DoW Melanoma Research Program Team Science Award

The FY26 Melanoma Research Program (MRP) Team Science Award (TSA), Funding Opportunity Number HT942526MRPTSA, is soliciting applications for multidisciplinary, hypothesis-driven studies to advance melanoma research and patient care. Managed by the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) under the Defense Health Agency, this award targets prevention, interception, rare melanomas, and survivorship. The program expects to fund approximately nine awards, each up to $2.1 million over a maximum of three years, with funds expiring September 30, 2032. Eligibility extends to extramural and intramural U.S. Department of War (DOW) organizations, including foreign and domestic, for-profit and nonprofit entities, requiring independent investigators at or above the Assistant Professor level as Principal Investigators (PIs). Each project must involve at least two and up to three PIs, with multi-institutional partnerships encouraged. The application process is two-step: a pre-application due July 13, 2026, followed by an invitation for a full application due October 14, 2026. Key features include required preliminary data, encouraged collaboration with the melanoma consumer community, and relevance to military health. Clinical trials are not permitted under this funding opportunity, but clinical research is allowed. The program emphasizes rigorous study design and the use of existing melanoma resources.