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Tick-Borne Disease

NEWS RELEASE

Released: March 5, 2018

Defense Health Program
Department of Defense Tick-Borne Disease Research Program
Anticipated Funding Opportunities for Fiscal Year 2018

Due to the current Continuing Resolution, the Fiscal Year 2018 (FY18) Defense Appropriations bill has not been passed. Although funds have not been appropriated for the Department of Defense Tick-Borne Disease Research Program (TBDRP), the TBDRP is providing the information in this pre-announcement to allow investigators time to plan and develop ideas for submission to the anticipated FY18 funding opportunities.

FY18 TBDRP Program Announcements and General Application Instructions for the following award mechanisms are anticipated to be posted on Grants.gov in April 2018. 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 TBDRP.

As directed by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, the Defense Health Agency (DHA) 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 Announcements/Funding Opportunities is the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP).

Applications submitted to the FY18 TBDRP must address at least one of the following specific Focus Areas in Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases:

  • Diagnosis
    • Accurate diagnostics for Lyme disease and co-infections and/or other tick-borne diseases
    • Biomarkers to identify tick-borne diseases or their products in humans
    • Diagnostic biomarkers for Lyme disease that distinguish between active infection and previous exposure, and/or monitor response to treatment
  • Pathogenesis
    • Immunological mechanisms of immune protection for Lyme disease or other tick-borne diseases
    • Complex biology of Lyme borrelia in the host (beyond in vitro studies), including its survival, evasion of the host immune system, and subversion of the effectiveness of antibiotics
    • Biomarkers that aid in exploring underlying mechanisms of persistent symptoms associated with Lyme disease
  • Prevention
    • Identification, validation, and/or improvement of tick-targeted prevention and control interventions
    • Human vaccines for tick-borne diseases
  • Treatment
    • Antibiotic combinations and/or therapeutic options for treating acute and persistent illness

Award Mechanism Eligibility Key Mechanism Elements Funding
Investigator-Initiated Research Award Independent investigators at or above the level of Associate Professor (or equivalent).
  • To fund highly rigorous, high-impact studies that have the potential to make important contributions to Lyme disease and other tick-borne disease research, patient care, and/or quality of life.
  • Applications should articulate both the short and long-term impact of the proposed research, as well as the public health burden of the disease being addressed.
  • Preliminary or published data to support feasibility are required.
  • Promotes any phase of research from basic through translational, including preclinical studies in animal models or human subjects, as well as correlative studies associated with an existing clinical trial to establish proof-of-principle for further development in future studies; however, clinical trials are not allowed.
  • Preproposal is required; application submission is by invitation only.
  • Maximum funding of $650K for direct costs (plus indirect costs).
  • Maximum period of performance is 3 years.
Idea Award Independent investigators at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent)
  • To fund conceptually innovative, high-risk/potentially high-reward research in the early stages of development that could lead to critical discoveries or major advancements that will accelerate progress in improving outcomes for individuals affected by Lyme disease and/or other tick-borne illnesses.
  • Applications should articulate the qualities that make the research innovative (not merely an incremental advance), as well as the public health burden of the disease being addressed.
  • Preliminary data that are relevant to the proposed research project are encouraged, but not required.
  • Clinical trials are not allowed.
  • Preproposal is required; application submission is by invitation only.
  • Maximum funding of $250K for direct costs (plus indirect costs).
  • Maximum period of performance is 2 years.
Career Development Award Principal Investigator (PI):
Investigators within 10 years of completing terminal degree (excluding time in medical residency or on family medical leave) at the time of application submission, working to become independent investigators who exhibit a strong desire to pursue careers in tick-borne disease research; time spent as a postdoctoral fellow is not excluded
Mentor: Independent investigators at or above the level of Associate Professor (or equivalent); must have a proven publication and funding record in tick-borne disease research

The PI and Mentor do not need to be located at the same organization.
  • To fund early-career investigators to conduct impactful research under the mentorship of an experienced tick-borne disease researcher.
  • Career Development Plan is required. Plan should be prepared with appropriate guidance from the Mentor, should clearly articulate a strategy for acquiring the necessary skills, competence, and expertise to establish a career at the forefront of tick-borne disease research, and should outline how the PI will gain experience in tick-borne disease research. PI�s institution must demonstrate a commitment to the PI through a minimum of 30% protected time for tick-borne disease research.
  • Preliminary or published data to support feasibility are required.
  • Clinical trials are not allowed.
  • Maximum funding of $300K 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 TBDRP or other CDMRP-administered programs, please visit the CDMRP website (htCDMRP.HEALTH.MILmy.mil).

Point of Contact:

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


Last updated Tuesday, November 12, 2024