DoW Breast Cancer, Breakthrough Award Levels 1 and 2

The fiscal year 2026 Breast Cancer Research Program (BCRP) Breakthrough Award mechanism supports promising research with high potential to lead to or make breakthroughs in breast cancer. All applications must address at least one of the FY26 BCRP overarching challenges or provide adequate justification for exception. The program announcement discusses the Breakthrough Award Levels 1 and 2, which have distinct research scopes and allow for applications submitted under Funding Level 1 or Funding Level 2. Key features of this funding mechanism include the option for a single Principal Investigator (PI) or two partnering PIs, and the possibility of requesting higher levels of funding and an additional year in the period of performance for population science studies. • The program supports research with high potential to lead to breakthroughs in breast cancer. • Applications must address at least one of the FY26 BCRP overarching challenges. • The Breakthrough Award mechanism contains four different funding levels, with Levels 1 and 2 discussed in this program announcement. • The funding mechanism allows for a single PI or two partnering PIs. • Population science studies may request higher levels of funding and an additional year in the period of performance.