The Department of Defense, through the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP), announces the FY25 Ovarian Cancer Clinical Trial Academy – Early-Career Investigator Award. This initiative is part of the Defense Health Program’s Ovarian Cancer Research Program (OCRP), which was established by Congress in 1997 and has since allocated over $541 million to ovarian cancer research. The FY25 funding cycle is expected to contribute $15 million, with the Early-Career Investigator Award mechanism receiving approximately $1.4 million to support one award.

This funding opportunity aims to support early-career investigators (ECIs) in ovarian cancer clinical trial research by providing funding, mentorship, and professional development through the Ovarian Cancer Clinical Trial Academy (OCCTA). The award supports translational research and small-scale, early-phase clinical trials. It mandates participation in the OCCTA, which includes mentorship from experienced clinical trialists, monthly webinars, and annual workshops. The ECI must be within 12 years of completing their postdoctoral research or clinical fellowship and must commit at least 25% effort to the award and academy activities for the first two years.

Eligible applicants include both intramural and extramural organizations, which can be domestic or foreign, and can include academic institutions, non-profits, for-profits, and government entities excluding the Department of Defense. A designated mentor with current clinical trial experience and a strong mentorship record is required, and an additional mentor from the ECI's institution may be necessary if the primary mentor is from a different organization.

The application process is two-phased: a pre-application due by June 12, 2025, and a full application, by invitation only, due by September 11, 2025. Applications must be submitted via eBRAP or Grants.gov, depending on the organizational status. The review process involves both peer and programmatic review, evaluating scientific merit and programmatic relevance. Awards will be made no later than September 30, 2026, using FY25 funds that expire on September 30, 2031.

Applications must include detailed project narratives, statistical analysis plans, and descriptions of mentorship and career development plans. Budgets must not exceed $1.4 million in total costs over a four-year period. Mandatory costs include travel for annual academy workshops. Applications must demonstrate access to a suitable patient population, readiness to initiate trials, and inclusion of diverse populations where appropriate.

Contact for eBRAP support is available at help@eBRAP.org or 301-682-5507, and for Grants.gov at support@grants.gov or 800-518-4726. Additional programmatic details, application formats, and templates are available at eBRAP.org.