DoD Melanoma Academy Scholar Award | HT9425 23 MRP MASA

Opportunity Information: Apply for HT9425 23 MRP MASA

The DoD Melanoma Academy Scholar Award (MASA) is a Department of Defense Melanoma Research Program funding opportunity designed to bring early-career investigators into the Melanoma Academy (MA), a structured, multi-institutional virtual program that combines research support with hands-on career development. The central idea is not only to fund a melanoma research project, but to actively grow a cohort of promising melanoma researchers through sustained mentoring, close progress monitoring, and regular interaction with peers, national experts, and the melanoma patient advocacy community. Rather than operating like a typical standalone grant, this award is tied to participation in an organized academy that emphasizes collaboration, networking, and professional development alongside the science.

The MA is run by an Academy Director and Deputy Director (referred to as the MA Leadership) and is made up of Scholars and their Career Guides, with the Scholar serving as the Principal Investigator (PI) on the application. Scholars are expected to engage in the Academy's ongoing training and development activities, including monthly webinars and individualized mentoring sessions. The structure is meant to provide consistent feedback and accountability while also creating a ready-made community of investigators at a similar career stage. A key feature is that the Career Guide (the primary mentor) does not have to be at the same institution as the Scholar, which is intended to help applicants who may not have strong melanoma mentorship locally.

From a research standpoint, the award supports a melanoma-focused project that can be basic, translational, and/or clinical in nature, as long as it addresses at least one of the FY23 MRP Focus Areas (referenced in the full announcement). The Academy environment is designed to help Scholars build the scientific relationships and practical skills needed to sustain a productive research program, including preparation for future funding and the ability to manage a laboratory or research team. MA Leadership plays an active role in evaluating Scholar progress and in facilitating communication and collaboration across the cohort and with broader national research and advocacy networks.

Participation requirements go beyond virtual engagement. The Scholar and Career Guide are required to attend a DoD MRP biennial multi-day Melanoma Academy workshop, and in alternating years they must attend a DoD MRP MA 1-day workshop. These meetings are intended to strengthen the cohort, deepen collaborations, and connect Scholars more directly with the program's leadership and broader community.

The opportunity explicitly encourages applications from investigators who face barriers to conducting melanoma research due to limited resources, such as lack of access to a qualified mentor, limited melanoma-specific tools or infrastructure, or fewer collaboration opportunities at their home institution. The program also encourages applications from minorities, reflecting an interest in widening participation and strengthening the diversity of the melanoma research workforce.

Administratively, this FY23 funding opportunity is listed as "DoD Melanoma Academy Scholar Award" with Funding Opportunity Number HT9425-23-MRP-MASA and is offered by the Department of Defense, Department of the Army, USAMRAA. The funding instrument type is listed as a cooperative agreement and grant, under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category (CFDA 12.420). Eligibility is described as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), subject to any clarifications in the official eligibility text. The posting indicates an expected three awards. Key dates shown include a creation date of May 18, 2023 and an original closing date of September 22, 2023. The award ceiling is displayed as 0 in the source data, which typically means applicants need to rely on the full announcement for the actual funding limits, or that the ceiling was not populated in the summary record.

• 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 "DoD Melanoma Academy Scholar 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 May 18, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 22, 2023. (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 3 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 HT9425 23 MRP MASA

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