DoD Melanoma, Survivorship Research Award | HT942525MRPSRA

FAQs: DoD Melanoma, Survivorship Research Award (HT942525MRPSRA)

What is the DoD Melanoma, Survivorship Research Award?

The DoD Melanoma, Survivorship Research Award is a discretionary grant program (Funding Opportunity Number HT942525MRPSRA) run by the Department of the Army through USAMRAA. It funds innovative, high-impact research focused on melanoma survivorship, an area described in the announcement as relatively new and underfunded.

What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?

The central purpose is to support research designed to improve the health and well-being of people living after a melanoma diagnosis. The announcement also recognizes that benefits may extend to survivors' families and caregivers.

What does the program mean by "melanoma survivorship" research?

In this opportunity, survivorship research goes beyond basic survival outcomes. It emphasizes outcomes that matter during and after treatment, including quality of life, overall health, day-to-day functioning, and the broader survivorship experience.

Is the award focused only on survival rates (e.g., mortality or disease-free survival)?

No. The opportunity explicitly emphasizes survivorship outcomes, not survival outcomes alone. Proposals that only measure survival without addressing quality of life, health status, or functional outcomes are described as outside the intent of the award.

What kinds of outcomes are encouraged for proposed studies?

The announcement highlights outcomes tied to lived experience during and after treatment, such as quality of life, overall health, day-to-day functioning, and other meaningful aspects of the survivorship experience.

How important is it that projects reflect real-world survivorship needs?

It is a key expectation. The program states that proposed projects should be meaningfully grounded in real-world survivorship needs, with measurable improvements in outcomes that matter to survivors.

Are animal-only studies allowed?

No. Research that focuses exclusively on animal models is explicitly considered non-responsive for this award.

Can a project still include survival endpoints?

The provided announcement text does not ban survival endpoints, but it makes clear that survival-only measurement without addressing quality of life, health status, or functional outcomes is not aligned with the intent of the award. Applicants are expected to connect aims to how survivors feel and function.

Is consumer collaboration required?

Yes. Every application must include at least one melanoma consumer collaborator, or (as an alternative) partner with a melanoma-community supporting organization that is integral to the project.

Who qualifies as a "melanoma consumer collaborator" under this opportunity?

A melanoma consumer collaborator is described as a melanoma survivor, a family member, and/or a caregiver who brings lived experience to the research team.

Can an organization partner be used instead of an individual consumer collaborator?

Yes. The announcement allows partnering with a melanoma-community supporting organization as an alternative, as long as that organization is integral to planning, executing, and implementing the research.

Does the consumer collaborator role need to be substantive?

Yes. The announcement makes clear this is not meant to be symbolic. The collaborator or organization is expected to actively shape the project so the research questions, methods, and outputs stay relevant and usable for the survivor community.

Are clinical trials allowed under this funding opportunity?

Yes. Clinical trials are allowed, which supports the possibility of interventional studies aimed at improving survivorship outcomes.

How many awards does the program expect to make?

The opportunity notes an anticipated number of awards of two, indicating a limited number of funding slots.

Is a budget cap listed in the provided opportunity information?

No. The provided text does not specify the exact budget cap.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 12.420.

How is this opportunity categorized administratively?

It is categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development.

Who is running and administering the program?

The program is run by the Department of the Army through USAMRAA.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this award?

The Funding Opportunity Number is HT942525MRPSRA.

What is the eligibility for this grant?

Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, which generally signals that a wide range of applicant organizations may apply (subject to standard federal grant requirements).

What is the application deadline (closing date)?

The original closing date is October 1, 2025.

When was this opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on May 14, 2025.

What is the core theme reviewers will likely look for based on the announcement language?

Based on the provided text, the core theme is survivor-centered, practical impact: research should be grounded in real survivorship needs, measure meaningful lived outcomes (not survival alone), and include active melanoma survivor/family/caregiver input (or an integral supporting-organization partner) throughout the project.