DoW Rare Cancers Idea Development Award
This grant funds innovative research ideas with preliminary data to advance high-impact studies and new directions in rare cancer research.
Funder: Dept. of the Army -- USAMRAA
Due Dates: August 19, 2026: Pre-Application (Preproposal) | November 18, 2026: Full Application | November 25, 2026: Application Verification Period Ends
Funding Amounts: Approx. $490,000 total costs per award (up to 3 years); ~15 awards; $7.35M total program funding
Summary: Supports high-impact research ideas for rare cancers (≤6/100,000 annual incidence) with required preliminary data; aims to accelerate discovery and improve outcomes for rare cancer patients.
Description
This grant opportunity, administered by the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA) as part of the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP), funds innovative research on rare cancers—defined as those affecting six or fewer persons per 100,000 per year in the United States. The Idea Development Award (IDA) is intended for projects ready for further development that have the potential to yield high-impact findings and open new avenues of investigation, with a strong emphasis on translational potential and benefit to the patient community, including military members and veterans.
Distinctive features include encouragement for exploratory aims or sub-aims, a requirement for preliminary data (though not necessarily from the specific rare cancer under study), and a focus on advancing knowledge in the biology, preclinical models, therapies, or AI/ML approaches relevant to rare cancers. Clinical trials are not permitted, but clinical research is allowed.
