DoW Peer Reviewed Cancer, Idea Award

Summary: The fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program (PRCRP) Idea Award (IA) supports innovative, untested, high-risk/potentially high-reward concepts, theories, paradigms, and/or basic cancer research. The advancement of knowledge in cancer research, patient care, and/or treatment options in the Military Health System (MHS) is critical to Service Members, Veterans, other military beneficiaries and the American public.

Distinctive Features: The proposed project should demonstrate creative thinking and innovation.

• Incremental advances, the next logical step, or switching a model system from one cancer to another cancer are not appropriate for this award.

• Inclusion of preliminary data is not required; however, the project must be based on strong scientific rationale.

• New for FY26: Early Career Investigator Option: The Early Career Investigator option is designed to support the continued development of promising independent investigators that are early in their faculty appointments.