DoW Melanoma Research Program Focused Program Award – Rare Melanomas
Supports a multidisciplinary rare-melanoma research program with 2-3 complementary projects led by an initiating PI plus 1-2 partnering PIs, including patient advocate input; clinical trials are allowed.
⚑ Two-stage submission: required pre-application, then invitation-only full application. · Partnering mechanism: Initiating PI plus 1-2 Partnering PIs; each named PI expected to lead a distinct project. · Patient advocate/survivor required on project team. · Clinical trials allowed.
Unit fits — one characterization, each unit's own rules
| IPPRA | 58 good | peripheral portfolio topic: public_health; signature methods: community engaged; social/behavioral work is minor; funds basic research; biomedical core — IPPRA health lane is communication/crisis/policy (capped); clinical-trial/biomedical core — IPPRA angle is policy/community (capped) |
| Physical Sciences & Engineering (demo) | 55 good | technical depth: minor; funds basic research |
| Tom Love Innovation Hub | 15 none | deep-tech content; no commercialization signal |
Description
Summary: The fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Melanoma Research Program (MRP) Focused Program Award – Rare Melanomas, supports a multidisciplinary research program of at least two, but not more than three, distinct but complementary research projects addressing an overarching question relevant to rare melanomas.
Distinctive Features:
· *Updated for FY26* Investigators must include at least one rare melanoma survivor or patient advocate as part of the project team who will provide advice and consultation throughout planning, implementation, and results dissemination to maximize research impact.
· This is a partnering mechanism, requiring an Initiating Principal Investigator (PI) and at least one, but not more than two, Partnering PIs, see Figure 1 .
Each named PI is expected to be a Project Leader for one of the proposed research projects. If recommended for funding, each PI will be named on separate awards to the recipient organization(s).
· After submitting the required pre-application, investigators must receive an invitation to submit a full application .
Only the Initiating PI will submit a pre-application. All PIs must submit full applications. The Partnering PI(s)’s application is an abbreviated package specific to their proposed research project.
· Clinical trials are allowed.
Apply
View on Grants.gov → CONTACT: Jamie Shortall Grant Officer <help@eBRAP.org>
Proposal brief SEE AN EXAMPLE →
A one-page internal memo: fit assessment, submission requirements, document scaffold, and next steps dated back from the deadline — tailored to your project idea if you add one.
Proposal shell · Department of Defense (BAA-style) conventions SEE A DOD EXAMPLE →
Funder-faithful document skeletons — Department of Defense (BAA-style)'s document set with section headings, page limits, reviewer guidance, and writing prompts; add a project idea to get [DRAFT] starter bullets. Download as .md for Word or Overleaf.