DoD Prostate Cancer Synergistic Idea Development Award
The PCRP Synergistic Idea Development Award mechanism was first offered in FY07. Since then, 452 Synergistic Idea Development Award applications have been received, and 47 (representing 106 individual awards) have been recommended for funding. The Synergistic Idea Development Award supports new ideas that represent innovative approaches to prostate cancer research involving two or three independent, faculty-level (or equivalent) Principal Investigators (PIs). These investigators should utilize their complementary and synergistic perspectives to address a central problem or question in prostate cancer research. This award is designed to support both new and pre-existing partnerships. The overall goal of this award is to significantly accelerate advances in prostate cancer research to support the PCRP vision of conquering prostate cancer. Although groundbreaking research often involves a degree of risk, applications should be based on a sound scientific rationale that is established through logical reasoning and/or critical review and analysis of the literature. Due to this award’s emphasis on innovation, presentation of preliminary data relevant to prostate cancer and the proposed project is encouraged but not required. Research deemed innovative may represent a new paradigm, challenge current paradigms, look at existing problems from new perspectives, or exhibit other highly creative qualities. Research that is an incremental advance upon published data is not considered innovative. The PCRP seeks applications from investigators working in 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 are highly encouraged to address one of the PCRP overarching challenges. If the proposed project does not address any of the overarching challenges, the application should include a description to justify how the project will nevertheless address a critical need in the field of prostate cancer research and/or patient care. The Synergistic Idea Development Award requires that multiple investigators jointly design a single project, with comparable levels of intellectual input from each PI. However, each partner will be recognized as a PI, submit a separate application (even if the partners are at the same organization), and receive an individual award. The research project must be supported by the unique expertise, experience, and abilities of each PI, and it must clearly define the synergistic components that will facilitate and accelerate progress in a way that could not be accomplished through independent efforts. Multidisciplinary projects are encouraged, and multi-institutional projects are allowed. Each proposed study must include clearly stated plans for interactions among all PIs and organizations involved. The plans must include communication, coordination of research progress and results, and data transfer. Additionally, multi-institutional applications must provide an intellectual property plan to resolve potential intellectual and material property issues and to remove institutional barriers that might interfere with achieving high levels of cooperation to ensure the successful completion of this award. Research involving human subjects is permitted under this funding opportunity, but is restricted to studies without clinical trials. Correlative studies associated with an existing clinical trial are particularly encouraged, provided that they are determined to be no greater than minimal risk by the local IRB of record and the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC) Office of Research Protections (ORP), Human Research Protection Office (HRPO). For definitions and other information on clinical trials and clinical research overall, a Human Subject Resource Document is provided on the CDMRP eBRAP System at 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. The Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) intends that data and research resources generated under awards funded by this Program Announcement/Funding Opportunity be made available to the research community (which includes both scientific and consumer advocacy communities) and to the public at large. For additional guidance, refer to the General Application Instructions, Appendix 4, Section L.
Office: U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity
301-682-5507
