DoW Melanoma Research Program Idea Award

The FY26 Melanoma Research Program (MRP) Idea Award, solicitation HT942526MRPIA, is a funding opportunity managed by the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) through the Defense Health Agency. This program supports innovative, high-risk, and potentially high-reward exploratory research aimed at establishing proof of principle and obtaining preliminary data for future funding. The program specifically targets research in preservation of function, prevention and interception, rare melanomas, and survivorship, though it explicitly excludes research into established macrometastatic disease. A total of approximately 5.6 million dollars is available to fund roughly 10 awards, with each award capped at 560,000 dollars for a maximum period of performance of two years. The application process is a two-stage sequence requiring a pre-application by July 13, 2026, followed by an invitation to submit a full application by October 14, 2026. Evaluation is based on a two-tier review process focusing on technical merit—specifically innovation and research strategy—and programmatic relevance. Preliminary data are discouraged. Eligible organizations must maintain active registrations in SAM.gov, eBRAP.org, and Grants.gov. Key requirements include the disclosure of foreign affiliations for all key personnel and adherence to federal animal and human subject protection regulations. While the award supports preclinical models and diagnostic technology, it cannot be used to conduct clinical trials.