DoD, Melanoma, Survivorship Research Award | HT942524MRPSRA

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Department of Defense Melanoma Survivorship Research Award (SRA)?

The Melanoma Survivorship Research Award (SRA) is a competitive Department of Defense grant opportunity, administered through the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA). It funds research focused on improving life after melanoma, with survivorship as the central theme.

What is the main focus or theme of this award?

The central theme is survivorship. Projects are expected to directly address the health and well-being of melanoma survivors and also consider the needs of families and caregivers.

What does “impact first” mean for this funding opportunity?

“Impact first” means the strongest applications are expected to go beyond producing academic findings. Proposals should clearly show how the work could move into real-world use, such as clinical practice, community programs, care delivery improvements, or other applications that meaningfully advance melanoma-specific quality of life and survivorship.

Who administers or sponsors this grant program?

The sponsoring agency is the Department of the Army, through USAMRAA (U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity).

What is the opportunity number for this award?

The opportunity number is HT942524MRPSRA.

What category and CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

This is a discretionary grant opportunity in the Science and Technology/Research and Development category, with CFDA 12.420.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants are listed as unrestricted in the provided opportunity information.

When was the closing date listed for this opportunity?

The original closing date listed is August 26, 2024.

How many awards were anticipated?

The program anticipated making about two awards.

Is there an award ceiling listed?

No award ceiling is specified in the provided listing.

What types of research designs are allowed or encouraged?

The opportunity allows multiple research architectures, including descriptive studies, correlational studies, field experiments, meta-analyses, retrospective analyses, and prospective enrollment approaches. The key expectation is that the design is clearly justified and matches the question being asked.

What does the program expect regarding study design and justification?

Applicants are expected to clearly justify their study design and show how it fits the research question. Proposals should spell out how the study is built, who will be studied, and why that population makes sense for the intended benefit.

What does “representativeness” mean in this program?

The program emphasizes that the participant group should reasonably reflect the people who would ultimately use or benefit from the results. In other words, the study population should be aligned with the real-world survivor community the work is meant to help.

If surveys or questionnaires are used, what level of detail is expected?

If surveys or questionnaires are part of the project, the application should describe them in enough detail for reviewers to understand what will be measured and how results will be interpreted. Measurement tools should not be treated as a vague afterthought.

What is required for melanoma consumer collaboration?

Melanoma consumer collaboration is a defining requirement. Applicants must use a collaborative research approach that actively involves the consumer community in a way that strengthens the project’s relevance and improves the likelihood that results can be translated into practice.

Who qualifies as a “melanoma consumer” under this opportunity?

A “melanoma consumer” is someone with lived experience, such as a melanoma survivor, a family member, or a caregiver.

Does the research team have to include a melanoma consumer or community organization?

Yes. The research team must include at least one melanoma consumer or a melanoma-community supporting organization, and that partner must be integrated into the project in a meaningful way.

What roles should the melanoma consumer collaborator play in the project?

The consumer collaborator is expected to provide objective input on the research question, study design, how the study is carried out, how outcomes are evaluated, and what the likely real-world effects will be for survivors and their support networks.

What does the program consider “token” participation, and is it acceptable?

The program explicitly states that token participation is not acceptable. Examples of insufficient involvement include simply attending occasional meetings or passively observing, without ongoing and active participation across planning, execution, and implementation.

What does “collaborative research” look like for this award?

The opportunity describes collaborative research as a partnership where scientific researchers and melanoma consumers share responsibility and ownership across the project lifecycle. This can include early-stage needs assessment, planning and intervention design, study implementation, evaluation, dissemination, and joint interpretation and communication of results.

What are some acceptable structures for consumer collaboration mentioned in the opportunity?

Examples provided include: (1) including at least one consumer as a continuing advisor/consultant who can speak to broader community needs, (2) partnering with advocacy or community-supporting organizations, or (3) creating a melanoma consumer advisory board made up of survivors, caregivers, and/or community organizations.

How are results expected to be shared or translated under this program?

The opportunity emphasizes joint interpretation and communication of results, including feeding findings back to affected communities. When possible, results should be positioned to become interventions, programs, or policy changes that improve melanoma survivorship and quality of life.

What kinds of outcomes or benefits should a strong proposal aim for?

Based on the “impact first” framing, strong proposals should aim for outcomes that can meaningfully improve melanoma-specific quality of life and survivorship, with a clear path toward clinical, community, or care-delivery use rather than remaining purely academic.

Does the program address families and caregivers, or only survivors?

It addresses both. Projects are expected to directly address survivors’ health and well-being and also consider the needs of families and caregivers.