yrs) or $1.25M (PPIO, 3 yrs); Level 2: up to $1.65M (single PI, 3 yrs) or $2.5M (PPIO, 3 yrs); Level 2 Population Science: up to $2.5M (single PI, 4 yrs) or $3.35M (PPIO, 4 yrs)
Summary: Supports research with high potential for breakthroughs in breast cancer, addressing BCRP overarching challenges, at early or translational stages.
Key Information: Clinical trials are not allowed; partnering PI option available; open to domestic and foreign organizations.
Description
The FY26 Breast Cancer Research Program (BCRP) Breakthrough Award Levels 1 and 2 supports promising, high-impact research projects with the potential to lead to or make breakthroughs in breast cancer. Projects must address at least one of the BCRP's overarching challenges, such as prevention, risk identification, distinguishing deadly from non-deadly disease, metastasis, recurrence, or revolutionizing treatment. The program is intended for research that could fundamentally change understanding or management of breast cancer, with clear clinical relevance for Service Members, Veterans, their Families, and the general public.
Distinctive features include:
- Funding Level 1 supports early-stage, high-risk/high-reward ideas (no preliminary data required).
- Funding Level 2 supports projects with strong preliminary data and clear translational potential.
- Level 2 also offers a Population Science Studies option for projects analyzing human data/biospecimens, allowing higher budgets and longer duration.
- Applications may be submitted by a single Principal Investigator (PI) or by two partnering PIs (Initiating and Partnering PI Option, PPIO).
- Clinical trials are not permitted under this mechanism.
