DoD Breast Cancer, Era of Hope Scholar Award

The Era of Hope Scholar Award supports individuals early in their careers who have demonstrated significant potential to effect meaningful change in breast cancer. These individuals should be exceptionally talented scientists who have shown that they are the “best and brightest” in their field(s) through extraordinary creativity, vision, innovation, and productivity. They should have demonstrated experience in forming effective partnerships and collaborations and must exhibit strong potential for future leadership in breast cancer research.

As the intent of the Era of Hope Scholar Award is to recognize creative and innovative individuals rather than projects, the central features of the award are the demonstrated ability of the individual named as the Principal Investigator (PI) in the application to go beyond conventional thinking in their field and the innovative contribution that the PI can make toward ending breast cancer. The application should articulate a vision that challenges current dogma and demonstrates an ability to look beyond tradition and convention.

Experience in breast cancer research is not required; however, the application must focus on breast cancer, and the PI must commit a minimum of 25% level of time and effort during the period of performance to conduct breast cancer research under this award. Individuals from other disciplines who apply novel concepts to breast cancer are encouraged to submit.

The PI is encouraged to assemble a research team that will provide the necessary expertise and collaborative efforts toward accomplishing the research goals. The PI’s research team must include two or more breast cancer consumer advocates. As lay representatives, the consumer advocates must be individuals who have been diagnosed with breast cancer and are actively involved in a breast cancer advocacy organization. Their role should be independent of their employment, and they may not be employees of any organizations participating in the application. The consumer advocates should have a high level of knowledge of current breast cancer issues and the appropriate background and/or training in breast cancer research to contribute to the project. Their role should be focused on providing objective input throughout the research effort and its potential impact for individuals with, or at risk for, breast cancer.