Breast Cancer Research Program (BCRP)

BCRP — Breast Cancer Research Program

Supports research teams and institutions for BCRP Breast Cancer Research in biotechnology and medical technology.

The Breast Cancer Research Program (BCRP) is a congressionally mandated programme administered by the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) office within the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC). First funded in 1992 and accumulating more than $4.521 billion through FY2025, BCRP is the oldest and largest cancer-specific earmark in the CDMRP portfolio. For FY2026, Congress appropriated $145 million for the programme. Research priorities are organised around nine overarching challenges, including preventing breast cancer, distinguishing lethal from non-lethal cancers, eliminating metastatic mortality, and improving quality of life for survivors.

BCRP FY26 offers funding through multiple award mechanisms — including Idea Award, Investigator-Initiated Research Award, Clinical Trial Award, Career Development Award, and Technology/Therapeutic Development Award — each with its own budget ceiling and eligibility criteria published in the mechanism-specific programme announcements. Universities, non-profit research organisations, and for-profit companies including small businesses are all eligible; foreign entities may also apply. Individuals may not apply directly. Applicants must hold a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) from SAM.gov, which can take several weeks to obtain. CDMRP requires a two-step submission process: a pre-application through the eBRAP portal (cdmrp.health.mil/ebrap), followed by a full proposal routed via Grants.gov if the pre-application is encouraged. Applicants are expected to review "The Breast Cancer Landscape" guidance document before preparing their submission.

Competitive BCRP applications are evaluated by a dual-review process: a scientific peer review for technical merit and a programmatic review for alignment with the nine overarching challenges. Proposals should address a defined BCRP challenge, demonstrate scientific innovation, and articulate an impact pathway for military service members, veterans, or the broader patient population. Teams that include consumers — patients and advocates — in study design and oversight have historically performed well in programmatic review. Award ceilings, page limits, and specific deadlines vary by mechanism; applicants should download the relevant programme announcement PDF from the eBRAP portal for definitive requirements.