The Defense Health Agency awarded the Regents of the University of Michigan $489,622 under the Military Medical Research and Development program (CFDA 12.420) on November 1, 2026, to conduct preclinical studies using a new mouse model of Merkel cell carcinoma, a rare skin cancer. The award funds research to be performed at the University of Michigan's Ann Arbor, Michigan campus through October 31, 2028. This is a project grant supporting basic and applied biomedical research aligned with the Defense Health Agency's mission to advance medical solutions for Service Members and the American public.