CDMRP - Prostate Cancer Research Program (PCRP)
Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).
Executive Summary:
The FY26 Prostate Cancer Research Program (PCRP), administered by the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP), is expected to release multiple funding opportunities supporting innovative, high-impact prostate cancer research with clinical relevance. The program is focused on eliminating death and suffering from prostate cancer through new therapies, improved clinical care, survivorship research, and better understanding of disease progression.
This is currently a pre-announcement. Funding opportunity announcements will be posted later on Grants.gov and will include official pre-application and application deadlines. At this time, the application deadline is not specified in the solicitation.
How much funding would I receive?
Funding amounts depend on the award mechanism.
Data Science Award
Maximum allowable funding is $1.4 million for total costs
Maximum period of performance is 3 years
Early Investigator Research Award
Maximum allowable funding is $630,000 for total costs
Maximum period of performance is 3 years
Idea Development Award
Established Investigator Option:
Maximum allowable funding is $1.7M for total costs
Maximum period of performance is 3 years
New Investigator Option:
Maximum allowable funding is $2.1M for total costs
Maximum period of performance is 4 years
Physician Research Award
Maximum allowable funding is $1.1M for total costs
Maximum period of performance is 4 years
The solicitation states that total costs include direct and indirect costs.
What could I use the funding for?
The allowable use of funds depends on the award mechanism.
Data Science Award supports research that develops or uses quantitative and analytical approaches, processes, and/or systems to obtain knowledge and insight from large and/or complex sets of prostate cancer data in areas including:
Analysis of clinically annotated datasets
Analysis of “-omics” data
Artificial intelligence and machine learning
Bioinformatics
Computational biology
Digital pathology
Epidemiology
Medical imaging
Early Investigator Research Award supports prostate cancer research conducted by early-stage investigators under mentorship from experienced researchers.
Idea Development Award supports innovative, high-risk and high-gain approaches to prostate cancer research.
Physician Research Award supports mentored research experiences for physicians pursuing careers in prostate cancer research and clinical practice.
Several mechanisms allow clinical research and correlative studies associated with ongoing or completed clinical trials, but clinical trials themselves are not allowed under these awards.
Are there any additional benefits I would receive?
Potential additional benefits include:
Access to CDMRP-administered funding programs with national visibility
Support for researcher career development and mentorship under the Early Investigator Research Award and Physician Research Award
Flexibility for multidisciplinary and multi-institutional collaboration under certain award mechanisms
Opportunity to pursue high-risk, high-gain research concepts through the Idea Development Award
The solicitation also encourages, but does not require:
Preliminary data for several award mechanisms
Multidisciplinary projects
Multi-institutional projects
What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?
This notice is a pre-announcement only.
The solicitation states that:
Funding opportunity announcements will be posted later on Grants.gov
Once released, the funding opportunity announcements will include pre-application and application deadlines
The PCRP requires submission of a letter of intent prior to full application submission
Before full application submission, the CDMRP requires submission of a pre-application through eBRAP prior to the pre-application deadline
The application deadline is not specified in the solicitation.
The timing for award decisions or funding distribution is not specified in the solicitation.
Where does this funding come from?
The funding comes from the FY26 Defense Appropriations Act and is administered through:
Defense Health Agency Research and Development (DHA R&D)
Medical Research and Development Command (MRDC)
Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP)
The funding opportunity is part of the FY26 Prostate Cancer Research Program (PCRP).
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility depends on the award mechanism.
Data Science Award
Independent investigators at all levels
Early Investigator Research Award
Early-career investigators possessing a doctoral degree, or equivalent, with fewer than 3 years of postdoctoral research experience at the application submission deadline, excluding clinical residency or clinical fellowship training
Idea Development Award
Established Investigators:
Independent investigators at all levels
New Investigators:
Independent investigators that:
Have not previously received a PCRP Idea Development Award and/or Health Disparity Research Award
Either completed at least 3 years of postdoctoral training or fellowship or are within 10 years after completion of terminal degree, excluding residency or family medical leave
Physician Research Award
Early-career clinician investigators that are either:
In the last year of an accredited medical residency or medical fellowship program
Within 5 years of initiating a faculty appointment, including instructor positions or equivalent
Additional personnel requirements apply for mentored mechanisms.
What companies and projects are likely to win?
Projects are likely to be competitive if they:
Address one or more of the PCRP’s overarching challenges
Demonstrate clinical relevance and potential impact
Propose innovative approaches to prostate cancer research
Focus on improving outcomes for patients with lethal prostate cancer
Advance survivorship, wellness, or clinical care
Improve understanding of progression to lethal prostate cancer
The solicitation specifically emphasizes:
Innovation and impact equally under the Idea Development Award
High-risk and high-gain approaches
Quantitative and analytical methods for large and complex prostate cancer datasets under the Data Science Award
Are there any restrictions I should know about?
Key restrictions include:
Applications cannot support clinical trials under all listed award mechanisms
Data Science Award applications cannot support prospective recruitment of human subjects
Several awards require submission of a letter of intent prior to full application submission
Full applications must conform to the final funding opportunity announcements available on Grants.gov
Certain mechanisms require mentorship and researcher development plans
Physician Research Award applications strongly encourage protection of at least 20% of the PI’s time for prostate cancer research
The solicitation states that this announcement is only a pre-announcement and should not be construed as an obligation or promise by the government.
How long will it take me to prepare an application?
The solicitation does not specify expected preparation time.
However, applicants should anticipate preparing:
A pre-application through eBRAP
A letter of intent
A full application package
Research development plans for mentored mechanisms
Supporting documentation related to eligibility, mentorship, and project scope
Because official funding opportunity announcements and deadlines have not yet been released, applicants may benefit from beginning project planning early.
How can BW&CO help?
BW&CO can help companies and research teams:
Evaluate which FY26 PCRP mechanism best aligns with their technology or research program
Position projects around the program’s stated overarching challenges
Develop commercialization and impact narratives
Coordinate scientific, clinical, and subcontractor partners
Manage proposal development, writing, compliance, and submission
Prepare pre-applications, letters of intent, and full proposals
