Monthly Archives: May 2019

US Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC) Accelerating Innovation in Military Medicine (AIMM)

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As directed by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, the Defense Health Agency (DHA) Research and Development Directorate J9 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 FY19 AIMM Program Announcement and General Application Instructions for the following award mechanism are posted on Grants.gov.

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

  • Algorithms/tools for decision support in a deployed or operational environment to: diagnose military-relevant disease, illness, or injury; prescribe mitigation and treatment strategies; and/or determine risk of Warfighter return to duty.
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI)/deep learning for integrating heterogeneous data streams and analyzing data from wearables to support making informed healthcare decisions. Wearable sensor systems may pertain to, but are not limited to, the following or combinations of the following: infectious disease diagnosis; physiologic status monitoring; informing real-time casualty location and triage; and/or environmental monitoring.
  • AI/deep learning for analyzing and interrogating large medical data sets to: identify patterns/predictors of disease, illness, or injury; and/or identify treatment outcomes.

Additional information can be found at the CDMRP site.

AIMM Research Award – Preproposal due July 26, 2019

Independent investigators at all academic levels (or equivalent)

  • Supports highly creative and conceptually innovative high-risk research with the potential to accelerate critical discoveries or major advancements that will significantly impact military health and medicine; not intended to support incremental advances on previous or ongoing work.
  • Supports applied research efforts that initiate or enhance potential game-changers that may not be supported by other funding mechanisms or core programs.
  • Applications must address at least one of the FY19 Focus Areas, which include algorithms/tools for decision support in a deployed or operational environment, and AI/deep learning for integrating heterogeneous data streams and analyzing data from wearables to support making informed healthcare decisions, as well as for analyzing and interrogating large medical data sets
  • Cross-cutting, broadly applicable projects with the potential to benefit multiple DoD medical research program areas are highly encouraged.
  • Presentation of preliminary data is not required, though not prohibited. 
  • Maximum funding of $350,000 for direct costs (plus indirect costs)
  • Maximum period of performance is 18 months

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 Announcement 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 USAMRMC 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 Announcement is 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 other CDMRP-administered programs, please visit the CDMRP website (https://cdmrp.army.mil).

Department of Defense Vision Research Program Funding Opportunities for Fiscal Year 2019 (FY19)

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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).

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

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

Focused Translational Team Science Award (FTTSA) – Preproposal due August 6, 2019

  • The overall Principal Investigator (PI) must be an independent investigator at or above the level of Associate Professor (or equivalent) with demonstrated success in leading large collaborative research project(s).
  • Leaders of individual projects may be independent investigators at all academic levels (or equivalent).
  • The overall lead PI is required to devote a minimum of 20% effort to this award.

Preproposal is required; application submission is by invitation only.

  • Supports a highly collaborative and translational team initiative that will fundamentally advance the understanding and treatment of eye injury and/or visual dysfunction that result from a military-relevant trauma.
  • Must address one or more of the FY19 VRP Focus Areas.
  • Applications shall include at least three but no more than five distinct research projects that together form a concerted and synergistic effort to address an overarching challenge.
  • Preliminary data required for each individual project.
  • One of the projects may include a pilot clinical trial where limited clinical testing of a novel intervention is conducted to inform the feasibility, rationale, and design of subsequent clinical trials.
  • 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) – Preproposal due August 6, 2019

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 of eye injury and/or visual dysfunction as related to military-relevant trauma.
  • Must address one or more of the FY19 VRP Focus Areas.
  • Funding Level 1 supports exploratory, high-risk/high-reward research in the earliest stages of development. No preliminary data is required.
  • Funding Level 2 supports the advancement of more mature research toward clinical translation. Preliminary data required.  
  • It is the responsibility of the applicant to select the funding level that is most appropriate for the research proposed. The funding level should be selected based on the stage and maturity of the research, 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) – Preproposal due August 6, 2019

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 Investigational New Drug (IND)/Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) application will be submitted during or by the end of the period of performance.
  • Must address one or more of the FY19 VRP Focus Areas.
  • Preliminary data required. 
  • May include a pilot clinical trial component where limited clinical limited clinical testing of a novel intervention is conducted to inform 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 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 VRP or other CDMRP-administered programs, please visit the CDMRP website (https://cdmrp.army.mil).

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

NSF Demographic Information Site has Moved from Fastlane to Research.gov

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Please be advised that effective May 20, 2019, the Demographic Information site has moved from FastLane to the Research.gov Account Management site, so you can manage your profile data in one location.

Here’s what you need to know:

  • Demographic information previously entered on the FastLane site was migrated to “My Profile” in Research.gov. 
  • To view or edit your demographic information:
    • Sign in to Research.gov and click on “My Profile” located at the top of the screen.
    • Demographic information is located on your “View/Edit Profile” page. 
    • Scroll down to the Demographic Information section at the bottom of your profile to view the demographic information you previously provided in FastLane or to update your demographic information.
  • Submission of the requested demographic information is voluntary. NSF asks for demographic data relating to gender, ethnicity/race, and disability status to gauge whether our programs and other opportunities in science and technology are fairly reaching and benefiting everyone regardless of demographic category; and to ensure that those in underrepresented groups have the same knowledge of and access to programs, meetings, vacancies, and other research and educational opportunities as everyone else.

Screenshots of the new Research.gov Demographic Information section are available in the Account Management Guide, and new questions have been added to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). Additional Account Management resources are accessible from the Research.gov About Account Management page.

Department of Defense Peer Reviewed Orthopaedic Research Program – Funding Opportunities for Fiscal Year 2019 (FY19)

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The Fiscal Year 2019 (FY19) Defense Appropriation provides $30 million (M) to the Department of Defense Peer Reviewed Orthopaedic Research Program (PRORP) to support the most significant gaps in care for the leading burden of injury and for facilitating return to duty by funding innovative, high-impact, clinically relevant research to advance optimal treatment and rehabilitation from musculoskeletal injuries sustained during combat and combat-related activities. 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 PRORP Program Announcements and General Application Instructions for the following award mechanisms are posted on the Grants.gov. The PRORP will solicit research applications that specifically address at least one of the following FY19 Focus Areas:

1. Compartment Syndrome Models: Diagnostic and/or treatment strategies developed in a large animal model that replicates compartment syndrome. Model system should be clinically relevant and scientifically reproducible.

2. Limb Stabilization and Protection: Development of rapid limb stabilization and novel wound protectants for severely wounded limbs to enable transport at the point of need.

3. Retention on Duty Strategies: Development and/or optimization of battlefield-feasible diagnostic capabilities, decision support tools, interventions, and/or rehabilitation strategies that can facilitate retention on duty for common combat-related musculoskeletal injuries. (Biomarker studies are excluded.)

4. Skin-implant Interface: Identification of best practices to address infection at the skin-implant interface for osseointegrated prosthetic limbs.

5. Translation of Early Findings: Translation of early research findings in orthopaedic surgical care topic areas (volumetric muscle loss, compartment syndrome, and soft tissue trauma) to move the research toward clinical trials and clinical practice.

6. Tissue Regeneration Therapeutics: Development of advanced tissue regeneration therapeutics in nerve, muscle, and/or composite tissue for the restoration of traumatically injured extremities (excludes isolated bone tissue engineering studies).

The following FY19 PRORP award mechanisms are planned for release (note that Focus Area requirements vary by award mechanism):

Additional information can be found here: https://cdmrp.army.mil/funding/prorp

  • Applied Research Award- Preproposal is due June 26, 2019
  • Independent investigators at all academic levels (or equivalent)
  • Pre-application is required; full application submission is by invitation only.
  • Supports applied research applications focused on advancing optimal treatment and restoration of function for military personnel with musculoskeletal injuries sustained during combat or combat-related activities.
  • Proposed research should be supported by preliminary data and have the potential to make significant advancements toward clinical translation.
  • Clinical trials are not allowed under this award mechanism.
  • Applications must address one the following FY19 PRORP Focus Areas: o Compartment Syndrome Models o Limb Stabilization and Protection o Retention on Duty Strategies o Skin Implant Interface
  • Maximum funding of $750,000 for total costs (direct plus indirect costs).
  • Maximum period of performance is 3 years.
  • Clinical Trial Award – Preproposal due June 26, 2029
  • Independent investigators at all academic levels (or equivalent) Pre-application is required; full application submission is by invitation only.
  • Supports rapid implementation of clinical trials with the potential to have a major impact on military combat-related orthopaedic injuries or non-battle injuries that significantly impact unit readiness and return-to-duty/work rates.
  • Funding must support a clinical trial and may not be used for preclinical research studies.
  • Collaboration with military researchers and clinicians is encouraged.
  • Investigational New Drug or Investigational Device Exemption applications, if needed, should be submitted to the Food and Drug Administration within 6 months of the award date. 
  • Applications must address one the following FY19 PRORP Focus Areas:
    • Limb Stabilization and Protection o Retention on Duty Strategies
    • Translation of Early Findings 
    • Volumetric Muscle Loss
    • Compartment Syndrome
    • Soft Tissue Trauma
  • Funding Level 1:
  • Maximum funding of $2.5M for total costs (includes direct and indirect costs)
  • Maximum period of performance is 4 years.
  • Funding Level 2:
  • (Translation of Early Findings – Soft Tissue Trauma Focus Area with Rehabilitation Option):
  • Maximum funding of $3M maximum total costs and indirect costs • Maximum period of performance is 4 years.
  • Clinical Translational Research Award – Preproposal due June 26, 2019
  • Independent investigators at all academic levels (or equivalent) Pre-application is required; full application submission is by invitation only.
  • Supports high-impact and/or emerging research that may or may not be ready for a full-scale, randomized, controlled clinical trial.
  • Funding must support clinical research studies involving humans. 
  • Preliminary or published data relevant to the proposed research project are required.
  • Collaboration with military researchers and clinicians is encouraged.
  • Investigational New Drug or Investigational Device Exemption applications, if needed, should be submitted to the Food and Drug Administration within 12 months of the award date.
  • Applications must address one the following FY19 PRORP Focus Areas: o Retention on Duty Strategies o Tissue Regeneration Therapeutics
  • Maximum funding of $2M for total costs (includes direct and indirect 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 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 PRORP or other CDMRP-administered programs, please visit the CDMRP website (https://cdmrp.army.mil).

Sample Grant Applications, Summary Statements, and More

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If you are new to writing grant applications, sometimes seeing how someone else has presented their idea can help as you are developing your own application. With the gracious permission of successful investigators, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) makes available examples of funded R01, R03, R15, R21, SBIR/STTR, K, and F applications, summary statements, sharing plans, leadership plans, and more. When referencing these resources, it is important to remember:

  • These applications were developed using the application forms and instructions that were in effect at the time of their submission. Forms and instructions change regularly. Read and carefully follow the instructions in the funding opportunity announcement to which you are responding and the current application instructions carefully.
  • The best way to present your science may differ substantially from the approach taken by those who wrote the example applications. Seek feedback on your draft application from mentors and others.
  • Talk to an NIH program officer in your area of science for advice about the best type of grant program and the Institute or Center that might be interested in your idea.

Check out the NIAID’s Sample Applications and More