DoD Breast Cancer Idea Award

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The Idea Award is designed to promote new ideas that are still in the early stages of development and have the potential to yield highly impactful data and new avenues of investigation. This mechanism supports conceptually innovative, high-risk/high-reward research that could ultimately lead to critical discoveries or major advancements that will accelerate the eradication of breast cancer. Research projects should include a well-formulated, testable hypothesis based on strong scientific rationale. The BCRP seeks applications from all areas of basic, translational, clinical, behavioral, and epidemiological research. Presentation of preliminary data is not consistent with the intent of the Idea Award mechanism. While the inclusion of preliminary data is not prohibited, the strength of the application should not rely on preliminary data. Innovation and Impact are the most important aspects of the Idea Award. Innovation: Research deemed innovative may introduce a new paradigm, challenge current paradigms, look at existing problems from new perspectives, or exhibit other uniquely creative qualities. The following list, although not all-inclusive, provides examples of research that is not innovative and will not be considered for funding under this mechanism: • Proposing a project whose scope is primarily small molecule or genomic/proteomic screening. • Exploring a previously tested hypothesis in a different cell line or in a new population. For example, transferring a tested hypothesis from a different cancer type into breast cancer. • Using a published series of in vitro assays to further characterize a model system. DOD Breast Cancer Idea Award 3 • Incorporating known biomarkers into in vitro or clinical models of breast cancer. • Investigating the next logical step or continuation of a previous research project. • Proposing work that is an incremental advancement of published data. Impact: Research that has high potential impact may significantly accelerate the eradication of breast cancer. It is the responsibility of the Principal Investigator (PI) to clearly and explicitly articulate the project’s innovation and its potential impact on breast cancer. NEW FOR FY09! Collaborative Option: The FY09 Idea Award mechanism encourages applications that include meaningful and productive collaborations between two investigators. The Collaborative Option under the Idea Award mechanism is structured to accommodate two PIs. The Initiating and Partnering PI each 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 are expected to bring different strengths to the application. New collaborations are encouraged, but not required. The Collaborative Option is designed to support collaborations on completely new research ideas; therefore, merely continuing an existing or previous collaborative research project between two investigators is not considered innovative and does not meet the intent of the Idea Award mechanism. 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.

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