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Multiple Sclerosis

NEWS RELEASE

Released: March 3, 2023

Department of Defense
Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP)
Multiple Sclerosis Research Program
Anticipated Funding Opportunities for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23)

The FY23 Defense Appropriations Act provides funding for the Multiple Sclerosis Research Program (MSRP) to support innovative and impactful research that addresses fundamental issues and gaps in Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The managing agent for the anticipated funding opportunities is the CDMRP at the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC).

The MSRP 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 MSRP 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 MSRP must address one of the Focus Areas relevant to the award mechanism as described in the table below:


Award Mechanism Eligibility Key Mechanism Elements Funding
Clinical Trial Award

 Investigators at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent)
  • Pre-application submission is required; application submission is by invitation only.
  • Funding Level 1: Supports early-phase, proof-of-principle clinical trials to demonstrate feasibility or inform the design of more advanced trials, or other clinical trials that are appropriate for this Funding Level.
  • Funding Level 2: Supports larger-scale clinical trials at phase 1 or 2 that seek to show preliminary evidence of safety or efficacy (benefit on clinical or paraclinical outcomes) in relevant patient populations.
  • Funding must support a clinical trial and may not be used for preclinical studies.
  • Scientific rationale and preliminary data are required.
  • Must address at least one of the following Focus Areas:
    • Promoting Repair, Neuroprotection, and Remyelination in Multiple Sclerosis
    • Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms
 The FY23 Clinical Trial Award offers two funding levels:

Funding Level 1

  • Maximum funding of $1,600,000 for total costs (including direct and indirect costs).
  • Maximum period of performance is 3 years.

Funding Level 2

  • Maximum funding of $4,500,000 for total costs (including direct and indirect costs).
  • Maximum period of performance is 4 years.
Early Investigator Research Award Investigators must:
  • Possess a doctoral degree from an accredited organization;
  • Be involved in a postdoctoral training or medical residency program and possess at least 1 and up to 4 years continuous postdoctoral research experience; and
  • Commit at least 50% of their effort toward project.
Can only receive one Early Investigator Research Award.
  • Pre-application submission (Letter of Intent) is required; an invitation to submit a full application is not required.
  • Supports MS-focused research opportunities for individuals in the early stages of their careers.
  • Investigator must have a designated mentor who is an experienced MS researcher.
  • Clinical trials are not allowed.
  • Must address at least one of the following Focus Areas:
    • Central Nervous System Repair, Protection, and Regenerative Potential in Multiple Sclerosis
    • Correlates of Disease Activity and Progression in Multiple Sclerosis
    • Biology and Measurement of Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms
    • Factors Contributing to or Associated with Multiple Sclerosis Etiology, Prodrome, Onset, and Disease Course
  • Maximum funding of $320,000 for total costs (including direct costs and indirect costs).
  • Maximum period of performance is 2 years.
Exploration - Hypothesis Development Award Established Investigators: Independent investigators at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent).

or

New Investigators:

  • Independent investigators no more than 5 years from the start of their faculty position.
  • Must not have received more than $300,000 in total direct costs for previous or concurrent MS research as a PI of one or more non-mentored, peer-reviewed grants from any agency.
  • Pre-application submission is required; application submission is by invitation only.
  • Supports the initial exploration of innovative, high-risk, high-gain, and potentially groundbreaking concepts in the MS research field.
  • Preliminary data are not required.
  • Clinical trials are not allowed.
  • New Investigator Option supports applicants early in their faculty appointments.
  • Must address at least one of the following Focus Areas:
    • Central Nervous System Repair, Protection, and Regenerative Potential in Multiple Sclerosis
    • Correlates of Disease Activity and Progression in Multiple Sclerosis
    • Biology and Measurement of Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms
    • Factors Contributing to or Associated with Multiple Sclerosis Etiology, Prodrome, Onset, and Disease Course
  • Maximum funding of $250,000 for total costs (including direct costs and indirect costs).
  • Maximum period of performance is 2 years.
Investigator-Initiated Research Award Established Investigators: Independent investigators at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent)

or

New Investigators:

  • Independent investigators no more than 5 years from the start of their faculty position.
  • Must not have received more than $300,000 in total direct costs for previous or concurrent MS research as an investigator of one or more non-mentored, peer-reviewed grants from any agency.
  • Pre-application submission is required; application submission is by invitation only.
  • Supports highly rigorous, high-impact research with the potential to make an important contribution to MS research and/or patient care.
  • Preliminary data are required.
  • Clinical trials are not allowed.
  • New Investigator Option supports applicants early in their faculty appointments.
  • Must address at least one of the following Focus Areas:
    • Central Nervous System Repair, Protection, and Regenerative Potential in Multiple Sclerosis
    • Correlates of Disease Activity and Progression in Multiple Sclerosis
    • Biology and Measurement of Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms
    • Factors Contributing to or Associated with Multiple Sclerosis Etiology, Prodrome, Onset, and Disease Course
  • Maximum funding of $1,000,000 for total costs (including direct costs and indirect costs).
  • Maximum period of performance is 3 years.

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 Assistance Listing Number (ALN, formerly CFDA) 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 MSRP 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 Friday, March 3, 2023