DOD Pancreatic Cancer, Focused Pilot Award | HT942524PCARPFPTA

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the DOD Pancreatic Cancer, Focused Pilot Award?

The DOD Pancreatic Cancer, Focused Pilot Award is a discretionary grant program intended to jump-start patient-centered pancreatic cancer research by supporting early, focused projects that test impactful and genuinely innovative ideas aimed at improving patients overall quality of life.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this program?

The Funding Opportunity Number is HT942524PCARPFPTA.

Which agency administers this grant?

This opportunity is run through the Department of the Army, U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA), within the Department of Defense.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA number listed is 12.420.

What is the main purpose of this award?

The main purpose is to fund early-stage, focused, patient-centered research that can generate strong preliminary evidence and set up larger clinical or real-world studies later, with an emphasis on improving how patients feel, function, and navigate care.

What kinds of research are prioritized under this award?

The mechanism prioritizes practical, human-centered research questions rather than basic biology or animal model work. The emphasis is on research that addresses lived experience, care access, supportive needs, and quality of life for people with pancreatic cancer.

Does this program support basic biology studies or animal model research?

No. The award is described as prioritizing practical, human-centered research rather than supporting basic biology or animal model work.

What are the Focus Areas for this award?

The program specifically targets two patient-centered Focus Areas in pancreatic cancer research. (The detailed titles of the two Focus Areas are not provided in the text excerpt, so applicants should confirm the exact Focus Area language in the full funding announcement.)

What are examples of projects that may be a good fit?

Examples mentioned include: research on behaviors that affect access to health care; studies linking mental health factors to cancer outcomes and quality of life; strategies to address psychosocial barriers faced by patients and families; behavioral and patient-experience research on quality of life, decision-making, and cognitive function; and development and pilot testing of nutritional approaches, educational interventions, and symptom management strategies.

Is the program focused on interventions?

It emphasizes interventions or approaches that could meaningfully change patient experience and quality of life, even if the work is at an early stage. At the same time, interventional clinical trials are explicitly out of scope.

Is clinical research allowed?

Yes, clinical research is permitted under this mechanism.

Are interventional clinical trials allowed?

No. Interventional clinical trials are explicitly out of scope and will not be funded under this mechanism.

Is preliminary data required to apply?

No. Preliminary data is allowed but not required, which can make this award suitable for exploratory projects in understudied areas, as long as the proposal remains scientifically rigorous.

If preliminary data is not required, what does the application still need to demonstrate?

Applicants are expected to present a well-formulated, testable hypothesis grounded in strong rationale, and a study design that produces robust preliminary data that can support future larger-scale research or implementation efforts.

How important are impact and innovation in review or competitiveness?

The opportunity places heavy weight on both. Applications should clearly explain how the project will contribute to better outcomes and improved quality of life for people with pancreatic cancer, and how it could influence patient-centered research and care over time. The work should also introduce a fresh concept, challenge assumptions, apply new methods or technology, or adapt existing approaches creatively.

What does the program consider "innovative"?

Innovation is described as more than a small extension of prior studies. It should introduce a fresh concept, challenge existing assumptions, use new methods or technology, or creatively adapt existing approaches.

Are incremental advances on already published work competitive?

No. Incremental advances on already published work are specifically described as not innovative for this award.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed as unrestricted.

How many awards does the agency expect to make?

The agency anticipates making about four awards.

What is the application deadline?

The original closing date for applications is October 3, 2024.

What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling is not provided in the source text. Applicants would need to confirm budget limits and related constraints in the full funding announcement and application instructions.

Is the goal to change clinical practice immediately?

The description emphasizes that the project should have a clear path to improving outcomes and quality of life and influencing patient-centered research and care over time, even if immediate clinical practice changes are not expected.

What should the project produce by the end of the award?

The program emphasizes producing robust preliminary data that can serve as a foundation for future, larger-scale research or real-world implementation efforts.

What is the overarching theme of "patient-centered" in this opportunity?

Based on the description, patient-centered means focusing on lived experience, access to care, psychosocial and supportive needs, quality of life, and practical strategies that help patients and families navigate pancreatic cancer.