Opening the Door to CDMRP: Dr. Rebecca Fisher on Mission-Driven Medical Research Funding

In this episode of BioTalk with Rich Bendis, Rebecca "Becky" Fisher, PhD, Deputy Director for Program Management at the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs, joins the conversation to help listeners better understand one of the federal biomedical research funding pathways that may be less familiar to many entrepreneurs, researchers, and life science companies. Dr. Fisher explains how CDMRP works, how it differs from and complements other federal funders such as NIH and ARPA-H, and why its mission is focused on advancing high-impact research that can lead to cures, improved patient care, breakthrough technologies, and clinical benefit. She also discusses the scale and breadth of CDMRP's portfolio, including its FY26 appropriations of $1.27 billion across 34 program areas and additional targeted topics. A major focus of the conversation is CDMRP's unique approach to consumer involvement. Dr. Fisher explains how patients, caregivers, family members, and others with lived experience help shape program strategy, participate in review, and keep funded research connected to the needs of the communities it is intended to serve. The episode also offers practical guidance for applicants. Dr. Fisher walks through how funding opportunities are developed, where to find open program announcements, how the two-tier review process works, and what makes a strong application stand out. She also shares advice for small businesses, academic investigators, clinicians, translational research teams, and industry partners interested in exploring whether CDMRP may be a fit for their work. Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant. Dr. Rebecca "Becky" Fisher currently serves as Deputy Director for Program Management at the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs within the Defense Health Agency, providing senior-level leadership for the successful administration of Congressional appropriations supporting targeted biomedical research. Dr. Fisher has more than 20 years of experience managing and leading complex biomedical research programs within the Department of War. In her current role, she leads CDMRP staff in developing program strategies, facilitating collaborative efforts, and investing funding to further the CDMRP and DoW biomedical research missions. Her work involves extensive engagement with stakeholders from Congress, government, academia, industry, nonprofit, and consumer advocacy organizations. Dr. Fisher received her PhD in Toxicology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and completed a Postdoctoral Cancer Research Training Award Fellowship at the National Cancer Institute.