DoW Breast Cancer, Breakthrough Award Levels 1 and 2 | HT942526BCRPBTA122

FY26 DoD BCRP Breakthrough Award Levels 1 and 2 (HT942526BCRPBTA122) - FAQs

What is the FY26 DoD Breast Cancer Research Program (BCRP) Breakthrough Award (Levels 1 and 2)?

It is a discretionary grant funding opportunity administered through the Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity (DHACA) under the Department of Defense (DoD) Breast Cancer Research Program (BCRP). The Breakthrough Award mechanism is intended to support promising breast cancer research with a strong chance of producing a genuine breakthrough.

What does the program mean by a "breakthrough"?

A breakthrough is described as research outcomes that could materially change understanding of breast cancer, shift current scientific or clinical paradigms, or open a clear path to improved prevention, detection, prognosis, or treatment. The emphasis is on work positioned for major impact rather than incremental progress.

Is incremental or purely confirmatory research appropriate for this award?

Based on the description provided, the expectation is not incremental work. Proposed research should be framed in a way that can plausibly generate major impact and credibly lead to a breakthrough.

Do proposals have to align with specific FY26 BCRP priorities?

Yes. A central requirement is that every proposal must directly address at least one of the program's FY26 overarching challenges. If a project does not align to a listed challenge, the application must make a convincing case for why an exception is warranted.

What funding levels are covered by this announcement?

This specific announcement covers only Breakthrough Award Funding Level 1 and Funding Level 2. The mechanism itself is described as multi-level (four levels overall across the mechanism), but only Levels 1 and 2 are included here.

How should an applicant choose between Level 1 and Level 2?

Applicants should select the level that matches the maturity, scope, and near-term translational trajectory of their proposed work. The announcement indicates that each level is designed to fit a particular stage on the route from discovery to clinical application.

Is there a population science option?

Yes. The information provided indicates that Level 2 includes an additional pathway geared toward population science studies.

What kinds of studies fit the Level 2 population science pathway?

The excerpt signals interest in larger-scale population science work such as epidemiology, outcomes research, disparities research, screening studies, or real-world evidence-type studies, when convincingly positioned to drive a breakthrough.

Can Level 2 population science proposals request more funding or more time?

Potentially, yes. The excerpt states that population science proposals under Level 2 may be allowed, with strong justification, to request higher funding and an extra year of performance compared to the standard structure.

How much funding is available per award (Level 1 vs Level 2)?

The provided excerpt does not list the exact dollar amounts for each level, and it does not specify the award ceiling. Applicants would need to consult the full program announcement for maximum allowable costs and any limits tied to the Level 2 population science option.

How many awards does the agency expect to make?

The agency anticipates making approximately 6 awards under this announcement.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed as unrestricted. This generally indicates a broad applicant pool may apply (for example, universities, nonprofits, for-profits, and other research organizations), depending on the detailed rules in the full announcement.

What is the leadership structure for applications? Do you need to have two PIs?

You may apply with a single Principal Investigator (PI), or you may apply using the Partnering PI Option with two PIs.

What is the Partnering PI Option and how does it work?

Under the partnered model, there are two PIs with defined roles: an Initiating PI and a Partnering PI. The process is staged: only the Initiating PI submits the pre-application, and if invited forward, both the Initiating PI and the Partnering PI must submit their respective components at the full application stage.

What happens if one of the partnered PIs misses a submission deadline?

The announcement emphasizes that missing any required submission from either PI by the deadline can trigger administrative withdrawal. This makes coordination between partner institutions and grants offices a key compliance requirement.

What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number is HT942526BCRPBTA122.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 12.420.

What is the opportunity category or focus area?

The opportunity is categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development.

When was the opportunity posted and when is it due?

The posting/creation date is September 3, 2026. The original closing date is November 18, 2026.

What is the main theme applicants should take from this announcement?

The call prioritizes high-impact, challenge-aligned breast cancer projects that can credibly lead to a breakthrough. It offers two entry points (Level 1 or Level 2), highlights a population science pathway under Level 2 that may justify larger budgets and longer timelines, and allows either single-PI or partnered leadership while requiring strict compliance with staged submission requirements.

Where do applicants find the missing details (like award ceilings and level-specific budgets)?

The excerpt indicates those details are not included here, so applicants would need to consult the full program announcement for maximum allowable costs by level and any additional constraints.