The Defense Health Agency awarded The Cleveland Clinic Foundation $1,118,013 on November 1, 2026, to develop and optimize cost-effective biocompatible graphene quantum dots for melanoma prevention under the Military Medical Research and Development program (CFDA 12.420). Work is performed in Cleveland, Ohio, with a period of performance through October 31, 2029. The project transitions graphene quantum dot technology from waste feedstock into ultraviolet-protective biocompatible compounds intended for melanoma prevention applications. The Military Medical Research and Development program supports basic, applied, and advanced biomedical research to transform health care for Service Members and the American public through innovative research and investigation of medical solutions for battlefield conditions, with awards typically ranging from $100,000 to $20 million across award periods averaging three to four years.