DoD Kideny Cancer, Technology Development Award | W81XWH 18 KCRP TDA

Technology Development Award (DoD KCRP) - FAQs

What is the DoD Kidney Cancer Research Program (KCRP) Technology Development Award?

The KCRP Technology Development Award (Funding Opportunity Number W81XWH-18-KCRP-TDA) is a product-focused funding mechanism intended to move practical, usable technologies closer to real-world impact in kidney cancer. The emphasis is on development work that can improve clinical or patient outcomes, rather than basic discovery alone.

What is the main goal of this award?

The main goal is to advance a tangible technology toward use in research or clinical settings, with a clear line of sight to improving kidney cancer prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment, and/or quality of life. Applications are expected to show that the technology will strengthen and advance the kidney cancer field, not just exist alongside it without changing how the disease is understood or managed.

Is this award meant for basic discovery research?

No. The intent is not basic discovery for its own sake. Projects should be technology development efforts that are product-driven and aimed at real-world implementation and impact.

What kinds of products or technologies are supported?

The opportunity supports development of tangible products, including (but not limited to) pharmacologic agents (such as drugs or biologics) and devices or other technology solutions that can be implemented in research or clinical settings.

What kidney cancer impact areas are relevant for proposed technologies?

Proposed technologies should be aimed at improving outcomes in areas such as prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment, and quality of life in kidney cancer.

Does the program provide examples of the types of projects it is interested in?

Yes. Examples include: using artificial intelligence to identify therapeutic targets or biomarkers that predict response or resistance; building or adapting ultrasensitive, multiplex platforms to detect genomic, proteomic, and metabolic biomarkers to define renal cell carcinoma molecular phenotype or disease status from a single sample (e.g., tissue, blood, or urine); applying technology to disseminate accurate and current kidney cancer information to patients and caregivers; and creating a virtual, annotated tumor bank that the research community can use to analyze molecular features, disease status, demographics, and other meaningful attributes.

Are patient- or systems-facing tools eligible, or is the award limited to biomedical devices and drugs?

Patient- or systems-facing tools can be eligible if they are kidney-cancer-relevant and are being developed toward a deliverable product with a clear use case. The examples provided include both biomedical technologies and tools intended to support patients and caregivers.

What is meant by "product-focused" in this award?

"Product-focused" means the project is centered on building, improving, or adapting a practical technology that can be used in real settings, with a defined path to the next development stage and eventual deployment or adoption.

Is a transition plan required?

Yes. A key requirement is a credible transition plan that describes what happens after the award ends and how the product will move to the next stage of development.

What should a transition plan cover?

The transition plan is expected to explain how the product will advance beyond the grant period, such as readiness for clinical trials, regulatory steps, manufacturing scale-up, or a pathway to delivery in military or civilian markets. The expectation is that applicants have thought through the hand-off from the funded development work to the next resources, partnerships, and activities needed to keep the product moving.

Are preliminary data required?

Yes. Applications must include preliminary data that fits the proposed development stage, demonstrating readiness for technology development.

Do preliminary data have to be generated specifically in kidney cancer?

No. Supportive preliminary data can come from other diseases or related human conditions if it strengthens the rationale and feasibility of the approach. The program also allows informative clinical data, whether unpublished internal findings or results drawn from the published literature.

Is it acceptable to rely on published literature as part of the supportive evidence?

Yes. The solicitation notes that informative clinical data may include results drawn from the published literature, as well as unpublished internal findings.

What if a team is still deciding what product or direction to pursue?

The solicitation indicates that teams still identifying which product or direction to pursue may be better suited to earlier-stage mechanisms offered in the same fiscal year, such as the Concept Award or Idea Development Award.

Is collaboration encouraged?

Yes. Collaboration is strongly emphasized, especially for applicants who do not have deep kidney cancer experience.

What if the Principal Investigator or team has limited kidney cancer experience?

Teams with limited kidney cancer background are encouraged to partner with investigators who have substantial expertise in kidney cancer research and/or relevant model systems. This is intended to ensure the technology is developed with the appropriate biology, clinical context, and translational realities in mind.

Are commercialization or licensing partnerships encouraged?

Yes. The program encourages early engagement with licensing and commercialization partners and advises applicants to establish relationships with companies or organizations that can help carry products forward.

Do applicants need to address intellectual property (IP) or material property issues?

Yes. Participating organizations are expected to proactively address intellectual property and material property considerations to prevent conflicts from derailing progress.

Are letters of support or confirmation required?

Yes. Letters confirming or supporting collaborations are required, highlighting that partnerships are considered a concrete part of the development pathway rather than optional add-ons.

Who administers this funding opportunity?

This is a discretionary Department of Defense opportunity administered through the Department of the Army (USAMRAA).

What award instruments may be used?

Awards may be made as grants or cooperative agreements.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broadly open and described as unrestricted by entity type, subject to any clarifications in the full announcement.

What is the maximum funding amount?

For FY18, the anticipated maximum direct costs over the full period of performance are capped at $300,000.

How many awards were anticipated?

The program anticipated making about four awards.

Does the research need to be relevant to military populations?

Yes. Proposed research must be relevant to active duty Service members, Veterans, military beneficiaries, and/or the broader American public, aligning the work with the program's public service and military health mission.

Does the program require that the technology change how kidney cancer is understood or managed?

Applications are expected to make a convincing case that the technology being advanced will add to and strengthen what is already known about kidney cancer and influence how the disease is understood or managed, rather than remaining disconnected from the field's needs and direction.

Can a project be broad in scope as long as it is kidney-cancer-relevant?

Yes. The scope of supported work is described as broad, as long as the project remains clearly product-driven and kidney-cancer-relevant.

Can the technology involve biomarkers and molecular phenotyping from non-invasive samples?

Yes. One of the example areas includes ultrasensitive, multiplex detection of genomic, proteomic, and metabolic biomarkers to define renal cell carcinoma molecular phenotype or disease status from a single sample, such as tissue, blood, or urine.

Can the technology involve AI approaches?

Yes. One example given is using artificial intelligence to identify new therapeutic targets or biomarkers that predict response or resistance to treatment.

Can the technology focus on information delivery to patients and caregivers?

Yes. An example area includes applying technology to disseminate accurate and current kidney cancer information to patients and caregivers, as long as it is built toward a deliverable product with a clear use case.

Can the technology involve shared research resources like a tumor bank?

Yes. The solicitation includes an example of creating a virtual, annotated tumor bank for the research community to analyze molecular features, disease status, demographics, and other attributes.