DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE - CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED MEDICAL RESEARCH PROGRAMS
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NEWS RELEASE

Released: July 15, 2015

Defense Health Program
Department of Defense Peer Reviewed Alzheimer's Research Program
Funding Opportunities for Fiscal Year 2015 (FY15)

The FY15 Defense Appropriations Act provides $12 million (M) to the Department of Defense Peer Reviewed Alzheimer's Research Program (PRARP) to support innovative, high-impact Alzheimer's disease research. As directed by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, the Defense Health Agency, Research, Development, and Acquisition (DHA RDA) Directorate manages and executes the Defense Health Program (DHP) Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) appropriation. The executing agent for the anticipated Program Announcements/Funding Opportunities is the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP).

The PRARP is providing the information in this pre-announcement to allow investigators time to plan and develop applications. FY15 PRARP Program Announcements and General Application Instructions for the following award mechanisms are anticipated to be posted on the Grants.gov website in July 2015. 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 FY15 PRARP must address one or more of the following Overarching Challenges and Focus Areas based on the specified mechanism:


PRARP FY15 Overarching Challenges:

Paucity of Research Resources: The paucity of research resources to examine the interrelationship between TBI and subsequent AD for the military and Veteran communities.

Paucity of Clinical Studies: The paucity of clinical or epidemiological studies to examine the interrelationship between TBI and subsequent AD for the military and Veteran communities.

Diagnostic Technologies, Tests, or Devices: The need for technologies, tests, or devices to detect the progression to AD subsequent to TBI.

Quality of Life: The need for technologies, assessments, interventions, or devices to benefit individuals living with the symptoms of TBI and AD.

Caregiver Burden: The need for technologies, assessments, interventions, or devices with the goal of reducing burden for caregivers of individuals living with the symptoms of TBI and AD.

PRARP FY15 Overarching Challenges:

Genomics/Proteomics/Bioinformatics: Studies or technologies (e.g., genetic, proteomic, and epigenetic strategies) intended to characterize neurological change(s) associated with TBI and subsequent AD. In addition, relevant technologies or tests may be considered under this focus area.

Pathology of Tau: Novel research and technologies dedicated to unraveling the basic pathological mechanisms of Tau associated with TBI and AD.

Roles of Non-Neuronal Cells in TBI/AD Pathogenesis: Technologies, tests, studies, or devices that will examine the roles of astrocytes (or other non-neuronal cells) in AD neurodegeneration due to TBI.

Imaging: Development and application of anatomic and molecular imaging strategies to characterize neurological change associated with TBI and subsequent AD.

Care Interventions and Quality of Life: Research intended to stabilize or improve the quality of life of those affected by TBI or AD. Examples of research in this Focus Area include: identification and management of co-morbidities and modifiable risk factors (e.g., sleep apnea, obesity); cognitive training interventions; studies of health and wellness and behavioral interventions.

Caregiver support: Research intended to reduce the burden of care on the caregiver for individuals affected by the symptoms of TBI or AD. Examples of research in this focus area include: Caregiver training, home-based support, behavioral interventions, and relationship interventions.

New for FY15! Novel Target Identification: Basic research (non-human) directly leading to the identification of new targets for the development of existing or new investigational medicines, drugs, or agents.

While the CSRA, QUAL, and MRFA mechanisms can be used to support clinical research, the following is specifically discouraged under the FY15 PRARP:

Pharmacologic Interventions: Clinical or Basic research requiring investigational or U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs or medicines.

Award Mechanism Eligibility Key Mechanism Elements Funding
Convergence Science Research Award (CSRA) Principal Investigators (PIs) at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent) from any field or discipline, who seek to bring their expertise to address the PRARP's mission; the research team must demonstrate traumatic brain injury (TBI)/Alzheimer's disease (AD) experience
  • Intent: Supports research to generate resources and tools, or novel research efforts for researchers and/or practitioners in health sciences related to the PRARP's mission.
  • Applications must address one or more of the following FY15 Overarching Challenges:
    • Paucity of Research Resources
    • Paucity of Clinical Studies
    • Diagnostic Technologies, Tests, or Devices
  • Applications should address at least one of the following FY15 Focus Areas:
    • Genomics/Proteomics/Bioinformatics
    • Pathology of Tau
    • Roles of Non-Neuronal Cells in TBI/AD Pathogenesis
    • New for FY15: Novel Target Identification
  • Preliminary data, while not required, is encouraged.
  • 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.
Quality of Life Research Award (QUAL) PIs at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent) from any field or discipline, who seek to bring their expertise to address the PRARP's mission; Team must demonstrate TBI/AD experience.
  • Intent: Supports research to reduce the burden on caregivers and affected individuals, especially in the military and Veteran communities. The research impact will benefit the military, Veteran, and civilian communities.
  • Applications must address one or more of the following FY15 Overarching Challenges:
    • Quality of Life
    • Caregiver Burden
  • Applications should address at least one of the following FY15 Focus Areas:
    • Care Interventions and Quality of Life
    • Caregiver support
  • Preliminary data, while not required, is encouraged.
  • 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.
Military Risk Factor Research Award (MRFA) Principal Investigators (PIs) at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent) from any field or discipline, who seek to bring their expertise to address the PRARP's mission; Team must demonstrate TBI/AD experience.
  • Intent: Facilitates high-impact, systematic, population-based research investigating the association between TBI and the subsequent development of AD.
  • Applications must address one or more of the following FY15 Overarching Challenges:
    • Paucity of Research Resources
    • Diagnostic Technologies, Tests, or Devices
    • Paucity of Clinical Studies
  • Applications should address at least one of the following FY15 Focus Areas:
    • Genomics/Proteomics/Bioinformatics
    • Pathology of Tau
    • Roles of Non-Neuronal Cells in TBI/AD Pathogenesis
    • Imaging
  • Preliminary data, while not required, is encouraged.
  • Important Note: Applications must detail and demonstrate expedited access to a well-defined, already identified study cohort.
  • Maximum funding of $5,000,000 for total costs
  • Maximum period of performance is 5 years
  • Indirect costs may be proposed in accordance with the institution's rate agreement.

All applications must conform to the final Program Announcement and General Application Instructions that will be available for electronic downloading from the Grants.gov website. The application package containing the required forms for this 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.

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 during July 2015 from the Grants.gov website. The application package containing the required forms for each award mechanism will also be found on Grants.gov. A listing of all CDMRP funding opportunities can be obtained on the Grants.gov website by performing a basic search using CFDA Number 12.420.

Applications must be submitted through the federal government's single-entry portal, Grants.gov. Submission deadlines are not available until the Program Announcements are released. Requests for email notification of the Program Announcements release may be sent to help@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