DoD Breast Cancer, Era of Hope Scholar Award

The Breast Cancer Research Program Era of Hope Scholar Award is administered by the Defense Health Agency through the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs. This program is part of a long-standing federal investment in breast cancer research, initiated in 1992, with the mission of ending breast cancer for service members, veterans, their families, and the broader public. The program emphasizes high-impact, innovative science and supports researchers who demonstrate exceptional promise in advancing the field. Rather than focusing solely on a specific project, this award is designed to recognize and empower early-career investigators who exhibit creativity, leadership potential, and the ability to challenge conventional thinking in breast cancer research. The purpose of the award is to support investigators within six years of completing their last training position who have demonstrated the capacity to make meaningful contributions to breast cancer research. The program prioritizes individuals with strong records of innovation, collaboration, and leadership potential. Applicants are expected to propose research aligned with at least one of several overarching challenges, including prevention, understanding disease mechanisms, improving treatment, and eliminating mortality associated with metastatic breast cancer. The award encourages interdisciplinary approaches and welcomes investigators from fields outside traditional breast cancer research who bring novel perspectives. Funding for this opportunity is substantial, with a total program allocation of approximately 4.9 million dollars to support one award. The maximum funding per award is capped at 4.9 million dollars over a performance period of up to four years. Funds may be used for a wide range of research-related expenses, including personnel, travel for collaboration and dissemination, subject compensation, and required program meetings. There is no cost-sharing requirement. However, applicants must ensure that all direct and indirect costs are included within the total budget cap and comply with institutional negotiated rates. Eligibility for this program is broad in terms of institutions, allowing applications from domestic and international organizations, including public and private entities, for-profit and nonprofit organizations, and government institutions. However, the principal investigator must be an independent researcher who is no longer in a training position and is within six years of completing their final training. The investigator must commit at least 25 percent effort to the project and assemble a research team that includes at least two breast cancer consumer advocates who actively contribute to the research process. The application process consists of two required steps: a pre-application and a full application. The pre-application includes a one-page letter of intent and identification of three individuals who will submit confidential letters of recommendation. The full application requires multiple components, including a project narrative outlining the investigator’s vision, accomplishments, leadership potential, and research goals, as well as supporting documentation, a statement of work, and detailed budget information. Applications are submitted through designated federal portals, with pre-applications submitted via eBRAP and full applications submitted through either eBRAP or Grants.gov depending on the applicant type. Applications undergo a rigorous two-tier review process consisting of peer review and programmatic review. Peer review evaluates the scientific merit, innovation, and qualifications of the investigator and research team, while programmatic review assesses alignment with program priorities and overall impact. Selected applicants may be invited to deliver an oral presentation as part of the second stage of review. Evaluation criteria emphasize the investigator’s creativity, leadership potential, and ability to contribute transformative ideas to the field. The timeline for this funding opportunity includes a pre-application deadline in late June 2026, a full application deadline in early July 2026, and review processes occurring in the fall and early winter of 2026. Awards are expected to be made by September 2027. The program does not explicitly state recurrence but follows an annual funding cycle based on fiscal appropriations. Applicants are encouraged to prepare materials early due to the complexity of submission requirements and the competitive nature of the award.

Focus heavily on demonstrating innovation leadership potential and a clear vision for ending breast cancer rather than only technical project details; ensure alignment with at least one overarching challenge and integrate consumer advocates meaningfully