CDMRP Ovarian Cancer Proteogenomics Research Award | W81XWH 21 OCRP PGRA

Opportunity Information: Apply for W81XWH 21 OCRP PGRA

The CDMRP Ovarian Cancer Proteogenomics Research Award (PGRA), offered through the Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) under the Ovarian Cancer Research Program (OCRP), is a research funding opportunity designed to push forward innovative, clinically relevant biological insights in ovarian cancer using modern omics approaches. Administered by the Department of the Army through the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA), this mechanism focuses on leveraging proteomics and/or genomics, including transcriptomic analyses, to test new ideas and explore emerging concepts about how ovarian cancer develops, behaves, and responds at a biological and pathophysiological level.

A central feature of the opportunity is its emphasis on analyzing currently available clinical specimens rather than generating new samples through interventional studies. Proposed projects are expected to use genomic, transcriptomic, and/or proteomic profiling to answer biologic questions that matter for patients and clinical decision-making in ovarian cancer. The intent is not simply to generate descriptive datasets, but to pursue a research question that is clearly innovative, rooted in meaningful clinical relevance, and positioned to have a real impact on the field. In practical terms, this could include studying molecular pathways linked to disease progression, resistance mechanisms, tumor microenvironment interactions, subtype biology, or biomarkers that could inform prognosis or therapeutic strategies, as long as the work is anchored in human specimen analysis and a compelling mechanistic or pathophysiologic hypothesis.

Clinical trials are explicitly not allowed under this award mechanism, meaning applicants cannot propose prospective interventional studies or trial-like activities as the core of the funded work. However, the program actively encourages the use of specimens that originate from clinical trials, as well as the analysis of large patient specimen cohorts. This reflects a priority on maximizing the value of existing, well-annotated sample resources, especially those with strong clinical metadata, longitudinal follow-up, or treatment exposure information that can strengthen translational conclusions.

The opportunity is structured as either a grant or a cooperative agreement, indicating that awards may be issued under traditional assistance models and, in the case of cooperative agreements, may involve more substantial agency involvement or coordination during execution. Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning it is generally open to a wide range of applicant organizations and entity types, subject to any additional eligibility clarifications included in the full announcement text. The funding opportunity was posted in early 2021 (creation date February 8, 2021) with an original closing date of July 8, 2021, and it anticipated making approximately two awards. The notice lists an award ceiling of 0, which typically signals that the maximum amount was not specified in the summarized record and would need to be confirmed in the full program announcement or associated funding documents.

Another notable aspect is the flexible stance on preliminary data: it is not required, but it is allowed. That lowers the barrier for proposing high-risk, high-reward ideas that may be early in development, while still permitting applicants who do have preliminary results to include them to strengthen feasibility and rationale. Overall, the PGRA is best understood as a targeted translational omics funding mechanism: it supports rigorous genomic and proteomic interrogation of existing ovarian cancer clinical specimens to generate insights that can reshape understanding of disease biology and ultimately inform better clinical approaches, without funding new clinical trials under this specific award.

• The Department of Defense, Dept. of the Army -- USAMRAA in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "CDMRP Ovarian Cancer Proteogenomics Research Award" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.420.
• This funding opportunity was created on Feb 08, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 08, 2021. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.

Apply for W81XWH 21 OCRP PGRA

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