DoW Rare Cancers Resource and Community Development Award

The Department of the Army through USAMRAA is soliciting applications for the FY26 Rare Cancers Research Program Resource and Community Development Award, a grant opportunity designed to address critical gaps in rare cancers research by supporting the creation and sharing of research resources, clinical and preclinical datasets, and infrastructure that can accelerate discovery and improve patient outcomes. Proposals must target one or more of four key areas: lack of research materials such as patient tissues and tumor models, inadequate communication and dissemination strategies within scientific and patient communities, insufficient infrastructure for data and resource sharing, or a dearth of therapeutics and mechanistic understanding to inform treatment development. The program emphasizes community building and requires robust engagement with patient advocates throughout the entire research lifecycle, from forming the research question to implementation and dissemination. All applications must include detailed plans for dissemination and long-term sustainability of the platform or resource being developed, ensuring broad access by researchers, clinicians, and patients. Applications must be submitted in a two-step process through either eBRAP or Grants.gov, with a mandatory pre-application and a full application due by November 18, 2026. Eligible organizations must maintain active registrations in SAM.gov, eBRAP.org, and Grants.gov and include a Unique Entity Identifier. Projects are limited to a maximum four-year performance period with individual award caps of $1.12 million in total costs, and approximately five awards are anticipated from a total funding pool of $5.6 million. Budgets must adhere to strict allowable and unallowable cost guidelines, excluding clinical trial costs and tuition, and must account for indirect costs according to the applicant’s negotiated rate. Proposals must include 15 specific attachments, including a Statement of Work with milestones and SOPs, a Dissemination Plan, a Sustainment Plan, a Patient Advocate Engagement Statement, and a Community Organizational Structure, all formatted as PDFs with defined page limits. Awards are subject to a two-tier review process: first by scientific peer reviewers assessing equal-weighted criteria of Impact, Personnel, Approach, and Patient Advocacy Partnership, followed by programmatic review for alignment with RCRP priorities and portfolio balance. Funding is contingent upon the availability of FY26 dollars, which must be obligated by September 30, 2027, and expire by September 30, 2032. Compliance with federal regulations for human and animal research, including approval by the DHA R&D Office of Research and Regulatory Compliance, is mandatory, and organizational transfers are prohibited during