DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE - CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED MEDICAL RESEARCH PROGRAMS

NEWS RELEASE

Released: June 24, 2016

Defense Health Program
Neurotoxin Exposure Treatment Parkinson's
Funding Opportunities for Fiscal Year 2016

The FY16 Defense Appropriations Act provides $16 million (M) to the Department of Defense Neurotoxin Exposure Treatment Parkinson's (NETP), formerly the Neurotoxin Exposure Treatment Neurotoxin Exposure Treatment Parkinson's (NETNETP), to support research of exceptional scientific merit leading to an understanding of the cause, prevention, and treatment of the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra that result in Parkinson's disease. Applications to the FY16 NETP are being solicited by the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA). The managing agent for the anticipated Program Announcements/Funding Opportunities is the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP).

The NETP is providing the information in this pre-announcement to allow investigators time to plan and develop applications. FY16 NETP Program Announcements and General Application Instructions for the following award mechanisms are anticipated to be posted on the Grants.gov website in July 2016. 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.

IMPORTANT: The NETP seeks to focus applications and direct funding by providing Focus Areas to address the critical needs in Parkinson's disease research. Applications must address at least one of the Focus Areas noted below:

  • Studies of the neurovascular unit (including neurons, glia, the microvasculature, and the blood-brain barrier) in Parkinson's disease and changes associated with its treatment. (For both award mechanisms.)
  • Identification and evaluation of mechanisms in early Parkinson's disease involving olfactory, microbiome, gastrointestinal, and/or autonomic nervous systems. (For both award mechanisms.)
  • Mechanisms of neuroplasticity and compensation in Parkinson's disease, such as influences of sleep, exercise, and diet. (For both award mechanisms.)
  • Underlying factors influencing the progression in Parkinson's disease in specific community-based populations (e.g., Veterans) to identify the heterogeneity of Parkinson's disease. (For Impact Award applications only.)

Award Mechanism Principal Investigator (PI) Eligibility Key Mechanism Elements Funding
Focused Idea Award
    The Principal Investigator (PI) must be an independent investigator at or above the level of Assistant Professor, or equivalent.
  • Supports conceptually innovative research that could lead to critical discoveries in Parkinson's disease research and/or patient care.
  • Strong, appropriately qualified PI and research team.
  • Must address at least one of the FY16 PRP Focus Areas.
  • The application must articulate how the proposed research impacts the Parkinson's disease population.
  • Preliminary data are not required.
  • Submission of a Letter of Intent is required prior to full application submission.
  • Clinical trials are not allowed.
  • Maximum funding of $350,000 for direct costs (plus indirect costs)
  • Maximum period of performance is 3 years.
Impact Award
    The PI must be an independent investigator at or above the level of Assistant Professor, or equivalent.
  • Preproposal is required; application submission is by invitation only.
  • Supports high-impact, potentially high-risk, studies that address at least one of the FY16 PRP Focus Areas.
  • Potential impact of research may be near-term or long-term, but it must be significant and go beyond an incremental advancement.
  • Proposed projects may include basic, translational, or clinical research NOT including clinical trials.
  • Preliminary data to support feasibility are required.
  • Partnering PI option:
    • Provides a higher level of funding to support synergistic partnerships between two or three independent investigators collaborating on a single application.
    • PIs are expected to demonstrate within the application the synergistic components that will significantly advance the project such that the research outcomes could not otherwise be accomplished through independent efforts of a single PI.
    Individual PIs:
  • Maximum funding of $3 million (M) for total costs (includes direct and indirect)
  • Maximum period of performance is 4 years

  • Partnering PI Option:
  • Maximum funding of $5M 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 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 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. For email notification when Program Announcements are released go to the CDMRP website (https://cdmrp.army.mil) and select Subscribe to Funding Opportunities & Program Communications. For more information about the PRP or other CDMRP-administered programs, please visit the CDMRP website (https://cdmrp.army.mil).

Point of Contact:

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