The FY19 Defense Appropriation 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 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) at the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC).

The OPORP is providing the information in this pre-announcement to allow investigators time to plan and develop applications.  FY19 OPORP Program Announcements and General Application Instructions for the following award mechanisms are anticipated to be posted on the Grants.gov website in May 2019.  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.

OPORP awards are 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 awards is to generate clinically useful evidence that will enhance and optimize patient outcomes.

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 FY19 Focus Areas.  The OPORP will solicit research applications that address at least one of the following FY19 Focus Areas:

• Orthotic or Prosthetic Device Form:  Understand patient outcomes through the analysis and characterization of variables related to the form of currently available clinical options such as device size, shape, material, and/or configurations.
• Orthotic or Prosthetic Device Fit:  Understand patient outcomes related to human-device interface and component connection through the analysis of variables in currently available clinical options that facilitate fit-related metrics such as comfort and/or usability.
• Orthotic or Prosthetic Device Function:  Understand patient outcomes through the analysis of variables related to currently available device function such as device control, sensors, and passive or active response with respect to activities of daily living and other real-world activities.

https://cdmrp.army.mil/pubs/press/2019/19oporppreann

Clinical Research Award

Independent investigators at all academic levels (or equivalent)

·      Funding Level 1 may support pilot research that has the potential to make significant advancement towards clinical translation. Preliminary data are allowed but not required.

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

·      Animal studies are not allowed.

·      Clinical trials are not allowed.

Funding Level 1:

·      Maximum funding of $350,000 for total costs

·      Maximum period of performance is 2 years

Funding Level 2:

·      Maximum funding of $1M for total costs

·      Maximum period of performance is 4 years

Clinical Trial Award

Independent investigators at all academic levels (or equivalent)

·      Funding Level 1 may support pilot clinical trials for exploratory studies involving limited human exposure with the potential to make significant advancement towards clinical translation. Preliminary data are allowed but not required.

·      Funding Level 2 supports rapid implementation of clinical trials with the potential to make significant impacts on improving the health and well-being of Service members, Veterans, and other individuals with limb deficit.

·      Preclinical research is not allowed.

Funding Level 1:

·      Maximum funding of $350,000 for total costs

·      Maximum period of performance is 2 years

Funding Level 2:

·      Maximum funding of $2M for total costs

·      Maximum period of performance is 4 years

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 and other USAMRMC extramural funding opportunities can be obtained on the Grants.gov website by performing a basic search using CFDA Number 12.420. 

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 (https://cdmrp.army.mil).

Point of Contact:

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

The FY19 Defense Appropriation provides $30 million (M) to the Department of Defense Spinal Cord Injury Research Program (SCIRP)to support innovative, high-impact spinal cord injury research. As directed by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, the Defense Health Agency 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) at the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC).

FY19 SCIRP Program Announcements and General Application Instructions for the following award mechanisms are posted on the Grants.gov website.

For FY19, SCIRP encourages applications that address the critical needs of SCI research and patient care in one or more of the following FY19 Focus Areas:

• Neuroprotection
• Biomarkers
• Bladder dysfunction,  bowel dysfunction and neuropathic pain
• Psychosocial issues relevant to SCI in  individuals with SCI or their caregivers
• Rehabilitation and regeneration

https://cdmrp.army.mil/funding/scirp

Clinical Trial Award – Preproposal due May 29, 2019

Independent investigators at all academic levels (or equivalent)

·    Fund Phase 0, I, or II clinical trials with the potential to have a major impact on treatment or management of spinal cord injury (SCI) and its consequences.

·    Applications must include at least two SCI consumer advocates as members of the research team.

·    Preliminary data relevant to the proposed trial required for all clinical trial applications.

·    Pre-application required; application submission is by invitation only.

·    The maximum allowable funding for the entire period of performance is of $3, 000,000 for direct costs.

·    Indirect costs may be proposed in accordance with the institutions’ negotiated rate agreement.

·      The maximum period of performance is 4 years

Investigator-Initiated Research Award – Preproposal due May 29, 2019

Independent investigators at all academic levels (or equivalent)

·    Fund SCI-related research that has the potential to make an important contribution to SCI research and/or patient care, and/or quality of life.

·  Preliminary data required.

·  Clinical trials not allowed.

·  Pre-application required; application submission by invitation only.

·  The maximum allowable funding for the entire period of performance is $500,000 for direct costs.

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

·  The maximum period of performance is 3 years.

Translational Research Award – Preproposal due May 29, 2019

Independent investigators at all academic levels (or equivalent)

·      Fund studies that accelerate the movement of promising ideas in SCI research into clinical applications.

·      Applications must include at least one SCI consumer advocate as a member of the research team.

·      Preliminary data required

·      The SCIRP TRA may include a pilot clinical trial where limited clinical testing of a novel intervention or device is necessary to inform the next step in the continuum of translational research.

·      Pre-application required; application submission by invitation only.

·      The maximum allowable funding for the entire period of performance is $1,250,000 for direct costs.

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

·      The maximum period of performance is 3 years

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 available for electronic downloading from the Grants.gov website.  The application package containing the required forms for each award mechanism is also on Grants.gov.  A listing of all CDMRP and other USAMRMC extramural funding opportunities can be obtained on the Grants.gov website by performing a basic search using CFDA Number 12.420. 

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 SCIRP or other CDMRP-administered programs, please visit the CDMRP website (https://cdmrp.army.mil).

Point of Contact:

CDMRP Help Desk

301-682-5507
help@eBrap.org

The FY19 Defense Appropriation provides $7.5 million (M) to the Department of Defense Epilepsy Research Program (ERP) to understand the causative links between traumatic brain injury (TBI) and epilepsy so that post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE) will be both preventable and treatable.  As directed by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, the Defense Health Agency, 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) at the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC).

The ERP is providing the information in this pre-announcement to allow investigators time to plan and develop applications.  FY19 ERP Program Announcements and General Application Instructions for the following award mechanisms are anticipated to be posted on the Grants.gov website in May 2019.  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.

Applications should also address at least one of the ERP FY19 Focus Areas.  An application that proposes research outside of the FY19 Focus Areas is acceptable, as long as the applicant provides a strong rationale.  The Focus Areas will be mechanism-specific.

The ERP FY19 Focus Areas are as follows:

Basic Research: Tools intended to better inform or improve upon how post-traumatic epilepsy research can be performed:

• Hardware and/or software platforms that will improve seizure detection, characterization, or diagnosis
• Bioinformatics strategies, to include machine learning, that will improve access, annotation, curation and visualization of large and novel datasets from single or multiple sources
• Development of new models or better characterization of existing etiologically relevant models for PTE
• Improved characterization of the circuits involved in PTE

Markers and Mechanisms:  Identifying markers or mechanisms via preclinical models that address PTE, which may include the following:

• Biomarkers
• Therapeutic targets for epilepsy prevention
• Early detection
• Diagnosis
• Prognosis
• Comorbidity
• Mortality
• Risk stratification

Epidemiology:  Epidemiological characterization of PTE following TBI, which may include the following:

• Risk factors such as demographics, genetics, anatomy, pathology, or type of injury
• Differentiation of PTE and psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES)
• Outcomes including latency to epilepsy, comorbidities, and mortality
• Pre-existing conditions including psychological and psychiatric risk factors
• Treatment and healthcare outcomes research

Longitudinal Studies:  Studies of the natural evolution of PTE, which may include the following:

• Seizure frequency and severity
• Demographics, genetics, anatomy, pathology, or type of injury
• Comorbidities (e.g., depression, functional deficits, sleep disorders, major illness)
• Latency between type of injury and PTE
• Mortality
• Treatment and healthcare outcomes research
• Quality of life of individuals with PTE and their caregivers

https://cdmrp.army.mil/pubs/press/2019/19erppreann

Idea Development Award

Level I:  The Principal Investigator must be at or above the level of postdoctoral fellow (or equivalent), but below the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent).  

Level II:  The Principal Investigator must be an independent investigator at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent).

Intent:  The intent of the FY19 ERP IDA is to solicit novel, innovative research to understand the magnitude and underlying mechanisms of PTE.

·      Level I is intended to support high-risk or high-gain research from researchers at or above the level of a post-doctoral fellow (or equivalent). 

·      Level II is intended to support a more mature, hypothesis-driven research project.

The following Focus Areas are open to both Levels I and II:

·      Basic Research

·      Epidemiology

·      Markers and Mechanisms

·      Longitudinal Studies

·      Preliminary data, while not required, are encouraged for both levels.

·      Research considering a pharmacologic intervention is specifically discouraged under this mechanism.

Level I:

·      Maximum funding of $300,000 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.

Level II:

·      Maximum funding of $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.

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 collaborative research partnerships between/among investigators to address a research problem or question in a manner that would be unachievable through separate efforts. 

·      Level I is intended to support preclinical or pre-validation research

·      Level II is intended to support research requiring access to a patient cohort for a prospective study.

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.

The following Focus Areas are open to both Levels I and II:

·      Epidemiology

·      Markers and Mechanisms

·     Longitudinal Studies

·     Preliminary data are required

·     Research considering a pharmacologic intervention is specifically discouraged under this mechanism.

Level I:

·      Maximum funding of $1.3M for total costs.

·      Maximum period of performance is 3 years.

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

Level II:

·      Maximum funding of $2.0M in total costs.

·      Maximum period of performance is 4 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 and other USAMRMC extramural funding opportunities can be obtained on the Grants.gov website by performing a basic search using CFDA Number 12.420. 

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 ERP or other CDMRP-administered programs, please visit the CDMRP website (https://cdmrp.army.mil).

Point of Contact:

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

The FY19 Defense Appropriation 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, 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) at the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC).

The PRARP is providing the information in this pre-announcement to allow investigators time to plan and develop applications.  FY19 PRARP Program Announcements and General Application Instructions for the following award mechanisms are anticipated to be posted on the Grants.gov website in May 2019.  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.

FY19 PRARP Overarching Challenges and Focus Areas:

All applications for FY19 PRARP Program Announcements must address at least one of the following FY19 Overarching Challenges.  The FY19 Overarching Challenges will be award mechanism-specific. 

FY19 PRARP Overarching Challenges are listed below.

PRARP FY19 Overarching Challenges
Paucity of Research Resources:  The paucity of research resources and models to examine the interrelationship between TBI and subsequent AD/ADRD for the military, Veteran, and civilian communities and translate these findings
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
Diagnostics and Prognostics:  The need for technologies, tests, surveys, questionnaires, devices, biomarkers, or analyses to detect TBI and sequelae to include AD/ADRD utilizing new and/or pre-existing datasets
Epidemiology:  The paucity of epidemiological research to examine the interrelationship between TBI, risk and resiliency factors, and subsequent AD/ADRD for the military, Veteran, and civilian communities
Quality of Life:  The need for technologies, assessments, interventions, or devices to benefit individuals living with the common symptoms of TBI and/or AD/ADRD
Family and Care Support:  The need for technologies, assessments, interventions, or devices that enhance the lives of those providing care and families of individuals living with the common symptoms of TBI and/or AD/ADRD

In addition to addressing one or more of the specified FY19 Overarching Challenges, applications should also address at least one of the following FY19 Focus Areas in support of the FY19 Overarching Challenges.  An application that proposes research outside of the FY19 Focus Areas is acceptable, as long as the applicant provides a strong rationale.  The Focus Areas will be award mechanism-specific.

The PRARP FY19 Focus Areas are listed below.

PRARP FY19 Focus Areas

Mechanisms of Pathogenesis:  Identification of contributing mechanisms to include circuit dysfunction associated with TBI and subsequent AD/ADRD

Biomarkers:  Development of methods to diagnose, prognose, or characterize neurological changes or risk/resiliency factors associated with TBI and subsequent AD/ADRD

Quality of Life:  Research intended to alleviate, stabilize, or characterize the symptoms, or deficits, common to TBI and AD/ADRD

Family and Caregiver Support: Research intended to reduce the burden of care on the caregivers or families of individuals living with the common symptoms or deficits of TBI and AD/ADRD

Epidemiology:  Utilize new and existing studies and datasets to examine the relationships between risk and resiliency factors for TBI and subsequent AD/ADRD

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

Nonpharmacological Interventions and Devices:  Research into non-medication-based interventions and devices to improve quality of life or caregiving for those living with the common symptoms of TBI and AD/ADRD

Bioinformatics:  Tools, including machine learning, to access, annotate, curate, store, and visualize large existing or novel datasets, e.g., multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), other imaging techniques, surveys, questionnaires, and diagnostics for TBI and subsequent AD/ADRD

The following is a summary of the FY19 PRARP Program Announcements.  Three award mechanisms will be offered for FY19. 

https://cdmrp.army.mil/pubs/press/2019/19prarppreann

Convergence Science Research Award

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

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

• Funding Level I is intended to support early-career investigators within 3 years of their first independent faculty position, from any field or discipline.
• Funding Level II is intended to support PIs at or above the level of assistant professor (or equivalent) from any field or discipline.

Applications must address one or more of the following FY19 PRARP Overarching Challenges:

·       Paucity of Research Resources

·       Paucity of Clinical Studies

·       Diagnostics and Prognostics

·       Epidemiology

Applications should address at least one of the following FY19 PRARP Focus Areas:

·       Mechanisms of Pathogenesis

·       Biomarkers

·       Epidemiology

·       Novel Target Identification

·       Bioinformatics

Research considering pharmacologic interventions is specifically discouraged under this mechanism.

Preliminary data, while not required, are encouraged.Level II:  The PI must be an independent investigator at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent).

Level I:

·      Maximum funding of $225,000 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.

Level II:

·      Maximum funding of $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.

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 and other USAMRMC extramural funding opportunities can be obtained on the Grants.gov website by performing a basic search using CFDA Number 12.420. 

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 (https://cdmrp.army.mil).

Point of Contact:

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

The FY19 Defense Appropriation provides $22 million (M) to the Department of Defense Gulf War Illness Research Program (GWIRP)to support research addressing Gulf War Illness pathobiology, diagnosis, and treatment.  As directed by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, the Defense Health Agency 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) at the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC).

The GWIRP is providing the information in this pre-announcement to allow investigators time to plan and develop applications.  FY19 GWIRP Program Announcements and General Application Instructions for the following award mechanisms are anticipated to be posted on the Grants.gov website in May 2019.  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.

 

https://cdmrp.army.mil/pubs/press/2019/19gwirppreann

Idea Award

Independent investigators at all academic levels

·        Preproposal is required; application submission is by invitation only.

·        Supports high-risk/high-reward research in the earliest stages of development that will contribute to markers or treatments for Gulf War illness (GWI).

·        Emphasis is on impact and innovation; applications must articulate the pathway to making a clinical impact for Veterans with GWI, even if a clinical impact is not an immediate outcome.

·        Preliminary data not required.

·        Biorepository Contribution Option supports additional costs associated with submission of samples and data to the GWIRP supported Boston Biorepository, Recruitment, and Integrative Network (BBRAIN).

·        Clinical trials not allowed.

·       Maximum funding of $150,000 for direct costs (plus indirect costs)

·       Biorepository Contribution Option: additional direct costs up to $20,000

·       Maximum period of performance is 2 years

 

Idea Development Award

Independent investigators at all academic levels

·        Preproposal is required; application submission is by invitation only.

·        Supports applied research in GWI that is aimed at continued expansion and validation of markers and treatments that are supported by evidence in the GWI field. 

·        Preliminary data and/or strong rationale required.

·        Biorepository Contribution Option supports additional costs associated with submission of samples and data to the GWIRP supported Boston Biorepository, Recruitment, and Integrative Network (BBRAIN).

·        Clinical trials are not allowed.

·       Maximum funding of $700,000 for direct costs (plus indirect costs)

·       Biorepository Contribution Option: additional direct costs up to $20,000

·       Maximum period of performance is 3 years

 

Clinical Evaluation Award

Independent investigators at all academic levels

·       Preproposal is required; application submission is by invitation only.

·       Supports small, proof-of-concept trials (pilot, first in human, Phase I-IIa), clinical trials, or larger statistically powered biomarker trials with the potential to have a significant impact on GWI.

·       Preliminary data required.

·       Biorepository Contribution Option supports additional costs associated with submission of samples and data to the GWIRP supported Boston Biorepository, Recruitment, and Integrative Network (BBRAIN).

·       Clinical Consortium Collaboration Option supports additional costs associated with collaboration with the Gulf War Illness Clinical Trials and Interventions Consortium (GWICTIC).

·      Maximum funding of $1,000,000 for direct costs (plus indirect costs)

·       Biorepository Contribution Option: additional direct costs up to $20,000

·       Clinical Consortium Collaboration Option: additional direct costs up to $200,000

·       Maximum period of performance is 3 years

 

Therapeutic/Biomarker Trial Award

Independent investigators at all academic levels

·       Supports large-scale, pivotal (Phase IIb or III) trials that revolutionize the clinical management of GWI.

·         Objective pharmacodynamic biomarkers to measure the biological effect of an investigational therapeutic or predictive/cohort-selective biomarkers that indicate whether a specific therapy will be effective in Veterans with GWI must be included in the trial design.

·       Substantial preliminary data in a GWI Veteran population required.

·       Investigators must have experience in successfully leading large-scale projects and demonstrated the ability to implement a clinical project successfully.

·       Biorepository Contribution Option supports additional costs associated with submission of samples and data to the GWIRP supported Boston Biorepository, Recruitment, and Integrative Network (BBRAIN).

·       Clinical Consortium Collaboration Option supports additional costs associated with collaboration with the GWIRP supported Gulf War Illness Clinical Trials and Interventions Consortium (GWICTIC).

·       Funding must be used to support a clinical trial.

·      Maximum funding of $5,000,000 for direct costs (plus indirect costs)

·       Biorepository Contribution Option: additional direct costs up to $20,000

·       Clinical Consortium Collaboration Option: additional direct costs up to $500,000

·       Maximum period of performance is 4 years

 

Patient-Provider and Health Communications Award

Independent investigators at or above the level of Assistant Professor

·       Preproposal is required; application submission is by invitation only.

·       Supports development of strategies to effectively communicate GWI research and clinical recommendations to public health professionals, policymakers, healthcare providers, Veterans with GWI, caregivers, or advocacy groups.

·       Maintenance and sustainment of the dissemination effort for continued awareness of GWI research and clinical findings to diverse audiences is an important review criterion.

·       Must include a consumer GWI advocate, who will be integral throughout the planning and implementation of the research project.

·       Clinical trials are not allowed.

·      Maximum funding of $700,000 for direct costs (plus indirect costs)

·      Maximum period of performance is 3 years

 

New Investigator Award

Transitioning Postdoctoral Fellow: Senior postdoctoral fellows with at least 3 years of postdoctoral training

Early-Career Investigator:Independent investigators within 5 years of last training position

New GWI Researcher:Established independent investigators who have received less than $300,000 in federally funded, non-mentored GWI research

·      Preproposal is required; application submission is by invitation only.

·      Encourages applications from early-stage and established investigators new to the field of GWI research.

·      Previous experience in GWI research is not required; however, collaborations with experienced GWI researchers is strongly encouraged.

·      Preliminary data are not required.

·       Biorepository Contribution Option supports additional costs associated with submission of samples and data to the GWIRP supported Boston Biorepository, Recruitment, and Integrative Network (BBRAIN).

·       Clinical trials are not allowed.

·      Maximum funding of $500,000 for direct costs (plus indirect costs)

·      Biorepository Contribution Option: additional direct costs up to $20,000

·      The maximum period of performance is 3 years

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 and other USAMRMC extramural funding opportunities can be obtained on the Grants.gov website by performing a basic search using CFDA Number 12.420. 

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 GWIRP or other CDMRP-administered programs, please visit the CDMRP website (https://cdmrp.army.mil).

Point of Contact:

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

The FY19 Defense Appropriation provides $5 million (M) to the Department of Defense Lupus Research Program (LRP)to support that support the full spectrum of research projects or ideas that specifically focus on scientific and clinical lupus issues, which, if successfully addressed, have the potential to make a major impact in lupus research.  As directed by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, the Defense Health Agency 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) at the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC).

The LRP is providing the information in this pre-announcement to allow investigators time to plan and develop applications.  FY19 LRP Program Announcements and General Application Instructions for the following award mechanisms are anticipated to be posted on the Grants.gov website in April 2019.  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.

Applications submitted to the FY19 LRP must address at least one of the five Focus Areas listed below:

• Understand lupus disease heterogeneity in risk of disease, presentation, clinical course, and outcomes including, but not limited to, biopsychosocial studies, personalized medicine, variation in treatment and its effects on patient outcomes, health economics, socioeconomic studies, environmental studies, and epidemiological.
• Understand lupus disease heterogeneity including, but not limited to, progressive stages of lupus over time, strategies and technologies to subtype patients, and understanding lupus disease mechanisms. 
• Improve quality of life of life of patients with lupus.
• Understand how the underlying genetic components and gene environment interactions of lupus disease relate to clinical disease characteristics using functional genomic studies.
• Determine the pathobiology of lupus in target human tissues including, but not limited to, imaging studies, genomics of lupus disease in particular tissues, and metabolomics and how understanding the underlying pathobiology will improve quality of life of patients.

 

https://cdmrp.army.mil/pubs/press/2019/19lrppreann

 

 

Concept Award

Investigators at all academic levels

·        Preproposal is required; application submission is by invitation only.

·        Supports highly innovative, untested, potentially groundbreaking concepts in lupus research

·        Emphasis is on innovation

·        Clinical trials are not allowed

·        Preliminary data is not required

·       Maximum funding of $200,000 for total costs (direct plus indirect costs)

·       Maximum period of performance is 2 year

 

Impact Award

Investigators at or above Assistant Professor (or equivalent)

·        Preproposal is required; application submission is by invitation only.

·        Supports high-risk/high-reward research

·        Emphasis is on impact

·        Clinical trials are not allowed

·        Preliminary data is encouraged but not required

·       Maximum funding of $525,000 for total costs (direct plus indirect costs)

·       Maximum period of performance is 3 years

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 and other USAMRMC extramural funding opportunities can be obtained on the Grants.gov website by performing a basic search using CFDA Number 12.420. 

 

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 LRP or other CDMRP-administered programs, please visit the CDMRP website (https://cdmrp.army.mil).

Point of Contact:

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

The FY19 Defense Appropriation provides $10 million (M) to the Department of Defense (DoD) Melanoma Research Program (MRP)to support innovative, high-impact melanoma research. As directed by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, the Defense Health Agency 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) at the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC).

The MRP is providing the information in this pre-announcement to allow investigators time to plan and develop applications.  FY19 MRP Program Announcements and General Application Instructions for the following award mechanisms are anticipated to be posted on the Grants.gov website in May 2019.  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.

The FY19 MRP Focus Areas are listed below:

• Precursor Lesions, Melanomagenesis, Host Factors, and the Tumor Microenvironment (e.g., melanoma instigators, ultraviolet [UV] exposure, other instigators)
• Melanoma Primary Tumor Evolution (e.g., dormancy, heterogeneity, metabolism, epigenetic dysregulation, cell death)
• Therapeutic Prevention
• Minimal Residual Disease
• Rare Melanomas (e.g., uveal, acral, leptomeningeal disease, pediatric, adolescent and young adult [AYA], mucosal)

The MRP challenges the research community to redefine the concept of prevention and has issued a FY19 MRP Challenge Statement that should be considered when responding to the FY19 MRP Focus Areas and funding opportunities.

https://cdmrp.army.mil/pubs/press/2019/19mrppreann

Concept Award

Investigators at or above postdoctoral fellow (or equivalent)

·        Supports the exploration of highly innovative, untested, potentially groundbreaking concepts in melanoma.

·        Emphasis is on Innovation.

·        Preliminary data is strongly discouraged.

·        Clinical trials are not allowed.

·        Blinded review.

·       Maximum funding of $75,000 for direct costs (plus indirect costs)

·       Maximum period of performance is 1 year

 

Idea Award

Independent investigators with a faculty-level appointment (or equivalent)

·        Preproposal is required; application submission is by invitation only.

·        Supports new ideas that represent innovative, high-risk/high-gain approaches to melanoma research.

·        Emphasis on Innovation and Impact

·        Preliminary data are not required.

·        Clinical trials are not allowed.

·       Maximum funding of $300,000 for direct costs (plus indirect costs)

·       Maximum period of performance is 3 years

 

Team Science Award

At least two and up to three investigators must partner in one overarching multidisciplinary research study.

Initiating Principal Investigator (PI):

Independent investigators at or above the level of Associate Professor (or equivalent).

Partnering PI: Independent investigators at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent).

Post-doctoral fellows are not eligible to be partnering PIs.

·      Preproposal is required; application submission is by invitation only.

·      Supports new or existing partnerships between two or three independent investigators focusing research across the whole research spectrum.

·      Investigators are expected to demonstrate within the application, the synergistic components (i.e., leveraging disciplines, expertise or critical resources) that will significantly advance the project such that the research outcomes as a whole will be realized rapidly and efficiently and could not otherwise be accomplished through independent efforts of a single investigator.

·      Emphasis on Synergy, Multi-disciplinary research, and Impact

·      Inclusion of an independent early career investigator is encouraged.

·      Inclusion of at least one military or U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) investigator is encouraged.

·      Preliminary data are required.

·      Clinical trials are not allowed.

·      Maximum funding of $700,000 for direct costs (plus indirect costs)

·      Maximum period of performance is 3 years

 

Translational Research Award

Independent investigators at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent)

·      Preproposal is required; application submission is by invitation only.

·      Supports studies aiming to leverage existing biobanks, biorepositories, ongoing or completed clinical trials to address a translational question or problem in melanoma.

·      Emphasis on Translation and Impact.

·      Inclusion of DoD or VA participation is encouraged.

·      Preliminary data is required.

·      Clinical trials are not allowed.

·      Maximum funding of $600,000 for direct costs (plus indirect costs)

·      Maximum period of performance is 3 years

 

A pre-application (letter of intent or pre-proposal) 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 and other USAMRMC extramural funding opportunities can be obtained on the Grants.gov website by performing a basic search using CFDA Number 12.420. 

 

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 MRP or other CDMRP-administered programs, please visit the CDMRP website (https://cdmrp.army.mil).

Point of Contact:

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

The FY19 Defense Appropriation provides $3 million (M) to the Department of Defense Bone Marrow Failure Research Program (BMFRP)to support scientifically meritorious research focused on BMF diseases.  As directed by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, the Defense Health Agency 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) at the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC).

FY19 BMFRP Program Announcement and General Application Instructions for the following award mechanism are posted on the Grants.gov website.

https://cdmrp.army.mil/funding/bmfrp

 

Idea Development Award – Preproposal due date June 6, 2019

Established Investigators: 

• Independent investigators at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent) and 10 years or more from first faculty appointment (or equivalent) at the time of the application submission deadline are eligible.

Early Career Investigators:

• Investigators at the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent) and less than 10 years from his/her first faculty appointment (or equivalent) at the time of application submission deadline are eligible.

 

·         Pre-application is required; full application submission is by invitation only.

·         Supports innovative ideas and high-impact approaches based on scientifically sound evidence in order to move toward the vision to understand and cure bone marrow failure (BMF) diseases.

·         Strong BMF research team.

·         May include relevant preliminary data.

• Clinical trials will not be supported.

·         The maximum allowable funding for the entire period of performance is $325,000 in direct costs (plus indirect costs).

• The maximum period of performance is 2 years

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 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 and other USAMRMC extramural funding opportunities can be obtained on the Grants.gov website by performing a basic search using CFDA Number 12.420. 

 

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 BMFRP or other CDMRP-administered programs, please visit the CDMRP website (https://cdmrp.army.mil).

Point of Contact:

CDMRP Help Desk
301-682-5507
help@eBrap.org

The FY19 Defense Appropriation provides $20 million (M) to the Department of Defense Vision Research Program (VRP)to support impactful military-relevant vision research.  As directed by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, the Defense Health Agency 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) at the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC).

The VRP is providing the information in this pre-announcement to allow investigators time to plan and develop applications.  FY19 VRP Program Announcements and General Application Instructions for the following award mechanisms are anticipated to be posted on the Grants.gov website in May 2019.  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.

Applications submitted to the FY19 VRP must address at least one of the following Focus Areas:

• Eye injury or visual dysfunction as related to a military-relevant traumatic event.  Examples of military-relevant trauma may include, but are not limited to:

○        Blast, blunt, thermal, or chemical trauma

○        Trauma caused by directed energy weapons such as laser, microwaves, and particle beams

• Diagnosis and treatment of eye injuries in austere environments and prolonged field care settings

https://cdmrp.army.mil/pubs/press/2019/19vrppreann

Focused Translational Team Science Award (FTTSA)

·         Overall Lead Principal Investigator (PI) must be an independent investigator at or above the level of Associate Professor (or equivalent) with experience in developing and running large-scale initiatives.

·         Leaders of individual projects may be independent investigators at all academic levels (or equivalent).

Preproposal is required; application submission is by invitation only.

·        Supports a team initiative that leverages the strengths of investigators specializing in different fields to address an overarching scientific challenge or question and fundamentally advance the understanding and treatment of military-relevant vision trauma.

·        Overarching Challenge

Investigators are encouraged to:

○        Consider barrier(s) to and/or gap(s) in the understanding, prevention, diagnosis, mitigation, and/or treatment of eye injury or visual dysfunction associated with a military-relevant trauma and envision what may be achievable in 10 to 15 years.

○        Identify, based on the long-term vision, what should and can be achieved in the near term.

○        Design projects and research teams around these considerations.

·        Research Projects

○        The team science proposal shall include at least three (3) but no more than five (5) distinct research projects that together form a concerted and synergistic effort that advances a solution beyond what would be possible through individual efforts.

○        Preliminary data to support the feasibility of each project are required.

○        May include, as a portion of the proposed research, a pilot clinical trial component that collects preliminary data to support the feasibility, rationale, and design of subsequent clinical trials.

·        Research Team

○        The overall lead PI must have demonstrated success in leading large collaborative research projects.

○        The overall lead PI must devote a minimum of 20% effort.

○        Project leader of each of the complementary and synergistic research projects must be an independent investigator with strong qualifications.

○        Must have a detailed Implementation Plan for participating research groups to coordinate efforts, facilitate collaboration, and create synergy

○        Maximum funding of $5,000,000 for direct costs (plus indirect costs)

○        The maximum period of performance is 4 years.

 

Investigator-Initiated Research Award (IIRA)

Independent investigators at all academic levels (or equivalent).

Preproposal is required; application submission is by invitation only.

·        Supports studies that will yield highly impactful discoveries or major advancements in research and/or patient care.

·        Funding Level 1supports exploratory, high-risk/high-reward research in the earliest stages of development.

○        Research must have the potential to yield new avenues of investigation, such as new approaches, new research tools, or new paradigms.

○        While no preliminary data is required, applicants must provide solid rationale of the research idea.  The investigating team must have sufficient expertise to test the idea.

○        Applications in the following areas are encouraged:

–        Pathobiology underlying TBI-associated visual dysfunction

–        Assessment, diagnosis, or treatment in prolonged field care settings

–        Mechanism of injury for visual system trauma secondary to directed energy

·        Funding Level 2supports the advancement of more mature research that has the potential to make significant advancements toward clinical translation.

○        Preliminary data supporting the readiness and feasibility of the proposed research is required. 

·        PI is responsible for selecting the funding level that is most appropriate for the research proposed.  The funding level should be selected based on the stage of the research project, rather than the amount of the budget.

·        Clinical trials are not allowed

Funding Level 1:

·         Maximum funding of $260,000 for direct costs (plus indirect costs)

·         The maximum period of performance is 2 years.

 

Funding Level 2:

·         Maximum funding of $500,000 for direct costs (plus indirect costs)

·         The maximum period of performance is 3 years.

 

Translational Research Award (TRA)

Independent investigators at all academic levels (or equivalent).

Preproposal is required; application submission is by invitation only.

·        Supports translational research that moves promising laboratory research into clinical applications.

·        It is expected that an IND or IDE application will be submitted during or by the end of the period of performance.

·        Expansion of a highly impactful research project that was previously funded through a VRP funding opportunity is encouraged but not required.

·        Preliminary data required.

·        May include, as a portion of the proposed research, a pilot clinical trial component that collects preliminary data to support the feasibility, rationale, and design of subsequent clinical trials.

·         Maximum funding of $750,000 for direct costs (plus indirect costs)

·         The maximum period of performance is 3 years

 

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 and other USAMRMC extramural funding opportunities can be obtained on the Grants.gov website by performing a basic search using CFDA Number 12.420. 

 

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 VRP or other CDMRP-administered programs, please visit the CDMRP website (https://cdmrp.army.mil).

Point of Contact:

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

The FY19 Defense Appropriation provides $6 million (M) to the Department of Defense Multiple Sclerosis Research Program (MSRP) to support pioneering concepts and high-impact research that are relevant to the prevention, etiology, pathogenesis, assessment, and treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) to ultimately lessen its personal and societal impact.  As directed by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, the Defense Health Agency 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) at the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC).

 

FY19 MSRP Program Announcements and General Application Instructions for the following award mechanisms are posted on the Grants.gov website.

 

Applications submitted to the FY19 MSRP must address at least one of the following Focus Areas:

1.            Factors That Promote Central Nervous System Regenerative Potential in Demyelination

Supports innovative mechanistic studies and translational approaches to promote axonal protection, regeneration, or remyelination in MS and/or relevant experimental models. 

Note:  Studies addressing the following topics will not be considered for funding: developmental myelination, dysmyelination, blood-brain barrier permeability, basic mechanisms of demyelination, neurodegeneration, or inflammatory mechanisms and anti-inflammatory therapeutic strategies that limit tissue injury secondarily.

2.            Correlates of Disease Activity and Progression in MS

Supports the identification and/or validation of correlates of disease activity and progression using pre-existing specimens and/or data acquired from well-characterized, adequately controlled, and sufficiently powered patient cohorts.

Note:  The study must leverage pre-existing specimens and/or data that are available at the time of application submission; collection of a single set of specimens and/or data collected at one additional time point from participants in the existing cohort is allowed.

3.            Biology and Measurement of MS Symptoms

Supports studies on the biology and measurement of MS symptoms, which may include pain, fatigue, depression, anxiety, loss of bladder control, impaired mobility, and cognitive, motor, visual, or sexual dysfunction. 

Note:  Studies of disease-modifying or regenerative therapies that secondarily impact MS symptoms will not be considered for funding under this Focus Area.

 

https://cdmrp.army.mil/funding/msrp

 

 

Exploration – Hypothesis Development Award - Preproposal is due May 21, 2019

Independent investigators at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent)

*         Pre-application submission is required; application submission is by invitation only.

*         Supports initial exploration of innovative, high-risk, high-gain, and potentially groundbreaking concepts in the MS research field.

*         Preliminary and/or published data not required.

*         Clinical trials are not allowed.

*         Anticipated that budgets will not exceed $150,000 in direct costs (plus indirect costs)

*          Period of performance not to exceed 2 years.

 

Investigator-Initiated Research Award - Preproposal is due May 21, 2019

Independent investigators at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent)

*         Pre-application submission is required; application submission is by invitation only.

*         Supports highly rigorous, high-impact research projects that have the potential to make an important contribution to multiple sclerosis (MS) research and/or patient care.

*         Preliminary and/or published data are required.

*         Clinical trials not allowed.

*         Anticipated that budgets will not exceed $600,000 in direct costs (plus indirect costs)

*         Period of performance not to exceed 3 years.

 

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 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 and other USAMRMC extramural funding opportunities can be obtained on the Grants.gov website by performing a basic search using CFDA Number 12.420. 

 

For email notification when Program Announcements are released, subscribe to program-specific news and updates under “Email Subscriptions” on the eBRAP home page at https://eBRAP.org.  For more information about the MSRP or other CDMRP-administered programs, please visit the CDMRP website https://cdmrp.army.mil.

 

Point of Contact:

 

CDMRP Help Desk

301-682-5507

help@eBrap.org