The FY18 Defense Appropriations Act provides $15 million (M) to the Department of Defense Peer Reviewed Alzheimer’s Research Program (PRARP) to support research which addresses the long-term consequences of traumatic brain injury (TBI) as they pertain to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and related dementias (ADRD).  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 PRARP is providing the information in this pre-announcement to allow investigators time to plan and develop applications.  FY18 PRARP Program Announcements and General Application Instructions for the following award mechanisms are anticipated to be posted on the Grants.gov website in May 2018.  Pre-application and application deadlines will be available when the Program Announcements are released.  This pre-announcement should not be construed as an obligation by the government.

FY18 PRARP Overarching Challenges and Focus Areas:

All applications for FY18 PRARP funding opportunities must address at least one of the following FY18 Overarching Challenges.  The FY18 Overarching Challenges may be mechanism-specific. 

FY18 PRARP Overarching Challenges are listed below.

PRARP FY18 Overarching Challenges
Paucity of Research Resources:  The paucity of research resources to examine the interrelationship between TBI and subsequent AD/ADRD for the military, Veteran, and civilian communities.
Paucity of Clinical Studies:  The paucity of clinical studies to examine the interrelationship between TBI and subsequent AD/ADRD for the military, Veteran, and civilian communities.  This includes research into risk factors which may predispose individuals to AD/ADRD subsequent to TBI.
Diagnostic Technologies, Tests, Biomarkers, or Devices:  The need for technologies, tests, or devices to detect or prognose the progression to AD/ADRD subsequent to TBI.  This includes research into risk factors which may predispose individuals to AD/ADRD subsequent to TBI.
Quality of Life:  The need for technologies, assessments, interventions, or devices to benefit individuals living with the common symptoms or deficits of TBI and AD/ADRD.
Caregiver Support:  The need for technologies, assessments, interventions, or devices with the goal of enhancing the lives of caregivers for individuals living with the common symptoms or deficits of TBI and AD/ADRD.
Epidemiology:  The paucity of epidemiological research to examine the interrelationship between TBI and subsequent AD/ADRD for the military, Veteran, and civilian communities.  This includes research into risk factors which may predispose individuals to AD/ADRD subsequent to TBI.

In addition to addressing one or more of the specified FY18 Overarching Challenges, applications should also address at least one of the following FY18 Focus Areas in support of the FY18 Overarching Challenges.  An application that proposes research outside of the FY18 Focus Areas is acceptable, as long as the applicant provides a strong rationale.  The Focus Areas will be mechanism-specific.

The PRARP FY18 Focus Areas are listed below.

PRARP FY18 Focus Areas

Mechanisms of Pathogenesis:  Identification of contributing mechanisms (e.g., diffuse/traumatic axonal injury, roles of non-neuronal cells, neuroinflammation, immune regulation, biology/pathology of tau, vascular contributions, and omics techniques for examining mechanisms) associated with TBI and subsequent AD/ADRD pathogenesis.

Biomarkers:  Development of strategies to diagnose, prognose, or characterize neurological changes or risk factors associated with TBI and subsequent AD/ADRD (e.g., fluid based, imaging-based, physiological, and omics techniques for biomarkers).

Quality of Life:  Research intended to alleviate, stabilize, or characterize the symptoms, or deficits, common to TBI, AD, and ADRD.  Examples of research in this Focus Area include:  Identification and management of comorbidities and modifiable risk factors (e.g., sleep apnea, obesity), cognitive training interventions, studies of health and wellness, and behavioral interventions.

Caregiver Support:  Research intended to enhance the role of the caregiver for individuals living with the common symptoms or deficits of TBI and AD/ADRD.  Examples of research in this Focus Area include:  Caregiver training, home-based support, behavioral interventions, and relationship interventions.

Epidemiological Research:  Research focusing on the incidence, distribution, and other factors relating to the health of individuals affected by TBI and subsequent AD/ADRD.

Novel Target Identification:  Basic research (non-human) directly leading to the identification of new targets for the development of existing or new investigational medicines, drugs, or agents.

Nonpharmacological Interventions:  Research into non-medication-based interventions to improve quality of life or caregiving for those living with AD/ADRD.

The following is a summary of the FY18 PRARP Program Announcements.  Four award mechanisms will be offered for FY18.  This pre-announcement should not be construed as an obligation by the Government.

http://cdmrp.army.mil/pubs/press/2018/18prarppreann

Convergence Science Research Award

Principal Investigators (PIs) at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent).

Intent:  Support efforts to generate research resources, tools, or novel research efforts for researchers and/or practitioners in health sciences.

Applications must address one or more of the following FY18 PRARP Overarching Challenges:

·        Paucity of Research Resources

·        Paucity of Clinical Studies

·        Diagnostic Technologies, Tests, Biomarkers, or Devices

·        Epidemiology

Applications should address at least one of the following FY18 PRARP Focus Areas:

·        Mechanisms of Pathogenesis

·        Biomarkers

·        Epidemiological Research

·        Novel Target Identification

Research considering pharmacologic interventions is specifically discouraged under this mechanism.

Preliminary data, while not required, are encouraged.

• Maximum funding is $500,000 for direct costs (plus indirect costs).
• Maximum period of performance is 3 years.
• Indirect costs may be proposed in accordance with the institution’s rate agreement.

Quality of Life Research Award (QUAL)

PIs at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent).

Intent:  The intent of the QUAL mechanism is to support preclinical, basic, epidemiological, or quality-of-life research to alleviate or characterize the common symptoms of TBI and AD/ADRD.

Applications must address one or more of the following FY18 PRARP Overarching Challenges:

·        Paucity of Clinical Studies

·        Epidemiology

·        Quality of Life

·        Caregiver Support

Applications should address at least one of the following FY18 PRARP Focus Areas:

·        Biomarkers

·        Quality of Life

·        Caregiver Support

·        Nonpharmacological Interventions

·        Epidemiological Research

Research considering pharmacologic interventions is specifically discouraged under this mechanism.

Preliminary data, while not required, are encouraged.

• Funding limit is $500,000 in direct costs.
• Maximum period of performance is 3 years.
• Indirect costs may be proposed in accordance with the institution’s rate agreement.

New Investigator Award

The PI must be an independent, early-career investigator within 3 years of his/her first independent faculty position (or equivalent).

Intent:  Support early-career investigators interested in novel research efforts or new technologies within TBI and AD/ADRD.

Applications must address one or more of the following FY18 PRARP Overarching Challenges:

·        Paucity of Research Resources

·        Paucity of Clinical Studies

·        Diagnostic Technologies, Tests, Biomarkers, or Devices

·        Epidemiology

·        Quality of Life

·        Caregiver Support

Applications should address at least one of the following FY18 PRARP Focus Areas:

·        Mechanisms of Pathogenesis

·        Biomarkers

·        Quality of Life

·        Caregiver Support

·        Epidemiological Research

·        Novel Target Identification

·        Nonpharmacological Interventions

Research considering pharmacologic interventions is specifically discouraged under this mechanism.

Preliminary data, while not required, are encouraged.

• Funding limit is $225,000 in direct costs.
• Maximum period of performance is 3 years.
• Indirect costs may be proposed in accordance with the institution’s rate agreement.

Research Partnership Award

The PI must be an independent investigator at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent).

Intent:  To create an avenue for partnerships between investigators to address a research problem or question in a manner that would be unachievable through separate efforts.

Applications must include clearly stated plans for interactions between the partners. The plans must include communication, coordination of research progress and results, and data sharing between all investigators and organizations participating in the project.

Applications must address one or more of the following FY18 PRARP Overarching Challenges:

·        Paucity of Research Resources

·        Paucity of Clinical Studies

·        Diagnostic Technologies, Tests, Biomarkers, or Devices

·        Epidemiology

·        Quality of Life

·        Caregiver Support

Applications should address at least one of the following FY18 PRARP Focus Areas:

·        Mechanisms of Pathogenesis

·        Biomarkers

·        Quality of Life

·        Caregiver Support

·        Epidemiological Research

·        Novel Target Identification

·        Nonpharmacological Interventions

Research considering pharmacologic interventions is specifically discouraged under this mechanism.

Preliminary data are required.

·        Funding limit is $1.3M in total costs.

·        Maximum period of performance is 3 years.

·        Indirect costs may be proposed in accordance with the institution’s rate agreement.

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 PRARP 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