DoW Melanoma Research Program Melanoma Academy Scholar Award

The Melanoma Research Program Melanoma Academy Scholar Award supports early career investigators, known as Scholars, who are no more than seven years from their initial faculty appointment, aiming to cultivate a network of independent, highly productive melanoma researchers through a collaborative virtual academy. This initiative prioritizes both the Scholar’s research potential and career development, requiring each applicant to designate a Career Guide with a proven track record in melanoma research, including successful mentorship, funding, and publications. Notably, preliminary data are not required, lowering barriers to entry for promising new investigators. The program offers up to two awards, each with a maximum total cost of $770,000, for a period of up to three years, funded through FY26 appropriations that must be obligated by September 30, 2027, and expended by September 30, 2032. Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov for extramural applicants or eBRAP for intramural Department of Defense organizations, with a Letter of Intent due by September 22, 2026, and full proposals due by October 14, 2026. Proposals must include a series of structured attachments, including an 8-page Project Narrative, a detailed Career Development and Sustainment Plan, a two-page letter from the Career Guide, a Technical and Lay Abstract, a Statement of Work, an Impact Statement, and supporting documentation such as biographical sketches and current/pending support forms. All submissions must be in PDF format and follow strict naming conventions. The evaluation process involves a two-tier review: peer review assessing technical merit—focusing on significance, investigator qualifications, innovation, approach, environment, and impact—and programmatic review evaluating alignment with FY26 MRP priorities and military health relevance. Final funding decisions are based on a trade-off between scientific excellence and programmatic needs, not simply the highest-scoring applications. Additional compliance requirements include disclosure of foreign affiliations, adherence to SABV and human/animal research regulations, validation of SAM.gov registration with a valid UEI, and mandatory reporting via RPPR and other mechanisms. The award is administered by the Department of the Army—USAMRAA under the Department of Defense, with no traditional contract clauses or line-item pricing, as this is a grant mechanism governed by CDMRP guidelines and federal grant regulations.