The FY17 Defense Appropriations Act provides $10 million (M) to the Department of Defense Orthotics and Prosthetics Outcomes Research Program (OPORP) to support research that evaluates the comparative effectiveness of orthotic and prosthetic clinical interventions using patient-centric outcomes for Service members and Veterans who have undergone limb amputation.  As directed by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, the Defense Health Agency (DHA) J9, Research and Development Directorate manages the Defense Health Program (DHP) Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) appropriation. The managing agent for the anticipated Program Announcements/Funding Opportunities is the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP).

The OPORP is providing the information in this pre-announcement to allow investigators time to plan and develop applications.  FY17 OPORP Program Announcements and General Application Instructions for the following award mechanisms are anticipated to be posted on the Grants.gov website in September 2017.  Pre-application and application deadlines will be available when the Program Announcement is released.  This pre-announcement should not be construed as an obligation by the government.

Focus Areas:  The OPORP will only consider applications that specifically address the critical needs of the Orthotics and Prosthetics Outcomes research community in one or more of the FY17 Focus Areas.  The OPORP will solicit research applications that address at least one of the following FY17 Focus Areas:

·         Orthotic or Prosthetic Device Form:  Analysis of variables related to currently available clinical options such as, but not limited to, device size, shape, material, and configuration.

·         Orthotic or Prosthetic Device Fit:  Analysis of currently available clinical options that facilitate device fit-related characteristics such as comfort and usability through variables such as human-device interface and component connection.

·         Orthotic or Prosthetic Device Function:  Analysis of the variables related to currently available clinical options such as device control, passive response, active/actuated response, power, sensors, overall performance with respect to activities of daily living and other real-world activities.

Orthotics and Prosthetics Outcomes Research Award

Funding Level 1/New Investigators:  Investigators that meet the following criteria at the application submission deadline date:

·        Are within 5 years of their last training position

·        Are able to demonstrate the freedom to pursue research goals outside of a formal mentorship program or arrangement

·        Can provide evidence of organizational support, such as start-up funds provided by the institution and/or use of a technician, space, facilities, and resources

·        PIs working within a laboratory team are eligible to apply for this award, provided they meet the criteria above.

·        Graduate students and postdoctoral fellows are not eligible for this award.

 

Funding Level 2:  Independent investigators at all academic levels (or equivalent) are eligible to submit applications.

Funding Level 1/New Investigator Option may support pilot research or research that is already supported by preliminary data and has the potential to make significant advancements toward clinical translation.

Funding Level 2 Option is supported by preliminary data and has the potential to make significant advancement towards clinical translation.

The OPORA is focused on outcomes-based best practices through analysis of the merits of prosthetic and orthotic device options currently available, not on the development of new, or the improvement of existing, technology.  The intent of the award is to generate clinically useful evidence that will enhance and optimize patient outcomes.

Animal studies are not allowed.

 

Funding Level 1/ New Investigators:

·       Maximum funding of $500,000 for total costs.

·       Maximum period of performance is 3 years.

Funding Level 2:

·       Maximum funding of $2.5M for total costs.

·       Maximum period of performance is 4 years

•  
• ·       All direct and indirect costs of any subaward (subgrant or subcontract) must be included in the total direct costs of the primary award.

The applicant may request the entire maximum funding amount for a project that may have a period of performance less than the maximum number of years allowed per funding level.

A pre-application is required and must be submitted through the electronic Biomedical Research Application Portal (eBRAP) at https://eBRAP.org prior to the pre-application deadline. All applications must conform to the final Program Announcements and General Application Instructions that will be available for electronic downloading from the Grants.gov website.  The application package containing the required forms for each award mechanism will also be found on Grants.gov.  A listing of all CDMRP funding opportunities can be obtained on the Grants.gov website by performing a basic search using CFDA Number 12.420. 

 

Applications must be submitted through the federal government’s single-entry portal, Grants.gov.  Submission deadlines are not available until the Program Announcements are released.  For email notification when Program Announcements are released, subscribe to program-specific news and updates under “Email Subscriptions” on the eBRAP homepage at https://eBRAP.org.  For more information about the OPORP or other CDMRP-administered programs, please visit the CDMRP website (http://cdmrp.army.mil).

Point of Contact:

CDMRP Public Affairs
301-619-9783
usarmy.detrick.medcom-cdmrp.mbx.cdmrp-public-affairs@mail.mil