Department of Defense Melanoma Research Program, Idea Award

The FY19 MRP Idea Award supports innovative, untested,
high-risk/potentially high-reward concepts, theories, paradigms, and/or methods
in melanoma research. The advancement of knowledge in melanoma research,
patient care, and/or treatment options in the Military Health System (MHS) is
critical to active duty Service members, Veterans, other military
beneficiaries, and the American public.

The Idea Award is not intended to support a logical progression
of an already established research project. The proposed research should
be innovative. A key characteristic of this funding opportunity is
innovation. Innovative research may introduce a new paradigm, challenge
existing paradigms, look at existing problems from new perspectives, or exhibit
other highly creative qualities. Incremental advances, the next logical
step, or switching a model system from one cancer to another cancer is not
considered innovative. The proposed research project should include a
well-formulated, testable novel hypothesis based on strong scientific rationale
and study design.

The FY19 MRP is not requesting research into
established macrometastatic disease, models of metastatic disease using
established cell lines, or treatment of macrometastatic disease. Studies
involving non-melanoma skin cancers are not allowed under the FY19 MRP.