DoW Breast Cancer, Breakthrough Award Level 4
🏛 Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA (DOD-AMRAA)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 16, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for researchers studying breast cancer with applications aimed at clinical translation. Eligible applicants typically include academic institutions, research centers, hospitals, and nonprofit organizations with strong research capacity. The research must address at least one of the FY26 BCRP overarching challenges and demonstrate potential for breakthrough impact. Clinical trials are required, and the research team must include two or more breast cancer consumer advocates. A single PI or two partnering PIs (Initiating and Partnering) may submit.
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Program description
Summary: The fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Breast Cancer Research Program (BCRP) Breakthrough Award mechanism supports promising research with high potential to lead to or make breakthroughs in breast cancer. All applications must address at least one of the FY26 BCRP overarching challenges or provide adequate justification for exception. Applications must address the challenge in a way that can lead to a breakthrough and have major impact. The FY26 Breakthrough Award mechanism contains four different funding levels designed to support major (but not all) stages of research that will lead to clinical application. Each level specifies a distinct research scope. This program announcement discusses the Breakthrough Award Level 4.
Distinctive Features:
· Clinical trials are required.
· The research team must include two or more breast cancer consumer advocates.
· This funding mechanism allows for a single Principal Investigator (PI), or two partnering PIs referred to as the Initiating PI and the Partnering PI. For the Partnering PI Option (PPIO), only the Initiating PI will submit a pre-application, but both PIs will need to submit at the full application stage. Be advised, failure to submit all associated (Initiating and Partnering PI) applications by the deadline may result in administrative withdrawal.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (or equivalent DoD form)
- Project Narrative/Proposal
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Curriculum Vitae(s) for PI(s)
- Letters of Commitment from Consumer Advocates
- Institutional Biosketches
- Clinical Trial Plan or Protocol
- Vertebrate Animal Care statement (if applicable)
Program contact
- 👤 Jamie Shortall Grant Officer
- 📧 help@eBRAP.org
- 📞 301-619-2393
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 12.420 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$2,265,729,366
-
$800,631,761
-
$74,531,880
-
$67,205,571
-
$55,443,120
-
$34,191,124
-
$24,907,742
-
$21,394,379
-
$19,100,256
-
$19,002,641
Top States by Funding
- MD 10 awards $3,150.1M
- NC 11 awards $132.3M
- CA 12 awards $107.3M
- FL 8 awards $99.8M
- TX 8 awards $76.5M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 12.420). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $1,483,968,520 | |
| 2025 | $1,201,153,417 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Academic institutions, research organizations, hospitals, and nonprofits with research capacity. You must have clinical trial capability and include two or more breast cancer consumer advocates on your team.
What is the deadline?
The deadline is September 30, 2026. This is a fixed deadline; rolling acceptance does not apply.
What activities are supported?
Promising breast cancer research with potential for breakthrough impact that addresses FY26 BCRP overarching challenges. Clinical trials are mandatory.
Can I apply with a partner PI?
Yes, you may submit with an Initiating PI and a Partnering PI. Both PIs must submit full applications by the deadline, or the application may be administratively withdrawn.
What is the funding range?
The total pool is $21 million for Breakthrough Awards across all four levels. Individual award amounts are not specified in the announcement.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Identify which FY26 BCRP overarching challenge your research addresses and explain clearly how you will achieve breakthrough impact.
- Recruit two or more breast cancer consumer advocates early and ensure they are meaningfully integrated into your research team and design.
- If using the Partnering PI option, coordinate closely with your partner and ensure both applications are submitted by the deadline.
- Demonstrate your institution's capacity to conduct clinical trials, including IRB approval processes and participant recruitment infrastructure.
- Align your research scope precisely with the Level 4 requirements to avoid scope creep and administrative withdrawal.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Failing to include two or more consumer advocates or giving them only token roles rather than meaningful involvement. Not clearly connecting research to an FY26 BCRP overarching challenge or failing to justify exceptions. Submitting only one Initiating or Partnering PI application when using the two-PI option, resulting in administrative withdrawal.
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