Opportunity Information: Apply for HT9425 23 KCRP PCFA
The FY23 DoD Kidney Cancer Research Program (KCRP) Postdoctoral and Clinical Fellowship Award is designed to support recent PhD-level graduates and medical school graduates who want to build a career focused on kidney cancer research during a postdoctoral and/or clinical fellowship period. The core goal is twofold: to fund innovative, high-impact kidney cancer research and to help the fellow gain the training, mentorship, and professional development needed to become an independent investigator and future leader in the field. Competitive applications are expected to make a clear case that the proposed work could meaningfully advance kidney cancer research and/or patient care, rather than adding a small incremental step.
A major emphasis of this opportunity is "impact." The program is looking for projects that can accelerate progress toward ending kidney cancer, whether the payoff is nearer-term or longer-term. Applicants are expected to be explicit about who benefits from the research, such as particular kidney cancer patient groups, people at elevated risk, or populations facing unique care barriers. The underlying theme is translation to benefit, even if the work is basic or early-stage, and reviewers will expect a credible path by which the findings could eventually influence understanding, diagnosis, prevention, or treatment.
The research strategy must be strong and well-justified, with a clear rationale, logical approach, and, when available, preliminary data. The program allows a range of project maturity, including high-risk/high-reward ideas that are still developing as well as more data-supported projects that are poised to move toward clinical translation. Regardless of maturity, proposals need to show rigorous design: adequate experimental detail, appropriate controls, a statistical plan, and thoughtful discussion of limitations, pitfalls, and alternative approaches. Human subjects research and work using human anatomical substances (such as patient samples and associated data) are allowed, but clinical trials are not permitted. The announcement draws a firm line between observational clinical research (allowed) and clinical trials (not allowed), defining a clinical trial as prospective assignment of human subjects to an intervention to evaluate biomedical or behavioral outcomes.
This award treats the fellow as the Principal Investigator (PI). That means the postdoc or clinical fellow is expected to lead the scientific narrative and write key application components, including the project narrative and a kidney cancer-focused researcher development plan, with guidance from a mentor. Prior kidney cancer experience is not strictly required for the PI, but both the proposed project and the training plan must be clearly centered on kidney cancer. Applications are expected to highlight the PI's potential to become independent through qualifications, achievements, honors, first-author papers, prior funding if applicable, and strong letters of recommendation.
Mentorship is a central review component. The mentor (or co-mentor) must demonstrate appropriate expertise in kidney cancer research and/or patient care, including recent publications and active funding, and must show a clear commitment to developing the fellow. If the primary mentor does not have established kidney cancer expertise, then a formal co-mentor who is an established kidney cancer researcher is required. The application should spell out how the mentor will support both the science and the fellow's trajectory, and while a limited history of mentoring trainees can be a weakness, the program indicates that a very strong and well-structured development plan can help offset it.
The researcher development plan is not a formality; it is one of the defining features of this mechanism. Applicants must describe why the training environment is well-suited, what individualized training and career development activities will be pursued, and how the plan will position the fellow to launch an independent kidney cancer research program. Multidisciplinary approaches are encouraged (for example, combining computational work with tumor biology, immunology, imaging, epidemiology, health services research, or disparities research), but they are not mandatory. If multidisciplinary elements are included, they should be clearly mapped to the training plan and the project goals.
From an administrative standpoint, awards are made as assistance agreements, meaning they will be issued either as grants or cooperative agreements depending on how much substantial involvement the Department of Defense anticipates having during performance. If the agency expects no substantial involvement, the award is typically a grant; if collaboration or other substantial involvement is anticipated, it may be a cooperative agreement, with those involvement details spelled out during negotiations. The awarding organization listed is the Department of Defense, Department of the Army, U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA). The funding activity aligns with CFDA 12.420.
The program also signals alignment with broader federal priorities around metastatic and advanced cancers. It references recommendations from a congressionally mandated Metastatic Cancer Task Force and encourages applicants to consider ideas responsive to those recommendations as long as they fit within the kidney cancer program priorities and the limitations of this fellowship mechanism. In addition, collaborations between military or Veteran institutions and non-military institutions are strongly encouraged, particularly because these partnerships can provide unique clinical populations, data resources, and infrastructure that may improve the relevance of the research to Service members, military families, Veterans, and the general public.
Budget and funding expectations are relatively defined. The anticipated direct costs for the full period of performance should not exceed $195,000. The program expected to allocate about $1.25 million total to fund approximately four awards, though final numbers depend on federal funding availability and the results of scientific and programmatic review. Awards were expected to be made no later than September 30, 2024, and FY23 funds supporting awards were anticipated to remain available for use until they expire on September 30, 2029, which effectively sets an outer boundary for the period in which those obligated funds can be spent.
Finally, applicants proposing research with humans or animals should plan for DoD-specific regulatory steps beyond typical university processes. Human research involving data, tissues, specimens, or interaction with subjects requires review by the USAMRDC Office of Human and Animal Research Oversight, specifically the Office of Human Research Oversight, in addition to local IRB or ethics committee approval, and this extra review can take up to about three months after complete submission. Multi-site, non-exempt human subjects research must comply with the single-IRB requirement under 45 CFR 46.114(b), and applications should include a plan for single-IRB arrangements when multiple domestic institutions are involved. Animal studies require local IACUC review plus DoD-level review by ACURO, which can take three to four months, and applicants are expected to plan for rigorous, reproducible preclinical study design and reporting consistent with widely recognized standards such as ARRIVE guidelines.Apply for HT9425 23 KCRP PCFA
- 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 Kidney Cancer, Postdoctoral and Clinical Fellowship 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 Jun 02, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 03, 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 4 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the FY23 DoD Kidney Cancer Research Program (KCRP) Postdoctoral and Clinical Fellowship Award?
This fellowship award supports recent PhD-level graduates and medical school graduates during a postdoctoral and/or clinical fellowship period. It is designed to (1) fund innovative, high-impact kidney cancer research and (2) provide structured training, mentorship, and professional development that helps the fellow progress toward becoming an independent investigator and future leader in kidney cancer research.
Who is the intended applicant for this fellowship?
The opportunity is intended for early-career researchers who are recent PhD graduates or medical school graduates and who will conduct kidney cancer research as part of a postdoctoral and/or clinical fellowship.
Is the fellow considered the Principal Investigator (PI) on this award?
Yes. The fellow is treated as the Principal Investigator (PI). The fellow is expected to lead the scientific story and write key parts of the application, including the project narrative and a kidney cancer-focused researcher development plan, with guidance from a mentor.
Is prior kidney cancer research experience required for the PI?
No. Prior kidney cancer experience is not strictly required for the PI. However, both the proposed research project and the researcher development plan must be clearly centered on kidney cancer.
What does the program mean by "impact" and why does it matter so much?
Impact is a major emphasis in this program. Competitive applications are expected to explain how the work could meaningfully advance kidney cancer research and/or patient care, rather than making only a small incremental step. Applicants are expected to describe who is likely to benefit (for example, specific kidney cancer patient groups, people at elevated risk, or populations facing unique care barriers) and to present a credible path for how findings could eventually influence understanding, diagnosis, prevention, or treatment.
Do projects need to be near-term clinical applications, or can they be early-stage/basic research?
Early-stage and basic research can be appropriate as long as the application explains translation to benefit and provides a credible path by which findings could eventually influence kidney cancer understanding or care. The program allows a range of project maturity, including high-risk/high-reward ideas as well as more data-supported projects moving toward clinical translation.
Are high-risk/high-reward projects allowed?
Yes. The program allows high-risk/high-reward ideas that are still developing, as well as projects supported by more preliminary data. Regardless of maturity, proposals are expected to be rigorous and well-justified.
What elements are expected in a strong research strategy?
The research strategy is expected to include a clear rationale and logical approach, and include preliminary data when available. Reviewers will expect rigorous design details such as experimental detail, appropriate controls, a statistical plan, and a thoughtful discussion of limitations, pitfalls, and alternative approaches.
Is human subjects research allowed under this award?
Yes. Human subjects research is allowed, including studies involving data, tissues, specimens, and associated information, and observational clinical research is allowed.
Are clinical trials allowed under this fellowship mechanism?
No. Clinical trials are not permitted. The announcement distinguishes allowed observational clinical research from clinical trials, defining a clinical trial as prospective assignment of human subjects to an intervention to evaluate biomedical or behavioral outcomes.
Is work with human anatomical substances (such as patient samples and associated data) allowed?
Yes. Research using human anatomical substances (including patient samples and associated data) is allowed, subject to the human research oversight requirements described for DoD-funded work.
What is the role of mentorship in the review and success of the application?
Mentorship is a central review component. The mentor (or co-mentor) is expected to show appropriate expertise in kidney cancer research and/or patient care, including recent publications and active funding, and demonstrate a strong commitment to developing the fellow. The application should clearly describe how the mentor will support both the science and the fellow's career trajectory.
What if my primary mentor is not an established kidney cancer expert?
If the primary mentor does not have established kidney cancer expertise, the application requires a formal co-mentor who is an established kidney cancer researcher.
Does the mentor need an extensive track record of training trainees?
The opportunity indicates that a limited history of mentoring trainees can be viewed as a weakness. However, it also notes that a very strong and well-structured researcher development plan can help offset this concern.
What is the researcher development plan, and how important is it?
The researcher development plan is one of the defining features of this award and is not treated as a formality. Applicants are expected to explain why the training environment is well-suited, describe individualized training and career development activities, and show how the plan positions the fellow to launch an independent kidney cancer research program.
Are multidisciplinary projects required or just encouraged?
Multidisciplinary approaches are encouraged but not mandatory. If multidisciplinary elements are included (for example, combining computational work with tumor biology, immunology, imaging, epidemiology, health services research, or disparities research), they should be clearly tied to both the training plan and the project goals.
What types of applicant qualifications are highlighted as important?
Applications are expected to highlight the PI's potential to become independent using indicators such as qualifications, achievements, honors, first-author publications, prior funding (if applicable), and strong letters of recommendation.
Who is the awarding organization for this opportunity?
The awarding organization listed is the Department of Defense, Department of the Army, U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA).
What kind of award instrument will be used (grant vs cooperative agreement)?
Awards are made as assistance agreements and may be issued as grants or cooperative agreements depending on how much substantial involvement the Department of Defense anticipates during performance. If no substantial involvement is expected, the award is typically a grant; if collaboration or other substantial involvement is anticipated, it may be a cooperative agreement, with involvement details addressed during negotiations.
Is there a CFDA number associated with this funding activity?
Yes. The funding activity aligns with CFDA 12.420.
How much funding is available per award?
The anticipated direct costs for the full period of performance should not exceed $195,000.
How many awards does the program expect to make, and what is the approximate total program funding?
The program expected to allocate about $1.25 million total to fund approximately four awards, though the final number depends on federal funding availability and the results of scientific and programmatic review.
When were awards expected to be made?
Awards were expected to be made no later than September 30, 2024.
How long are FY23 funds available, and what does that mean for spending?
FY23 funds supporting awards were anticipated to remain available for use until they expire on September 30, 2029. This creates an outer boundary for the period in which obligated funds can be spent.
Does the program align with federal priorities related to metastatic or advanced cancers?
Yes. The program references recommendations from a congressionally mandated Metastatic Cancer Task Force and encourages applicants to consider ideas responsive to those recommendations, as long as they fit kidney cancer program priorities and the limitations of this fellowship mechanism.
Are collaborations with military or Veteran institutions encouraged?
Yes. Collaborations between military or Veteran institutions and non-military institutions are strongly encouraged. The program notes these partnerships can provide unique clinical populations, data resources, and infrastructure that may improve relevance to Service members, military families, Veterans, and the general public.
What extra compliance steps apply to human research under DoD funding?
Human research involving data, tissues, specimens, or interaction with subjects requires review by the USAMRDC Office of Human and Animal Research Oversight (specifically the Office of Human Research Oversight) in addition to local IRB or ethics committee approval. The DoD-level review can take up to about three months after complete submission.
Is a single IRB (sIRB) required for multi-site human subjects research?
Yes. Multi-site, non-exempt human subjects research must comply with the single-IRB requirement under 45 CFR 46.114(b). Applications should include a plan for single-IRB arrangements when multiple domestic institutions are involved.
What extra compliance steps apply to animal research under DoD funding?
Animal studies require local IACUC review plus DoD-level review by ACURO. The DoD-level animal review can take three to four months.
Are there any expectations about rigor and reproducibility for preclinical animal studies?
Yes. Applicants are expected to plan for rigorous, reproducible preclinical study design and reporting consistent with widely recognized standards such as the ARRIVE guidelines.
How should applicants plan for the timeline impact of DoD regulatory reviews?
Applicants proposing research with humans or animals should plan for additional DoD regulatory reviews beyond typical university processes. The opportunity notes that the human review can take up to about three months after complete submission, and the animal review can take three to four months.
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