Opportunity Information: Apply for W81XWH 22 PRCRP CDA SO
The Department of Defense Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program (PRCRP) Career Development Award, Scholar Option (often referred to as the Virtual Cancer Center Scholar Option) is designed to grow the next generation of cancer research leaders by supporting highly accomplished early-career investigators as they build independence, expand their scientific reach, and pursue discovery-driven cancer research. In this mechanism, the early-career investigator is the Principal Investigator (PI), and the proposal is expected to center on the PI's research direction as well as a structured plan for career development. Preliminary data are not required, but the application must still make a persuasive case through strong logic, a clear scientific rationale, and support from relevant literature. The program emphasizes impactful research with a discovery focus, while also pushing applicants to describe how their work could ultimately accelerate progress toward clinical application and improved patient care.
A defining feature of the Scholar Option is mandatory participation in the PRCRP Virtual Cancer Center (VCC), described as a highly interactive, convergent-science environment intended to foster emerging cancer researchers. Scholars are not only mentored by a designated Career Guide, but also plugged into a broader national network that includes the VCC Director, Deputy Director, and a cohort of fellow Scholars. The VCC model is built around intensive mentoring, networking, and peer engagement for junior faculty, with structured expectations for ongoing interaction. Scholars and Career Guides must attend recurring VCC workshops, including a multi-day workshop held every two years and a one-day workshop in alternate years, reinforcing the program's focus on community-building and professional acceleration alongside the research project itself.
Eligibility and positioning requirements are specific and are meant to target investigators who are early in their independent careers but already demonstrating momentum. The PI must be within 7 years of completing a terminal degree at the application deadline, with allowable exclusions for time spent in residency, clinical training, or family medical leave; importantly, postdoctoral time still counts toward the 7-year window, and postdoctoral fellows are not eligible. In addition, the Scholar must hold a tenure-track or equivalent appointment and must have independent laboratory space that is separate from the Career Guide's lab or any other mentor's lab, underscoring that the award is meant to support an investigator who is already operating independently rather than training within someone else's research program. Reviewers will weigh the PI's accomplishments and the proposed research in relation to the FY22 PRCRP Topic Areas, and the Scholar is expected to show a strong track record for their career stage, including first-author publications, evidence of extramural funding, and clear excellence in cancer research supported by letters of recommendation.
The Career Guide plays a central role but is distinct from a traditional mentor arrangement because of the required integration with the VCC. The Scholar must designate a Career Guide who is an experienced cancer researcher with a strong funding and publication record, and who can demonstrate a genuine commitment to advancing the Scholar's career trajectory. Beyond advising on the project and career development, the Career Guide must be willing to participate fully in VCC activities and may be asked to serve on the VCC Advisory Board if requested by VCC leadership, reflecting that the Scholar Option is both a research award and a structured professional development ecosystem.
A formal career development plan is required and should be developed collaboratively with the Career Guide. This plan needs to lay out a concrete strategy for acquiring skills, strengthening expertise, and increasing independence so the Scholar can advance toward leadership at the forefront of cancer research within at least one FY22 PRCRP Topic Area. The plan should include specific milestones and credible pathways for achieving them, along with a clear description of how the Scholar will use the VCC to broaden networking, collaboration, and professional growth. Alongside the career plan, the application must make a strong case for impact by explaining how the research could move the field forward and, over time, help translate promising concepts toward clinical utility.
From an administrative standpoint, this opportunity was issued by the Department of Defense (Department of the Army, USAMRAA) under Funding Opportunity Number W81XWH 22 PRCRP CDA SO and is listed under CFDA 12.420. The funding instrument types include grants and cooperative agreements. Eligibility is described as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), subject to the additional eligibility details in the full announcement. The opportunity anticipated approximately three awards, and the original application closing date was October 20, 2022. Notably, the Fellow Option under the broader Career Development Award was not offered in this cycle; the solicitation focused specifically on the Scholar Option tied to VCC participation.Apply for W81XWH 22 PRCRP CDA SO
- 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 Peer Reviewed Cancer, Career Development Award – Scholar Option" 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 Aug 04, 2022.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 20, 2022. (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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is the PRCRP Career Development Award, Scholar Option?
The Department of Defense Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program (PRCRP) Career Development Award (CDA), Scholar Option (also called the Virtual Cancer Center Scholar Option) supports highly accomplished early-career investigators as they build independence, expand their scientific reach, and pursue discovery-driven cancer research. The application is expected to focus on the Principal Investigator (PI)'s own research direction and include a structured career development plan.
2) Who is the PI under the Scholar Option?
The early-career investigator is the Principal Investigator (PI). The proposal is expected to center on the PI's research direction and a clear plan for career development toward independence and leadership in cancer research.
3) Are preliminary data required for this award?
No. Preliminary data are not required. However, the application still needs to make a persuasive case using strong logic, a clear scientific rationale, and support from relevant literature.
4) What kind of research does the Scholar Option emphasize?
The program emphasizes impactful, discovery-focused cancer research. Applicants are also expected to describe how the work could ultimately accelerate progress toward clinical application and improved patient care over time.
5) What is the PRCRP Virtual Cancer Center (VCC), and is participation required?
Participation in the PRCRP Virtual Cancer Center (VCC) is mandatory under the Scholar Option. The VCC is described as a highly interactive, convergent-science environment designed to foster emerging cancer researchers through intensive mentoring, networking, and peer engagement.
6) What are the VCC participation expectations?
Scholars and their Career Guides are expected to participate in recurring VCC workshops. These include a multi-day workshop held every two years and a one-day workshop in alternate years, reflecting a structured expectation for ongoing interaction and community-building.
7) Who mentors the Scholar within the VCC model?
The Scholar is mentored by a designated Career Guide and is also integrated into a broader national network that includes the VCC Director, Deputy Director, and a cohort of fellow Scholars.
8) What is the eligibility time window related to the terminal degree?
The PI must be within 7 years of completing a terminal degree at the application deadline. Allowable exclusions may apply for time spent in residency, clinical training, or family medical leave.
9) Does postdoctoral time count toward the 7-year eligibility window?
Yes. Postdoctoral time counts toward the 7-year window, and postdoctoral fellows are not eligible for this Scholar Option.
10) Are postdoctoral fellows eligible to apply as PI?
No. Postdoctoral fellows are not eligible. The Scholar Option is intended for investigators who are already operating independently.
11) What appointment type is required for the Scholar (PI)?
The Scholar must hold a tenure-track or equivalent appointment.
12) Is independent laboratory space required?
Yes. The Scholar must have independent laboratory space that is separate from the Career Guide's lab or any other mentor's lab. This requirement underscores that the award is meant to support an investigator working independently rather than within another investigator's research program.
13) How will reviewers evaluate the PI's accomplishments?
Reviewers will weigh the PI's accomplishments and the proposed research in relation to the FY22 PRCRP Topic Areas. The Scholar is expected to demonstrate a strong track record appropriate to their career stage, including first-author publications, evidence of extramural funding, and clear excellence in cancer research supported by letters of recommendation.
14) What are FY22 PRCRP Topic Areas and how do they affect the application?
The proposed research and the PI's accomplishments are evaluated in relation to the FY22 PRCRP Topic Areas, and the career development plan is expected to advance the Scholar toward leadership at the forefront of cancer research within at least one of these Topic Areas.
15) What is a Career Guide and what role do they play?
The Scholar must designate a Career Guide who is an experienced cancer researcher with a strong funding and publication record and a demonstrated commitment to advancing the Scholar's career. The Career Guide advises on the research and career development plan and must participate fully in VCC activities.
16) How is the Career Guide role different from a traditional mentor role?
While the Career Guide provides guidance similar to a mentor, this role is distinct because the Scholar Option requires integration with the VCC, including structured, ongoing VCC participation by both the Scholar and the Career Guide.
17) Are there additional expectations for Career Guides beyond advising the Scholar?
Yes. Career Guides must be willing to participate fully in VCC activities and may be asked to serve on the VCC Advisory Board if requested by VCC leadership.
18) Is a formal career development plan required?
Yes. A formal career development plan is required and should be developed collaboratively with the Career Guide.
19) What should the career development plan include?
The plan should provide a concrete strategy for acquiring skills, strengthening expertise, and increasing independence. It should include specific milestones and credible pathways for achieving them, and it should explain how the Scholar will use the VCC to broaden networking, collaboration, and professional growth.
20) Does the application need to address potential clinical impact?
Yes. Although the program emphasizes discovery-driven research, the application should also explain how the work could ultimately accelerate progress toward clinical application and improved patient care over time.
21) Which agency issued this funding opportunity?
This opportunity was issued by the Department of Defense (Department of the Army, USAMRAA) under the PRCRP.
22) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this solicitation?
The Funding Opportunity Number is W81XWH 22 PRCRP CDA SO.
23) What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 12.420.
24) What funding instrument types are used for this award?
The funding instrument types include grants and cooperative agreements.
25) Is eligibility limited to specific types of organizations?
Eligibility is described as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), subject to additional eligibility details in the full announcement.
26) Approximately how many awards were anticipated?
The opportunity anticipated approximately three awards.
27) What was the original application closing date?
The original application closing date was October 20, 2022.
28) Was the Fellow Option offered in this cycle?
No. The Fellow Option under the broader Career Development Award was not offered in this cycle. The solicitation focused specifically on the Scholar Option tied to mandatory VCC participation.
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