DoW Melanoma Research Program Survivorship Research Award

The FY26 Melanoma Research Program Survivorship Research Award is a funding opportunity issued by the Department of the Army through the U.S. Army Medical Research and Acquisition Activity, targeting innovative research that directly improves the health, well-being, and quality of life of melanoma survivors, their families, and care partners. Proposals must center on human survivorship outcomes, explicitly excluding studies focused solely on animal models or survival metrics without integration of functional, physical, or psychosocial health measures. A non-negotiable requirement is the inclusion of at least one melanoma consumer collaborator—either a survivor, family member, care partner, or community organization—who contributes lived experience to all phases of the research. Clinical trials are permitted and encouraged when aligned with the program’s goals. Each award has a maximum total cost cap of $1.02 million, with up to two awards anticipated, totaling $2.04 million in FY26 funds. The performance period is limited to three years, and all awards must be obligated by September 30, 2027, with funds remaining usable until September 30, 2032. Applications must be submitted electronically via Grants.gov or eBRAP by October 14, 2026, following strict formatting rules: each component must be a separately named PDF file, including a 10-page Project Narrative, a 1-page Technical and Lay Abstract, a 3-page Statement of Work outlining consumer collaborator roles and data sharing milestones, and a 1-page Impact Statement. The Melanoma Consumer Collaboration Plan, submitted as a single PDF, must include a collaboration statement and letters of support. Additional required attachments include a Clinical Trial Strategy Statement if applicable, data collection instruments, a Post-Award Transition Plan, and mandatory Representations. All applications must demonstrate scientific rigor, reproducibility, and integration of sex as a biological variable, and comply with federal and Department of Defense regulatory requirements, including human subjects protections and clinical trials registration. Foreign affiliation disclosures are mandatory under NSPM-33, and failure to comply results in administrative disqualification. Evaluation is conducted through a two-tier review process: peer review for scientific merit and programmatic review for strategic alignment with military health priorities, with awards determined by trade-off rather than cost competitiveness. Recipients must adhere to federal reporting obligations, including semiannual disclosures for entities receiving over $10 million in federal awards, and ensure all research resources are shared in accordance with CDMRP directives.