DoD, Melanoma, Team Science Award | HT942524MRPTSA

DoD Melanoma Team Science Award (TSA) FAQs

What is the DoD Melanoma Team Science Award (TSA)?

The DoD Melanoma Team Science Award (TSA) is a U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA) grant opportunity intended to accelerate melanoma research through tightly integrated, multidisciplinary collaboration across investigators and institutions. It is designed for melanoma problems that are expected to move faster when complementary expertise is combined in a way that cannot be replicated by separate, parallel projects.

Who is offering this funding opportunity?

This opportunity is offered by the Department of the Army through USAMRAA (U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity).

What is the funding opportunity number (FON) for this award?

The Funding Opportunity Number is HT942524MRPTSA.

What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is listed under CFDA 12.420.

What type of grant is this?

It is described as a discretionary grant.

How many awards are expected to be made?

The opportunity anticipated making about seven awards.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed as unrestricted.

When was the closing date for this opportunity?

The original closing date was August 26, 2024.

What is the core purpose of the TSA program?

The central purpose is to push melanoma research forward through true, interdependent team science. Applications are expected to demonstrate that each partner contributes a distinct capability or perspective and that the project depends on that interdependence rather than loosely connected contributions.

What does the program mean by a "tightly integrated" collaboration?

A tightly integrated collaboration is one where the different principal investigators (PIs), sites, and disciplines are intentionally structured to work together in a coordinated and synergistic way. The application should show that the science cannot be accomplished effectively by separate groups working in parallel with minimal interaction.

What are reviewers looking for in the team structure?

Reviewers will be looking for a clearly described multidisciplinary team structure with well-defined, synergistic components, including concrete plans for how the team will interact, coordinate decisions, share resources, and integrate findings. A simple list of collaborators is not sufficient.

What kinds of collaboration details should be included in the proposal?

The proposal is expected to explain how the PIs, participating sites, and disciplines will communicate, collaborate, and make decisions; how resources will be shared; and how results will be combined into an integrated set of findings. The emphasis is on practical, specific coordination plans rather than general statements about teamwork.

Does the team need to be multidisciplinary?

Yes. A multidisciplinary team structure is a central expectation, and the combined team should reflect deliberate assembly of the scientific, technical, and translational expertise needed to address the research question effectively.

Are cross-institutional collaborations expected?

The program is explicitly built around multi-investigator and multi-institution collaboration, and it highlights the common practical barriers that can arise in cross-institution work, signaling that applicants should be prepared to manage those barriers effectively.

What is expected regarding intellectual property (IP) and materials sharing?

Participating institutions are expected to be prepared to handle intellectual property and materials issues in a way that supports cooperation. The opportunity signals that institutions should be willing to resolve ownership, sharing, and administrative obstacles so collaboration is not slowed by preventable roadblocks.

Is it required to include someone who can speak to the practical utility of the outcomes?

It is strongly encouraged (but not mandatory) to include at least one person (an investigator, key personnel member, or consultant) who can speak to the practical utility of the anticipated outcomes for the melanoma field and/or patient care, either in the near term or longer term.

Is inclusion of an early-career investigator required?

Inclusion of an early-career investigator is encouraged but not required.

How is an early-career investigator defined for this opportunity?

An early-career investigator is defined as an independent researcher or physician-scientist within seven years of their first faculty appointment by the full application deadline.

Can postdoctoral fellows or other trainees serve as a PI on this award?

No. Trainees in mentored roles, such as postdoctoral fellows, cannot serve as a PI for this award.

Is it required to include a military or VA investigator?

Including a military and/or Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) investigator is encouraged, but it is not mandatory.

If a military or VA investigator is included as a PI, what role are they expected to play?

If a military or VA investigator is included as a PI, they are expected to have a substantial scientific role. They should not be included mainly to enable access to active-duty or VA patient populations.

What impact does the DoD expect from funded projects?

Applications must clearly explain how the work will advance melanoma research and/or improve patient care. The DoD is explicitly looking for outcomes that help move promising ideas toward clinical application or that meaningfully improve the state of science or technology in melanoma.

Does the proposed research need to align with specific DoD melanoma priorities?

Yes. The research must align with at least one of the FY24 Melanoma Research Program (MRP) Focus Areas referenced in the full announcement (Section II.A.1). Applicants should map their aims directly to those priorities rather than relying on general relevance to melanoma.

Is preliminary data required?

Yes. The opportunity emphasizes feasibility and requires preliminary results that support the likelihood the project can be executed successfully.

Do preliminary data have to be generated in melanoma specifically?

No. Preliminary data do not have to come from melanoma specifically, but they must credibly support the approach, methods, or platform being proposed.

Are there restrictions on the source of unpublished preliminary data?

Yes. Any unpublished preliminary data included in the application must come from the laboratory of at least one PI or another member of the research team. This reinforces that the team must have a real foundation for the work.

What is the program trying to avoid in team applications?

The program is trying to avoid loosely connected collaborations where contributions are parallel rather than interdependent, and where collaboration is more nominal than functional. It also signals concern about projects that could be slowed by unresolved IP, materials, or administrative barriers.

What is meant by "synergy" in this award?

Synergy refers to a team design where each partner brings distinct capabilities and the combined effort produces progress that would not be achievable through separate, independent projects. The application should make it clear why the project depends on the integrated contributions of the full team.