The DOD FY24 Rare Cancers Resource and Community Development Award program aims to foster research in rare cancers by developing infrastructure and resources for data and biospecimen sharing. With a total appropriation of $17.5 million, this initiative encourages applications to create research platforms that will enhance collaboration among stakeholders such as researchers, patients, and advocates. Key components of the application include the involvement of patient advocates, a strong scientific rationale, and outlined strategies addressing the unmet needs in the rare cancers field. Eligible applicants include various organizations, both domestic and foreign, with the requirement that at least two patient advocates be integrated into the research team. The application process involves a two-step submission: a pre-application via eBRAP and a full application through Grants.gov. Notably, proposed research must relate to rare cancers, defined as affecting six or fewer persons per 100,000 annually in the U.S. The program emphasizes community engagement, sustainability, and the dissemination of research findings to facilitate ongoing advancements in rare cancer research.