DoD Melanoma, Team Science Award | HT942525MRPTSA

DoD Melanoma, Team Science Award (HT942525MRPTSA) - Frequently Asked Questions

1) What is the DoD Melanoma, Team Science Award?

The DoD Melanoma, Team Science Award is a discretionary grant program that supports hypothesis-driven melanoma research using a multidisciplinary, team-based approach. It is administered through the Department of the Army, U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA), under CFDA 12.420.

2) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this program?

The Funding Opportunity Number is HT942525MRPTSA.

3) What kind of research is this award designed to fund?

This mechanism is designed to fund hypothesis-driven melanoma research that is intentionally structured around team science. The goal is to generate near-term advances in melanoma science and/or melanoma patient care through an integrated project.

4) What does "team science" mean in the context of this opportunity?

In this opportunity, team science refers to a research strategy where multiple disciplines work together in a coordinated way on a single, integrated project. The intent is to combine perspectives, tools, and methods across fields to tackle the complexity of melanoma and drive progress that directly influences patient outcomes.

5) What disciplines or areas of expertise are relevant to a competitive team?

The summary highlights that meaningful progress may require combining fields such as immunology, oncology, genomics, dermatology, computational biology, imaging, drug development, behavioral science, and clinical practice. Teams are expected to build complementary expertise that strengthens the overall integrated approach.

6) How many Principal Investigators (PIs) are required?

The award requires multiple Principal Investigators. The leadership team must include at least two and no more than three PIs who jointly design and carry out one integrated research project.

7) Are multi-institutional collaborations allowed or encouraged?

Yes. Multi-institutional collaborations are explicitly encouraged. The program is designed to create synergy across organizations and disciplines, and potentially across different therapeutic or research areas, as long as the work remains integrated within a single project plan.

8) If funded, will there be one award or multiple awards for the team?

If the project is selected for funding, each PI will be listed on a separate award made to their respective organization(s). This approach reinforces the expectation that each PI has a distinct, accountable role within the shared project.

9) What is the overall emphasis of the award: basic science, translation, or clinical impact?

The award emphasizes impact and translatability, with an aim toward tangible, near-term advances in melanoma science and/or patient care. The program framing stresses alignment with outcomes that directly influence patients.

10) Is collaboration with the melanoma consumer community required?

No. Collaboration with the melanoma consumer community is encouraged but not required. Examples of consumer community members include patients, survivors, caregivers, and advocacy groups.

11) Why does the program encourage engagement with the melanoma consumer community?

The stated intent is to keep research aligned with real-world needs, improve the relevance of research questions and outcomes, and increase the likelihood that findings can be implemented in ways that benefit communities affected by melanoma.

12) What is the application process for FY25?

For FY25, the process includes a gatekeeping step: teams must submit a required pre-application and then receive an invitation before they are allowed to submit a full application.

13) Who submits the pre-application?

Only the Initiating PI submits the pre-application on behalf of the team.

14) What happens at the full application stage?

At the full application stage, all PIs must submit application materials. Partnering PI(s) submit a shortened, role-specific package focused on the work they will lead, while the overall structure is intended to support a single cohesive project plan.

15) What is the difference between an Initiating PI and a Partnering PI in this opportunity?

Based on the process described, the Initiating PI is the PI who submits the required pre-application on behalf of the entire team. Partnering PI(s) participate as co-leaders and, at the full application stage, submit a shortened, role-specific set of materials centered on the portion of work they will lead.

16) Does the program support loosely connected projects under a shared theme?

The structure described signals that the program expects a single cohesive, integrated project with clearly defined, complementary contributions from each PI rather than loosely connected parallel studies.

17) What is the closing date listed for this opportunity?

The listing indicates an original closing date of October 1, 2025.

18) How many awards are anticipated?

The opportunity anticipates a total of about seven awards.

19) Who is eligible to apply?

The summary describes eligibility as unrestricted, meaning it does not limit applicants to a narrow set of institution types in the provided information.

20) Is there a maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling is not specified in the provided listing.

21) What types of projects are likely the best fit for this mechanism?

This mechanism is best suited for teams proposing a well-integrated, hypothesis-driven melanoma project that can credibly deliver tangible advances in the shorter term, supported by a collaborative plan where each PI brings distinct expertise that strengthens the overall approach.

22) Which agency runs this grant program?

The program is run through the Department of the Army, U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA), within the Department of Defense (DoD).

23) What is CFDA 12.420, as referenced in the listing?

The listing references CFDA 12.420 as the associated assistance listing identifier for this program.