Epilepsy
NEWS RELEASE
Released: November 28, 2022
Department of Defense
Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP)
Epilepsy Research Program
Anticipated Funding Opportunities for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23)
The FY23 Defense Appropriations Bill has not been signed into law. Although FY23 funds have not been appropriated for the Epilepsy Research Program (ERP), the ERP is providing the information in this pre-announcement to allow investigators time to plan and develop ideas for submission to the anticipated FY23 funding opportunities. This pre-announcement should not be construed as an obligation by the government.
The FY23 Defense Appropriations Act is anticipated to provide funding for the ERP to support research to understand the mechanisms of post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE) and associated comorbidities to improve quality of life, especially in Service Members, Veterans, and caregivers. The managing agent for the anticipated funding opportunities is the CDMRP at the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC).
The ERP is providing the information in this pre-announcement to allow investigators time to plan and develop ideas for submission to the anticipated FY23 funding opportunities. This pre-announcement should not be construed as an obligation by the government. The FY23 ERP funding opportunity announcements for the following award mechanisms will be posted on the Grants.gov website. Pre-application and application deadlines will be available when the announcements are released.
Applications submitted to the FY23 ERP should address one or more of the following Focus Areas:
- Markers and Mechanisms
- Identifying biomarkers or mechanisms of PTE, which may include:
- Predictive biomarkers of epileptogenesis (acute and chronic)
- Research into the prevention of epilepsy and/or seizures
- Epidemiology
- Epidemiological characterization of PTE following traumatic brain injury (TBI), which may include:
- Understanding and improving the quality of life of individuals with PTE, their families, and/or caregivers
- Predictors of the development of epilepsy
- Outcomes, including latency to and prevention of epilepsy, comorbidities, and mortality
- Longitudinal Studies
- Studies of the evolution of PTE, which may include:
- Understanding and improving the quality of life of individuals with PTE, their families, and/or caregivers
- Treatment and healthcare outcomes research, including quality of care
- Natural history of PTE and prognosis
- Comorbidities (e.g., depression, functional deficits, sleep disorders, major illness)
- Innovative Research
- Tools intended to better inform or improve upon PTE research and care, which may include:
- Strategies that will improve seizure detection, characterization, visualization, or diagnosis
- Development of new models or better characterization of existing etiologically relevant models for PTE
| Award Mechanism | Eligibility | Key Mechanism Elements | Funding |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEW for FY23: Leveraging Research Award |
Investigators at all academic levels (or equivalent) | Intent: To support the expansion of existing research studies to increase our understanding of PTE. The project may include basic, translational, and/or clinical research studies.
The research project must be associated with an ongoing or completed research effort in which PTE is/was not a research priority and for which addition of cohorts, outcomes, assessments, or analysis specific to PTE would be scientifically justified. Projects that build a new research program or expand existing PTE-research efforts do not meet the intent of this funding. Preliminary data outside of the PTE field are required. |
|
| Idea Development Award | Level I: Early-career investigators ranging from the post-doctoral level (e.g., research associate, fellows, residents, or equivalent) to within 3 years of their first independent faculty position (mentor required)
Level II: Investigators at all academic levels (or equivalent) |
Intent: To solicit novel, innovative research that has the potential to increase our understanding of PTE to improve quality of life, especially in Service Members, Veterans, and/or their care partners. The work should innovatively challenge existing research paradigms or exhibit high creativity.
Applications proposing high-risk, high-reward research are encouraged.
Preliminary data are not required, though evidence demonstrating the ability to execute the chosen model of TBI and record subsequent seizure is required, if applicable. |
Level I:
|
| Research Partnership Award | Investigators at all academic levels (or equivalent) |
Intent: To create an avenue to support new or existing collaborative research partnerships between/among investigators to address a research problem or question in a manner that would be unachievable through separate efforts.
It is expected that investigators utilize their distinct but complementary perspectives to synergistically address a central problem or question critical to PTE research and those living with PTE, their families, and/or their care partners. Preliminary data are required. |
|
| Virtual Post-Traumatic Epilepsy Research Center Faculty Award | Early-career investigators and investigators new to the PTE field |
Intent: Solicits Faculty members to join the Virtual Post-Traumatic Epilepsy Research Center (P-TERC).
Preliminary data are not required, though evidence demonstrating the ability to execute the chosen model of TBI and record subsequent seizure is required, if applicable. |
|
A pre-application is required and must be submitted through the Biomedical Research Application Portal (eBRAP) prior to the pre-application deadline. All applications must conform to the final funding opportunity announcements that will be available for 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.
Submission deadlines are not available until the funding opportunity announcements are released. For email notification when announcements are released, subscribe to program-specific news and updates under “Email Subscriptions” on the eBRAP homepage. For more information about the ERP 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@health.mil
Last updated Monday, November 28, 2022