CDMRP PRMRP Research Award for Emerging Viral Diseases and Respiratory Health – INVESTIGATOR-INITIATED

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All applications for this Program Announcement must specifically address at least one of the following Focus Areas and must be of clear scientific merit and direct relevance to military health. If the proposed research does not specifically address at least one of these Focus Areas, the Government will administratively withdraw the application. The FY20 PRMRP Focus Areas for Emerging Viral Diseases and Respiratory Health are listed below.

Emerging Viral Diseases

  • On demand identification, isolation, characterization and manufacturing of antibodies (monoclonal or polyclonal) from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) collected from patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
  • Development of a wearable sensor that provides real-time diagnostics that can be used as a point of care for emerging viral diseases to predict illness before onset of symptoms. The diagnostic platform should be applicable to COVID-19. Virus-specific markers that can identify viruses at the genus level can be included, with an emphasis on SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Surveillance and predictive modeling tools that leverage artificial intelligence approaches to predict outbreaks and epidemics and support strategies for mitigating the threat of COVID-19.
  • Triage of care for COVID-19 patients requiring access to resource-intensive interventions.
  • Research to understand novel molecular and biological mechanisms of COVID-19 health impacts (e.g., microbiome) and identification/validation of biochemical, physiological, or combined biomarkers for evaluating short- and long-term health impacts from COVID-19.
  • Research to determine direct and indirect impacts of COVID-19 on military readiness and unit climate; interpersonal/family dynamics; behavioral and mental health issues such as depression, suicide, anxiety, and loneliness and other key risk factors such as substance abuse and risky health-related behaviors.

The aim of such research should be to inform, develop, and test potential behavioral countermeasures (e.g., knowledge and information products, preparedness training, support resources, self-care and team-care recommendations) to mitigate negative impacts and maximize Service member and family readiness/resilience to stressors related to pandemics and disasters.

Respiratory Health

  • Research on the etiology and prevention of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) caused by host responses to coronaviruses, particularly COVID-19.
  • Development of improved methods for assessing and treating lung injury due to coronaviruses, particularly COVID-19.
  • Novel and/or innovative detection technologies or therapeutics to reduce the incidence and/or severity of ARDS and/or other lung injury secondary to coronaviruses, particularly COVID-19.
  • Development of biomarker metrics to associate the long-term health outcomes of virus-induced ARDS with degradation of physiological and physical performance.
  • Ventilation and Extracorporeal Life Support approaches and technologies to support lung function or airway management in response to COVID-19 that increase survivability and/or minimize care provider burden or exposure.
  • Pharmacological and biologic interventions for COVID-19 induced complications, including ARDS and related sequelae.
  • Research on the short- and long-term health impacts of COVID-19 diagnosed Service members on readiness, deployability, fitness for duty (e.g., ability to complete the Army Combat Fitness Test), and operationally relevant respiratory challenges such as challenges in fixed-wing aviation, diving, and high-altitude ground operations. Research on the prevention of COVID-19 (and other respiratory pathogens) in aircraft, ships, and submarines, specifically focused on ventilation systems and ease of transport of airborne pathogens (i.e., risk characterizations).

Applicants should select the FY20 PRMRP Program Announcement most appropriate to the stage of the proposed research. Applications for an FY20 PRMRP Topic Area other than Emerging Viral Diseases and/orRespiratory Health should be submitted to one of the other FY20 PRMRP Program Announcements available at Grants.gov.