DoD Melanoma, Melanoma Academy Scholar Award | W81XWH 22 MRP MASA

Opportunity Information: Apply for W81XWH 22 MRP MASA

The DoD Melanoma, Melanoma Academy Scholar Award (Funding Opportunity Number W81XWH 22 MRP MASA) is a Department of Defense Medical Research Program opportunity run through the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA) that supports early-career melanoma investigators by placing them into a structured, multi-institutional virtual career and research development academy. Rather than functioning only as a traditional research grant, the award is built around an interactive training and mentoring model designed to accelerate a Scholar's growth into an independent, highly productive melanoma researcher with a strong national network and a clear pathway to sustained funding and leadership in the field.

At the center of the program is the Melanoma Academy (MA), described as a virtual platform that combines intensive monitoring, national networking, collaboration opportunities, and a peer cohort experience for early-career faculty. The overarching goal is to develop a connected community of investigators who are not working in isolation, but instead are building complementary expertise and collaborative research relationships across institutions. The academy structure includes Scholars and their Career Guides, where the Career Guide serves as the primary mentor. Oversight and coordination come from the Academy Director and Deputy Director, referred to collectively as the MA Leadership, who manage the academy environment and keep participants engaged, accountable, and connected to broader scientific and advocacy communities.

The Scholar is the Principal Investigator (PI) named on the application and is expected to actively participate in all academy-driven development and training activities. These expectations include regular engagement such as monthly webinars and one-on-one mentoring sessions, reflecting the program's emphasis on ongoing, hands-on career development rather than sporadic check-ins. The Scholar and the Career Guide are also expected to communicate and collaborate with other academy participants, including other Scholars, other Career Guides, and the MA Leadership. A notable feature of this opportunity is its explicit encouragement to build relationships within the melanoma patient and advocacy community, signaling that the program values patient-centered perspectives, community engagement, and awareness of real-world needs alongside scientific excellence.

The MA Leadership plays an active supporting role throughout the award period by assessing Scholar progress and serving as a facilitation hub for communication and collaboration. This includes helping connect Scholars and mentors not only with each other, but also with national research and advocacy communities. Beyond the scientific development component, the academy is designed to strengthen professional and leadership skills, including the practical competencies needed to successfully fund, build, and manage a productive laboratory. In other words, the program is structured to help early-career investigators develop the full toolkit required for independence: research direction, mentorship support, collaborations, professional growth, and leadership development.

Administratively, the opportunity is listed under CFDA 12.420 and falls within the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category. The funding instrument types include both cooperative agreements and grants, which typically indicates a model where there can be meaningful involvement and coordination from the funding program side, consistent with an academy framework that includes active monitoring and structured activities. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning it is open to any type of entity unless additional eligibility limits are stated elsewhere in the full announcement. The original posting date was June 1, 2022, with an original closing date of October 5, 2022, and the program anticipated making about four awards. The listing shows an award ceiling of 0, which commonly suggests the maximum funding level is not specified in the summary record and would need to be confirmed in the full funding announcement or associated program guidelines.

• The Department of Defense, Dept. of the Army -- USAMRAA in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "DoD Melanoma, Melanoma Academy Scholar Award" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.420.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jun 01, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 05, 2022. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.

Apply for W81XWH 22 MRP MASA

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