DoD Breast Cancer Idea Award

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The BCRP Idea Award mechanism has been revised for FY11. The Idea Award is designed to support promising research that has extraordinary potential to yield highly impactful data and new avenues of investigation. This mechanism supports innovative research that could ultimately lead to critical discoveries or major advancements that will accelerate the eradication of breast cancer. Although groundbreaking research often involves a degree of risk, applications should include a well-formulated, testable hypothesis based on strong scientific rationale. Impact and Innovation are the most important aspects of the Idea Award; however, applications that have the potential for high impact, but are not considered innovative, will also meet the intent of this award mechanism. Preliminary data is allowed, but not required. Impact: Research that has high potential impact may lead to major advancements and significantly accelerate the eradication of breast cancer. Innovation: Research deemed conceptually innovative may introduce a new paradigm, challenge current paradigms, look at existing problems from new perspectives, or exhibit other uniquely creative qualities. It is the responsibility of the Principal Investigator (PI) to explicitly articulate the project�s potential impact on breast cancer and how the project is innovative. Partnering PI Option: The Idea Award mechanism encourages applications that include meaningful and productive collaborations between investigators. The Partnering PI Option under the Idea Award mechanism is structured to accommodate two PIs, with each under a separate award. The Initiating and Partnering PIs have different submission requirements; however, both PIs should contribute to the preparation of a single application. The collaborative partners may have expertise in similar or disparate scientific disciplines, but each partner is expected to bring different strengths to the application. New collaborations are encouraged, but not required. It is the responsibility of the collaborating investigators to describe how their combined expertise in the collaboration will better address the research question and explain why the work should be done together rather than through separate efforts. Applications submitted by a mentor and postdoctoral trainee as Initiating and Partnering PIs do not meet the intent of the Partnering PI Option.

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