DoW Kidney Cancer, Concept Award
🏛 Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA (DOD-AMRAA)
Can you apply?
This grant is for early-stage kidney cancer research with innovative, untested concepts that lack preliminary data. U.S. government researchers and academic institutions with strong research capabilities typically qualify. All types of organizational research entities—federal labs, universities, nonprofits—can apply. Applications must describe a novel, groundbreaking approach to kidney cancer investigation.
The funding supports high-risk, high-reward basic research only. No preliminary data allowed. Double-blind peer review means applicants cannot identify themselves, collaborators, or institutions anywhere in the proposal.
Program description
Summary: The fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Kidney Cancer Research Program (KCRP) Concept Award supports highly innovative, untested, potentially groundbreaking concepts, theories, paradigms and/or basic kidney cancer research. This award mechanism supports high-risk studies that have the potential to reveal entirely new avenues for investigation in kidney cancer. Applications must describe how the new concept will be innovative and present a novel course of investigation in the field of kidney cancer.
Distinctive Features:
• Preliminary data are not allowed.
• This is a blinded funding mechanism. Applications to this funding opportunity will undergo a double-blinded peer review. Applications must not include any materials that may identify the Principal Investigator (PI), a collaborator, or the organization of the PI or collaborator.
• Due to the blinded nature of the review process, identifying or making references to the PI, collaborator(s), or their organization(s) in the proposal (Project Narrative, List of Abbreviations, Acronyms, Symbols, Statement of Work, Impact Statement and Innovation Statement) is prohibited and will result in administrative rejection of the application.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Federal application form)
- Project Narrative (Innovation Statement)
- Statement of Work
- Impact Statement
- List of Abbreviations, Acronyms, and Symbols (if applicable)
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Biographical sketches (anonymized)
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
-
$53,718,832
-
$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
- FL 8 awards $99.8M
- CA 11 awards $99.3M
- MA 7 awards $75.2M
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
Can I include preliminary data in my application?
No, preliminary data is explicitly prohibited. Focus on novel concepts and the innovation itself.
What happens if my proposal identifies me, my collaborators, or my organization?
The application will be administratively rejected. Remove all identifying information from all proposal sections.
Who can be the Principal Investigator?
Researchers at U.S. institutions—universities, government labs, nonprofits—with established research capacity typically qualify.
What makes an application competitive?
Highly innovative concepts that present entirely new investigative avenues. Risk-taking is encouraged; groundbreaking ideas are prioritized.
When is the deadline?
July 28, 2026 is the fixed deadline. Plan accordingly as extensions are unlikely.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Write your proposal with zero identifying details. Remove author names, institution affiliations, and institutional identifiers from all sections. Check multiple times.
- Focus on concept innovation and novelty, not preliminary results. Explain why this approach is fundamentally different from existing kidney cancer research.
- Clearly articulate the high-risk, high-reward nature of your idea. Reviewers expect unconventional thinking and groundbreaking directions.
- Use the Innovation Statement to demonstrate how your concept reveals entirely new investigative avenues. This is your core selling point.
- Have a colleague review your proposal specifically for any hidden identifying information before submission. The double-blind process is strict.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Submitting applications with identifying information (author names, institution, PI affiliation) anywhere in the proposal. Administrative rejection occurs without peer review. Proposing incremental improvements to existing approaches instead of novel, groundbreaking concepts. Including or referencing preliminary data, which violates core program rules.
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