DoW Melanoma Research Program Idea Award

Background
The fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Melanoma Research Program (MRP) Idea Award is issued by the Defense Health Agency. It aims to support innovative, exploratory, high-risk/potentially high-reward research in melanoma. The MRP's mission is to enhance mission readiness, reduce melanoma burden, and improve quality of life for Service Members, Veterans, their Families, and the American public. The program was initiated by Congress in 2019 to provide support for impactful research with exceptional scientific merit.

Grant Details
The FY26 MRP Idea Award supports innovative and exploratory research that addresses at least one of the MRP Focus Areas. Key tasks include:
1) Generating new research avenues that introduce novel concepts or challenge existing paradigms;
2) Establishing proof of principle and generating preliminary data for future funding;
3) Focusing on prevention and interception of melanoma;
4) Addressing rare melanoma subtypes;
5) Investigating survivorship issues related to melanoma.
Preliminary data are discouraged, and applicants must submit a pre-application to receive an invitation for a full application.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include extramural and intramural U.S. Department of War organizations, both foreign and domestic, as well as for-profit and nonprofit organizations. Principal Investigators must be at or above the level of Postdoctoral Fellow or equivalent. Each investigator can only be named as PI on one FY26 MRP full application.

Period of Performance
The maximum period of performance for the grant is 2 years.

Grant Value
The total funding available for this opportunity is approximately $5.6 million, with individual awards capped at $560,000.

Place of Performance
The grant will be performed within the United States.