DoW Melanoma Research Program Melanoma Academy Scholar Award

The Melanoma Academy Scholar Award is offered through the Defense Health Agency’s Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs as part of the Melanoma Research Program. This initiative is designed to support early-career investigators who are within seven years of their first faculty appointment and are pursuing independent research careers in melanoma. The program is rooted in a broader federal effort to advance high-impact biomedical research that improves outcomes for Service Members, Veterans, their families, and the general public. The Melanoma Research Program, established by Congress in 2019, has received significant appropriations to support innovative research addressing melanoma prevention, detection, and survivorship. The primary purpose of this award is to integrate promising early-career researchers, referred to as Scholars, into the Melanoma Academy, a collaborative virtual network that fosters scientific advancement and professional development. Scholars are expected to conduct research aligned with at least one of the program’s strategic focus areas, including prevention and interception, rare melanoma subtypes, and survivorship. Research may be basic, translational, or clinical in nature, although clinical trials are explicitly not allowed. The program emphasizes both the scientific merit of the proposed research and the long-term career potential of the investigator. Funding for this opportunity is structured to provide substantial support for research and career development. Approximately 1.54 million dollars is expected to be distributed across about two awards, with each award capped at 770,000 dollars total over a maximum performance period of three years. Funds may be used for research-related expenses, collaboration costs, and required participation in program workshops. Certain costs are restricted, including tuition and clinical trial expenses. While cost sharing is not required, applicants must demonstrate institutional support, including access to independent laboratory space. Eligibility for this program is broad in terms of organizational participation, allowing applications from domestic and international institutions across public, private, nonprofit, and for-profit sectors. However, the principal investigator must meet strict criteria as an independent early-career researcher and must designate a qualified Career Guide. The Career Guide must be an established melanoma researcher with a strong record of funding, publications, and mentorship. The Scholar and Career Guide are expected to actively participate in Melanoma Academy activities, including workshops, mentoring sessions, and collaborative engagements. The application process follows a two-step submission model. Applicants must first submit a pre-application in the form of a Letter of Intent through the eBRAP system. This is followed by a full application submission through either Grants.gov or eBRAP, depending on the applicant’s organizational status. The full application includes multiple required components such as a project narrative, technical and lay abstracts, a career development plan, supporting documentation, and letters of support. Strict formatting and submission guidelines must be followed, and all registrations, including SAM.gov and Grants.gov, must be active prior to submission. Applications undergo a rigorous two-tier review process consisting of peer review and programmatic review. Peer review evaluates scientific merit, feasibility, impact, and the qualifications of the investigator and Career Guide. Programmatic review considers alignment with program priorities, portfolio balance, and relevance to military health needs. Key evaluation criteria include research strategy, potential impact, and the strength of the career development plan. The program does not require preliminary data, which lowers barriers for early-stage investigators. The timeline for this funding opportunity includes a pre-application deadline of September 22, 2026, followed by a full application deadline of October 14, 2026. Peer review is expected to occur in December 2026, with programmatic review in March 2027. Awards are anticipated to be made by September 30, 2027. The program is issued annually as part of the federal fiscal year cycle, and applicants should anticipate similar timelines in future cycles. For questions or technical support, applicants may contact the eBRAP Help Desk or Grants.gov Support Center, as listed in the announcement.

Focus heavily on aligning research with one of the program’s focus areas and clearly demonstrating career development trajectory and mentorship strength; emphasize impact on melanoma outcomes and military health relevance