Opportunity Information: Apply for HT942526KCRPAKCIECSA
The DoW Kidney Cancer, Academy of Kidney Cancer Investigators - Early-Career Scholar Award (AKCI-ECSA) is a discretionary federal grant opportunity run through the Defense Health Agency (Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity). It sits under the Kidney Cancer Research Program (KCRP) and supports science and technology research and development focused on kidney cancer. The program was first established in FY19 and is built around a structured, interactive virtual academy model that combines research funding with career development for junior faculty who are committing to kidney cancer as a long-term research focus.
At the center of the opportunity is the Academy of Kidney Cancer Investigators (AKCI), which is designed to do more than fund a standalone project. The academy provides intensive mentoring, national-level networking, collaboration opportunities, and a ready-made peer group. Early Career Scholars are matched with established kidney cancer investigators serving as Designated Mentors. This mentor pairing is not informal; it is embedded in an oversight structure that includes an AKCI Leadership Team, a Designated Mentor Panel, and a Kidney Cancer Patient Advocates Panel. The intent is to keep the research grounded in real patient needs while also accelerating the Scholar's growth into an independent, highly productive kidney cancer investigator.
The award places strong emphasis on both the proposed research and the applicant's career potential in the kidney cancer field. In other words, reviewers are looking for a promising research plan as well as evidence that the applicant is positioned to become a future leader in kidney cancer research. A distinctive requirement is the inclusion of preliminary data that demonstrates feasibility of the research question and approach. Importantly, the preliminary data do not have to come directly from kidney cancer studies, which can make the award more accessible to early-career investigators transitioning into the kidney cancer space or applying methods developed in other disease areas.
The Designated Mentor role is a key feature and comes with clear expectations. The mentor must have a strong track record of successful mentorship along with a documented history of kidney cancer research funding and publications. This reflects the program's broader goal: to build a durable pipeline and network of cutting-edge kidney cancer researchers whose work advances the field and contributes to new treatments for people living with kidney cancer, rather than funding isolated efforts without sustained career development.
Administratively, the funding opportunity number is HT942526KCRPAKCIECSA, and it is offered as a grant under CFDA 12.420. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning there are no special applicant-type limitations stated in the summary provided. The original application closing date is 2026-09-28. The opportunity anticipates making about two awards, and an award ceiling is not specified in the provided listing. The posting shows a creation date of 2026-06-18.Apply for HT942526KCRPAKCIECSA
- The Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "DoW Kidney Cancer, Academy of Kidney Cancer Investigators – Early-Career Scholar Award" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.420.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-06-18.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-09-28. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.
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DoW Kidney Cancer (KCRP) Academy of Kidney Cancer Investigators - Early-Career Scholar Award (AKCI-ECSA) FAQs
What is the AKCI-ECSA funding opportunity?
The Academy of Kidney Cancer Investigators - Early-Career Scholar Award (AKCI-ECSA) is a discretionary federal grant opportunity run through the Defense Health Agency (Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity). It sits under the Kidney Cancer Research Program (KCRP) and supports science and technology research and development focused on kidney cancer.
Which program is this opportunity part of?
This award is part of the Kidney Cancer Research Program (KCRP). The KCRP was first established in FY19 and is structured to support kidney cancer research along with the career development of investigators committing to kidney cancer as a long-term focus.
What makes this award different from a typical research grant?
This opportunity is built around a structured, interactive virtual academy model (the Academy of Kidney Cancer Investigators, or AKCI). The intent is not only to fund a standalone project, but to pair research funding with intensive mentoring, national-level networking, collaboration opportunities, and a ready-made peer group.
What is the Academy of Kidney Cancer Investigators (AKCI)?
AKCI is a structured, interactive virtual academy designed to support Early Career Scholars. It includes intensive mentoring, networking, collaboration opportunities, and a peer cohort, with the goal of accelerating a Scholar's development into an independent and highly productive kidney cancer investigator.
Who is this award aimed at?
The opportunity is designed for junior faculty who are committing to kidney cancer as a long-term research focus. It is framed as an Early-Career Scholar Award and emphasizes both a strong research plan and strong career potential in the kidney cancer field.
How are Scholars supported or guided in the academy?
Early Career Scholars are matched with established kidney cancer investigators who serve as Designated Mentors. This mentoring relationship is embedded in an oversight structure that includes an AKCI Leadership Team, a Designated Mentor Panel, and a Kidney Cancer Patient Advocates Panel.
What is a Designated Mentor and why is it required?
A Designated Mentor is an established kidney cancer investigator paired with the Early Career Scholar. The role is a key feature of the program and is designed to provide structured mentorship that supports both the funded research and the Scholar's longer-term career development in kidney cancer research.
What qualifications are expected of the Designated Mentor?
The Designated Mentor is expected to have a strong track record of successful mentorship and a documented history of kidney cancer research funding and publications. These expectations reflect the program's goal of building a durable pipeline of kidney cancer researchers.
How is patient perspective incorporated into the program?
The oversight structure includes a Kidney Cancer Patient Advocates Panel. The stated intent is to keep the research grounded in real patient needs while accelerating the Scholar's growth and productivity as an investigator.
What does the program emphasize in application review?
The award places strong emphasis on both (1) the proposed research and (2) the applicant's career potential in the kidney cancer field. Reviewers are looking for a promising research plan as well as evidence that the applicant is positioned to become a future leader in kidney cancer research.
Is preliminary data required?
Yes. A distinctive requirement is the inclusion of preliminary data demonstrating feasibility of the research question and approach.
Do the preliminary data have to be from kidney cancer studies?
No. The preliminary data do not have to come directly from kidney cancer studies. This feature can make the award more accessible to early-career investigators who are transitioning into kidney cancer research or applying methods developed in other disease areas.
What kinds of projects does this award support?
The opportunity supports science and technology research and development focused on kidney cancer under the Kidney Cancer Research Program (KCRP). The description emphasizes research that advances the field and contributes to new treatments for people living with kidney cancer.
What is the overarching goal of the AKCI-ECSA?
The broader goal is to build a durable pipeline and network of cutting-edge kidney cancer researchers. The program is designed to support sustained career development and collaboration, rather than funding isolated efforts without long-term investigator growth.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is HT942526KCRPAKCIECSA.
What is the CFDA number for this grant?
The listing shows this opportunity as a grant under CFDA 12.420.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted in the summary provided, meaning no special applicant-type limitations are stated in the provided information.
When is the application closing date?
The original application closing date is 2026-09-28.
How many awards are expected to be made?
The opportunity anticipates making about two awards.
Is there a maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
An award ceiling is not specified in the provided listing.
When was this opportunity created/posted?
The posting shows a creation date of 2026-06-18.
Which agency runs this grant opportunity?
This opportunity is run through the Defense Health Agency (Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity).
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