DoW Lung Cancer Idea Development Award
Can you apply?
This grant is for researchers who want to develop innovative ideas about lung cancer treatment or prevention. Eligible applicants include academic institutions, private companies, nonprofits, and government labs. Applications must focus on novel, early-stage lung cancer research concepts. U.S. citizenship or permanent residency is typically required for the principal investigator.
Program description
Summary: The fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Lung Cancer Research Program (LCRP) Idea Development Award (IDA) supports conceptually innovative, high-risk/high-reward research that could lead to critical discoveries or major advancements that will accelerate progress toward eradicating deaths and suffering from lung cancer. This mechanism promotes new ideas that are in the early stages of development and have the potential to yield impactful data and new avenues of investigation. Research must address at least one of the FY26 LCRP areas of emphasis.
Distinctive Features: This FY26 LCRP IDA mechanism has a New Investigator category that is designed to allow applicants early in their faculty appointments to compete for funding separately from established investigators. Preliminary data to support the feasibility of the research hypotheses and research approaches are required; however, these data do not necessarily need to be derived from studies of lung cancer.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (federal application form)
- Project Narrative
- Budget Justification
- Curriculum Vitae (PI and key personnel)
- Letters of Support from institutions
- Institutional Certification
- Compliance documents (conflict of interest, human subjects/animal use if applicable)
Program contact
- 👤 Danielle Reckley Grantor
- 📧 help@eBRAP.org
- 📞 301-619-1139
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
Who can apply for this award?
Academic institutions, nonprofits, private companies, and government labs with lung cancer research capabilities. Individual researchers typically need institutional sponsorship.
What is the application deadline?
Applications open May 5, 2026 and close September 2, 2026. Check the official portal for exact submission times.
What type of lung cancer research is supported?
Early-stage, innovative ideas in lung cancer treatment, prevention, or diagnosis. Concept-stage projects that are not yet heavily funded elsewhere.
How competitive is this grant?
DoD grants are highly competitive. Strong preliminary data and a clear innovation angle significantly improve chances.
What is the typical funding range?
Idea Development Awards typically provide modest funding for one to two years of concept validation work.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Start with a clear, single innovation. Avoid trying to pack multiple lung cancer research directions into one proposal.
- Show how your idea is novel compared to existing lung cancer work. Literature review is critical.
- Build relationships with institutional grant offices early. DoD has specific compliance and reporting requirements.
- Include preliminary data or proof-of-concept if possible. It demonstrates feasibility.
- Budget realistically for a small team and minimal equipment. Idea stage means proof of concept, not full-scale research.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Proposals lack clear innovation or novelty. Applicants try to do too much with limited funding. Unclear connection between proposed research and lung cancer clinical impact.
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