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Neurofibromatosis

NEWS RELEASE

Released: February 23, 2017

Department of Defense Neurofibromatosis Research Program
Anticipated Funding Opportunities for Fiscal Year 2017 (FY17)

Due to the current Continuing Resolution, the Fiscal Year 2017 (FY17) Defense Appropriations bill has not been passed. Although funds have not been appropriated for the Department of Defense Neurofibromatosis Research Program (NFRP), the NFRP is providing the information in this pre-announcement to allow investigators time to plan and develop ideas for submission to the anticipated FY17 funding opportunities.

The FY17 Defense Appropriations Act provides $15 million (M) to the Department of Defense NFRP to support innovative, high-impact NF research. Applications to the FY17 NFRP 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 NFRP is providing the information in this pre-announcement to allow investigators time to plan and develop applications. FY17 NFRP Program Announcements and General Application Instructions for the following award mechanisms are anticipated to be posted on the Grants.gov website in May 2017. 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, and funding of research projects received in response to these Program Announcements is contingent on the availability of Federal funds appropriated for the NFRP.

Areas of Emphasis: The NFRP encourages applications that specifically address the critical needs of the NF community in one or more of the FY17 Areas of Emphasis. Not all Areas of Emphasis are applicable to each award mechanism offered by the FY17 NFRP. If the proposed research project does not address one of the FY17 Areas of Emphasis, justification that the proposed research project addresses an important problem related to NF research and/or patient care should be provided.

  • Health services research
    • Evidence-based clinical care pathways
    • Innovative healthcare delivery systems
    • Utilization of technology and informatics
  • Heterogeneity of neurofibromas and other NF-related tumors
  • Nontumor manifestations
    • Sleep, pain, hypotonia, communication, etc., including quality of life measures, self-reported and otherwise
  • Novel disease and treatment response markers using genomics, epigenetics, systems biology, metabolomics, or similar approaches
    • Transition from benign to malignant
  • Nutritional, environmental, and other modifiers of NF
  • Post-adolescent manifestations
  • Preclinical efficacy studies
  • Target identification, drug discovery, targeted and immunotherapies
  • Other

Award Mechanism Eligibility Key Mechanism Elements Funding
Clinical Trial Award Independent investigators at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent)
  • Fund Phase 0, I, or II clinical trials relevant to NF and/or schwannomatosis; combinations of phases are permitted.
  • Funding must support a clinical trial and may not be used for preclinical studies.
  • Scientific rationale and preliminary data required for Phase I, II clinical trial applications.
  • Maximum funding of $900,000 for direct costs (plus indirect costs)
  • Maximum period of performance is 4 years
Exploration - Hypothesis Development Award All academic levels (or equivalent)
  • Fund the initial exploration of innovative, high-risk, high-gain and potentially groundbreaking concepts in NF research.
  • Projects involving human subjects or human biological substances must be exempt under 32 CFR 219.101(b) or eligible for expedited review under 32 CFR 219.110 or 21 CFR 56.110.
  • Preliminary and/or published data is encouraged but not required.
  • Clinical trials not allowed
  • Maximum funding of $100,000 for direct costs (plus indirect costs)
  • Maximum period of performance is 2 years
Investigator-Initiated Research Award Independent investigators at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent)
  • Fund highly rigorous, high-impact research projects that have the potential to make an important contribution to NF research and/or patient care.
  • Optional Feature: Applications that include a Qualified Collaborator who meets criteria identified in the announcement may apply for a higher level of funding.
  • Preliminary and/or published data required.
  • Clinical trials not allowed.
  • Maximum funding of $525,000 for direct costs (plus indirect costs)
  • Maximum funding of $575,000 for direct costs (plus indirect costs) for applications including an Optional Qualified Collaborator
  • Maximum period of performance is 3 years
New Investigator Award Independent investigators at or below the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent) or an established investigator at or above the level of Assistant Professor seeking to transition into a career in NF research
  • Support the continued development of promising independent investigators and/or the transition of established investigators into a career in the field of NF research
  • Experience in NF research is allowed, but not required
  • Preliminary and/or published data required
  • Clinical trials not allowed
  • Maximum funding of $450,000 for direct costs (plus indirect costs)
  • 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 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, subscribe to program-specific news and updates under "Email Subscriptions" on the eBRAP homepage at https://eBRAP.org. For more information about the NFRP or other CDMRP-administered programs, please visit the CDMRP website (https://cdmrp.health.mil).

Point of Contact:

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