DoD Prostate Cancer Exploration-Hypothesis Development Award
The PCRP Exploration – Hypothesis Development Award mechanism was first offered in FY03. Since then, 2,184 Exploration – Hypothesis Development Award applications have been received, and 237 have been recommended for funding. The Exploration – Hypothesis Development Award supports the exploration of highly innovative, untested, potentially high-gain concepts, theories, paradigms, and/or methods that address an important problem in prostate cancer. Results of studies conducted through this award may provide the scientific rationale upon which a new hypothesis can be based or initial proof-of-principle of an innovative hypothesis. This award is designed to provide investigators the opportunity to pursue serendipitous observations that may reveal entirely new avenues for investigation. Presentation of preliminary data is inconsistent with the intent of this award mechanism and is therefore strongly discouraged. However, logical reasoning and a sound scientific rationale for the proposed work must be described. The PCRP seeks applications from investigators from a wide spectrum of disciplines including, but not limited to, basic science, engineering, bioinformatics, population science, translational research, and clinical research. In addition, applicants are expected to address at least one of the PCRP focus areas and one of the PCRP overarching challenges. Research involving human subjects is encouraged under this funding opportunity but is restricted to studies without clinical trials. Correlative studies associated with an existing clinical trial are allowed if they are determined to be no greater than minimal risk by the local Institutional Review Board (IRB) of record and the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC) Office of Research Protections (ORP), Human Research Protection Office (HRPO). Projects involving human subjects or specimens must be exempt under Title 32, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 219, Section 101(b) (32 CFR 219.101(b)) or eligible for expedited review (32 CFR 219.110 or 21 CFR 56.110). Additional information on the protection of human subjects and exempt or expedited review status can be found at https://www.bids.tswg.gov/. For definitions and other information on clinical trials and clinical research overall, a Human Subject Resource Document is provided on the electronic Biomedical Research Application Portal (eBRAP) “Program Announcement and Forms” web page ( https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/Program.htm). All investigators applying to FY14 PCRP funding opportunities are encouraged to consider leveraging resources available through the PCRP-funded Prostate Cancer Biorepository Network (PCBN) (http://www.prostatebiorepository.org) and/or the North Carolina - Louisiana Prostate Cancer Project (PCaP) (http://www.ncla-pcap.org) if retrospectively collected human anatomical substances or correlated data are relevant to the proposed studies.
Office: U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity
301-682-5507
