Department of Defense Orthotics and Prosthetics Outcomes Research Program

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The FY20 Defense Appropriation Act provides $15 million to the Department of Defense Orthotics and Prosthetics Outcomes Research Program (OPORP) to support research 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 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 Announcement/Funding Opportunity is the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) at the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC).

The FY20 OPORP Program Announcements and General Application Instructions for the following award mechanisms are posted on the Grants.gov website. Pre-application and application deadlines will be available when the Program Announcements are released. OPORP supports research that evaluates orthoses and/or prostheses using patient-centric outcomes relevant to Service Members and Veterans with limb loss and/or limb impairment. The intent of this research is to generate clinically useful evidence that will enhance and optimize patient outcomes. Applications submitted to the FY20 OPORP must address at least one of the following Focus Areas:

  • Orthoses or Prostheses Form: Optimize 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.
  • Orthoses or Prostheses Fit: Optimize patient outcomes related to human-device interface through the analysis of variables in currently available clinical options that facilitate fit-related metrics such as comfort and/or usability.
  • Orthoses or Prostheses Function: Optimize 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.

Clinical Research Award – Letter of Intent due June 10, 2020

Independent investigators at all academic levels (or equivalent):

  • Supports research that evaluates orthoses and/or prostheses using patient-centric outcomes relevant to Service Members, Veterans, and other individuals with limb loss and/or limb impairment.
  • Supported research is intended to generate clinically useful evidence with potential to enhance and optimize patient outcomes.
  • Multidisciplinary collaboration among academics, industry, patient advocacy, the military Services, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and/or other Federal Government agencies is highly encouraged.
  • Applications submitted to the FY20 OPORP CRA must address one or more of the FY20 OPORP Focus Areas.
  • Preclinical studies using animals are not allowed.
  • Clinical trials are not allowed.
  • The FY20 CRA offers two funding levels:
    • Funding Level 1: Maximum funding of $350,000 for total costs (direct plus indirect costs). Maximum period of performance is 2 years.
    • Funding Level 2: Maximum funding of $2,000,000 for total costs (direct plus indirect costs). Maximum period of performance is 4 years.

Clinical Trial Award – Letter of Intent due June 10, 2020

Independent investigators at all academic levels (or equivalent:

  • Supports implementation of clinical trials with the potential to have a significant impact on improving the health and well-being of Service Members, Veterans, and other individuals living with limb loss and/or limb impairment.
  • Supports clinical trials that evaluate orthoses and/or prostheses using patient-centric outcomes for the purpose of generating clinically useful evidence to enhance and optimize patient outcomes.
  • Multidisciplinary collaborations among academia, industry, patient advocacy, the Military Services, VA, and/or other Federal Government agencies is highly encouraged.
  • Applications submitted to the FY20 OPORP CTA must address one or more of the FY20 OPORP Focus Areas.
  • Preclinical research is not allowed.
  • The FY20 CTA offers two funding levels:
  • Funding Level 1
    • Funding Level 1 supports pilot clinical trials which are exploratory and involve limited human exposure with the potential to make significant advancement toward clinical translation. Preliminary data are allowed but not required. Maximum funding of $350,000 for total costs (direct plus indirect costs). Maximum period of performance is 2 years
    • Funding Level 2 supports clinical trials with the potential to make significant advancement toward clinical translation. Preliminary data relevant to the proposed clinical trial are required. Maximum funding of $4,000,000 for total costs (direct plus 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) 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 USAMRDC 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. For more information about the OPORP or other CDMRP-administered programs, please visit the CDMRP website.


2020 Faculty Research Committee Summer Fellowship Recipients

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Eugenia Gorogianni, Anthropology, “Kea, the Aegean, and the Eastern Mediterranean in the Middle Bronze Age”

Stephen Harp, History, “Remaking the Riviera: Mass Tourism and Environmental Transformation in Postwar France”

Daniela Jauk, Sociology, “Serenity in the Garden — A Local Pilot-Study Utilizing Applied Qualitative Sociology to Improve Social, Environmental, and Food Justice for Incarcerated Women and Their Communities”

Kye-Shin Lee, Electrical and Computer Engineering, “Linearized Transistor Model Based Analog Integrated Circuit Design Methodology”

Richard Londraville, Biology, “Establishing Zebrafish as a Model for Leptin’s Effects on Bone”

Nariman Mahabadi, Civil Engineering, “Leaf Venation-Inspired Drainage Systems for Enhanced Flow Performance and Damage Resilience”

Melanie McCoskey, Accountancy, “The New Excise Tax on Private University Foundations: A Policy Analysis”

Andrea Meluch, Communication, “Managing Mental Health Information at Work: Applying Communication Privacy Management Theory to Mental Health Disclosures and Concealment in the Workplace”

Thaddeus Neururer, Accountancy, “Risk, Disagreement, and the Returns to Skew and Volatility Trading Around Earnings Announcements”

Stacey Nofziger, Sociology, “Using Self-Control Theory to Explain the Effects of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure on Risky Behaviors from Adolescence to Adulthood”

Robin Prichard, Dance, Theatre, and Arts Administration, “Not the Indian You Expected: An Original Dance Performance Work”

Jordan Renna, Biology, “The Impact of Glaucoma on Melanopsin Ganglion Cells”

John Senko, Geosciences, “Biogalvanization: A Controlled, Sustainable, and Environmentally Friendly Approach to Corrosion Control”

Leah Shriver, Chemistry, “Development of Novel Small Molecule Inhibitors of GATM to Treat Flu”

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NIH Policy, Notice and NOSI Updates

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EERE FOA 2197 Status – (FY20 Advanced Vehicle Technologies Research) AOI 1a

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At EERE, we understand that due to the coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19), many of us have had to make adjustments to our business operations and practices in order to safeguard the health and safety of our communities. Due to the extraordinary circumstances in which we now find ourselves, EERE is issuing an extension of 14 calendar days to respond to FOA 2197. The due date for full application submissions to this FOA is now April 28, 2020. 

All questions and answers related to this FOA will be posted on EERE Exchange at: https://eere-exchange.energy.gov. Please note that you must first select this specific FOA Number in order to view the questions and answers specific to this FOA. Thank you, applicants, for your continued efforts during this uncertain time. We hope that you and your loved ones are well and we look forward to hearing from you.  

Responding to Frequent Questions on Flexibilities Related to NIH Funding and COVID-19

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A Message from the National Institutes of Health:

“The public health emergency due to COVID-19 is causing difficulties in many aspects of our lives. My colleagues and I here at NIH are well aware of the challenges being felt in the research community as institutions are closing, people are being asked to practice social distancing, and resources and attention are justifiably focused on public health needs. We are listening to your concerns and are working quickly to develop answers to your many questions.”

“We recently updated our Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Information for NIH Applicants and Recipients website with a slew of additional FAQs, new funding opportunities, as well as the video message from me, below, where I address some of the most common questions.”

“Since yesterday’s recording of this video, in response to community concerns about their ability to submit applications in a timely manner, we have published a notice announcing that grant applications submitted late for due dates between March 9, 2020, and May 1, 2020, will be accepted through May 1, 2020. This notice applies to all relevant funding opportunity announcements, including those that indicate no late applications will be accepted. A cover letter providing a justification is not required. NIH will be extending the expiration date of most FOAs expiring between now and May 1. Be sure to read the notice carefully for details.”

Things are moving quickly. Please continue to communicate with us. We are listening.

I encourage you to monitor our website frequently. To help you identify updated content, the page now includes a link to page update history so you can easily see what’s new.