DOD Melanoma Melanoma Academy Leadership Award | W81XWH 21 MRP MALA

FAQs: DOD Melanoma Academy Leadership Award (W81XWH-21-MRP-MALA)

What is the DOD Melanoma Academy Leadership Award (W81XWH-21-MRP-MALA)?

It is a Fiscal Year 2021 funding opportunity under the Department of Defense (DOD), Department of the Army (USAMRAA), within the Melanoma Research Program (MRP). The award supports the creation and operation of the MRP Melanoma Academy, a structured, interactive virtual academy designed to accelerate progress in melanoma research by combining strong scientific collaboration with intensive career development.

What is the main purpose of this award?

The purpose is to build and lead a coordinated academy environment that develops promising investigators into highly productive, independent melanoma researchers, while also advancing research efforts that can ultimately benefit melanoma patients. The focus is on operating and leading the academy rather than funding a single stand-alone research project.

Is this award funding a single research project?

No. This opportunity is not intended to fund a single stand-alone research project. Instead, it funds leadership and operations for a virtual academy that supports multiple early-career investigators (Scholars) through mentorship, collaboration, and structured career development.

Who is this specific announcement for?

This announcement is specifically for Academy Leadership roles: an Academy Director and an Academy Deputy Director. It is not the application route for individuals seeking to participate as Scholars.

What roles are being recruited under this award?

The award recruits Academy Leadership, consisting of an Academy Director and an Academy Deputy Director. These leaders serve as the organizing and mentoring hub for the Melanoma Academy.

What kind of experience is expected of the Academy Director and Deputy Director?

The Director and Deputy Director are expected to be established melanoma researchers with demonstrated expertise in the field and the ability to organize, mentor, and coordinate a collaborative academy environment.

Can the Academy Director and Deputy Director be at different institutions?

Yes. The information provided indicates the Director and Deputy Director may be based at different institutions.

What is the MRP Melanoma Academy?

The MRP Melanoma Academy is described as a structured, interactive virtual academy and a virtual career development and research platform. Its goal is to accelerate melanoma research progress by pairing collaboration with intensive career development in a community-based model.

Is the Melanoma Academy a physical center or an online program?

It is a virtual program. Core activities are conducted in an interactive, online format rather than through a single physical center.

How many Scholars can be included in the academy?

The academy brings together up to four early-career independent investigators called Scholars.

Who are the Scholars?

Scholars are early-career independent investigators recruited to participate in the academy. They are supported through structured career development, collaborative research interactions, and intensive monitoring of progress by Academy Leadership and mentors.

Do Scholars apply through this Leadership Award opportunity?

No. Early-career independent investigators who want to participate as Scholars are directed to apply through a separate companion opportunity: the FY21 MRP Melanoma Academy Scholar Award (W81XWH-21-MRP-MASA).

What is the companion Scholar opportunity called?

The companion opportunity for Scholars is the FY21 MRP Melanoma Academy Scholar Award (W81XWH-21-MRP-MASA).

What is the role of Career Guides in the academy?

Career Guides are the Scholars' primary mentors. They come from different institutions than the Scholars, creating a cross-institutional mentoring network intended to broaden perspectives and opportunities.

How does the mentoring structure work?

The model includes intensive mentoring and monitoring by Academy Leadership (Director and Deputy Director), coordinated closely with each Scholar's Career Guide. The approach emphasizes cross-institutional mentorship and facilitated connections to leaders in the melanoma research community.

What are the responsibilities of the Academy Director and Deputy Director?

Academy Leadership is responsible for running the academy and catalyzing each Scholar's growth and professional development. Responsibilities include coordinating with each Scholar's Career Guide, objectively assessing Scholar progress toward research and career milestones, facilitating communication and collaboration across the academy, and maintaining consistent, intensive monitoring of Scholar progress.

What does "objective assessment" and "intensive monitoring" of Scholar progress mean in this context?

Based on the description, Academy Leadership is expected to evaluate how Scholars are advancing toward defined research and career milestones in a fair and consistent way and to track progress closely over time while keeping Scholars on course toward impactful melanoma research careers.

What kind of academy environment is expected?

The academy is intended to be collegial, highly dynamic, and cutting-edge. It emphasizes national networking, structured peer interactions, facilitated connections to leaders in melanoma research, and a collaborative, community-based approach.

What types of activities are expected to be part of the academy?

The opportunity centers on proposing and implementing a strong plan to run the academy, including selecting and supporting Scholars, organizing mentorship and career development activities, establishing meaningful research collaboration pathways, and creating a clear and fair process for evaluating progress and keeping Scholars on track.

What is the funding mechanism for this opportunity?

The funding mechanism allows for a cooperative agreement and/or grant.

What is the CFDA number and category listed for this opportunity?

The listing identifies CFDA 12.420 and places the opportunity under the science and technology and other research and development category.

What does "unrestricted eligibility" mean for this opportunity?

The opportunity is listed as having unrestricted eligibility, meaning it is broadly open to many entity types, subject to any additional eligibility clarifications that might be included in the full program announcement.

How many awards are expected?

The posting indicates an expected number of awards of one, suggesting the program anticipates selecting a single leadership team to run the academy.

When was this notice created and what was the closing date?

The notice was created on May 7, 2021, and the original closing date was August 26, 2021.

Is there a stated funding ceiling for this award?

The award ceiling is shown as 0 in the source data. This typically signals that applicants need to consult the full announcement for budget guidance or that a specific ceiling is not provided in the summarized listing.

What is the overall goal for Scholars participating in the academy?

The overall goal is to develop Scholars into highly productive, independent melanoma researchers while advancing work that can ultimately benefit melanoma patients, supported by a collaborative environment and intensive career development.

What is the central idea behind the academy model?

The central idea is a deliberately collaborative and community-based model that combines structured peer interactions, national networking, and mentoring (including cross-institutional Career Guides) with facilitated connections to leaders in the melanoma research community.