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Neurofibromatosis

NEWS RELEASE

Released: April 14, 2023

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

Certain elements of the Neurofibromatosis Academy award mechanisms listed below are subject to modifications that will be in included in the released funding opportunities.

The FY23 Defense Appropriations Act provides funding for the Neurofibromatosis Research Program (NFRP) to support innovative, high-impact Neurofibromatosis (NF) research. The managing agent for the anticipated funding opportunities is the CDMRP at the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC).

The NFRP 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 be not construed as an obligation by the government. The FY23 NFRP 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 NFRP must address one or more of the following Areas of Emphasis:

  • NF Type 2 and Schwannomatosis-related areas (e.g., hearing, balance, schwannoma, ependymoma, meningioma, LZTR1, SMARCB1)
  • Endpoint validation, biomarker discovery, and technological innovation for assessments
  • Application of data science
  • Non-tumor manifestations not limited to:
    • Pain
    • Cognitive manifestations
    • Sleep
  • Heterogeneity of NF-related phenotypes
  • Genetics, genomics, epigenetics, systems biology, metabolomics, or similar approaches
  • Preclinical efficacy studies
  • Target identification and drug discovery
  • Nutritional, environmental, and other modifiers of NF
  • Health services research

Award Mechanism Eligibility Key Mechanism Elements Funding
Neurofibromatosis Research Academy-Leadership Award (new for FY23) Academy Director - must be an independent and established NF investigator at or above the level of Associate Professor (or equivalent) as of the full application submission deadline.

Deputy Director - must be an independent NF researcher at the level of Associate Professor (or equivalent) as of the full application submission deadline and at a different institution from the Director.
  • Supports establishment and management a multi-institutional interactive virtual research academy that consists of Scholars (early-career investigators) and their Career Guides (primary mentors) from different institutions under the leadership of an Academy Director and Deputy Director to foster collaborative research and career development.
  • Includes the involvement of NFRP current Early Investigator Research Award and New Investigator Award Early-Stage Investigator researchers.
  • Academy leadership (Director and Deputy Director) must have past publication records in peer-reviewed journals and past and/or present research funding.
  • Funding for clinical trials is not allowed.
  • Submission of a Letter of Intent is required prior to full application submission.
  • Vision, leadership/support, and management plans must be clearly articulated.
  • Maximum funding of $1.3 million (M) for direct costs (plus indirect costs).
  • Maximum period of performance is 5 years.
Neurofibromatosis Research Academy-Scholar Award (new for FY23) Investigators - Must be within 7 years of their last terminal degree (Ph.D.) or clinical fellowship (M.D.) or equivalent as of the full application submission deadline.

Career Guide (Designated Mentor) - Independent and established NF investigators must be at or above the level of Associate Professor (or equivalent).

Letter attesting to eligibility is required.
  • Supports the addition young investigators to a unique, interactive virtual academy that provides intensive mentoring to advance research in NF, national networking, and a peer group for junior faculty, including:
    • Young, promising investigators who have innovative, high-impact ideas or new technologies with a clear path in the NF field;
    • Early-career scientists or research clinicians (see eligibility) who are currently working in other areas to shift their focus to NF research.
  • Early-Career Investigators whose ability to commit to conducting NF research is limited by lack of resources or other overwhelming obstacles are encouraged to apply.
  • Requires a Career Guide (Designated Mentor) who is an independent, established NF investigator with a record of NF publications in peer-reviewed journals. The Career Guide is not required to be at the same institution as the scholar.
  • Career sustainment and development plans must be clearly articulated.
  • Preliminary and/or published data are encouraged but not required.
  • Funding for clinical trials is not allowed.
  • Submission of a Letter of Intent is required prior to full application submission.
  • Maximum funding of $750,000 for direct costs (plus indirect costs).
  • Maximum period of performance is 4 years.
Clinical Trial Award Investigators must be at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent).
  • Funds Phase 0, I, or 2 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 are required for phase I and 2 clinical trial applications.
  • Submission of a Letter of Intent is required prior to full application submission.
  • Maximum funding of $800,000 for direct costs (plus indirect costs).
  • Maximum funding of $1.0M for direct costs (plus indirect costs) for applications including a Collaborator.
  • Maximum period of performance is 4 years.
Early Investigator Research Award
  • Investigators must be involved in a postdoctoral training or medical residency program and possess up to 4 years continuous postdoctoral research experience.
  • Investigators must have successfully defended a doctoral thesis or possess an M.D. degree and commit at least 50% of their effort towards project.
  • Supports research focused on NF for individuals in the early stages of their careers.
  • Investigators must have a designated mentor who is an experienced NF researcher.
  • Submission of a Letter of Intent is required prior to full application submission.
  • Maximum funding of $200,000 for direct costs (plus indirect costs).
  • Maximum period of performance is 2 years.
Exploration-Hypothesis Development Award Investigators may be from all academic levels (or equivalent).
  • Funds 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 Code of Federal Regulations, Title 32, Section 219, Part 104(d) (32 CFR 219.104[d]) or eligible for expedited review under 32 CFR 219.110 or 21 CFR 56.110.
  • Preliminary and/or published data are encouraged but not required.
  • Clinical trials are not allowed.
  • Mentorship is highly encouraged.
  • Maximum funding of $100,000 for direct costs (plus indirect costs).
  • Maximum period of performance is 2 years.
Investigator-Initiated Research Award Investigators must be at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent) and must plan to commit at least a 10% level of effort for each budget period throughout the entirety of the award.
  • Funds highly rigorous, high-impact research projects that have the potential to make an important contribution to NF research and/or patient care.
  • Optional Features: Applications meeting the criteria identified in the announcement may apply for a higher level of funding for the following options: Qualified Collaborator and/or NF Open Science Initiative.
  • Preliminary and/or published data are required.
  • Clinical trials are not allowed.
  • Submission of a Letter of Intent is required prior to full application submission.
  • 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 either an Optional Qualified Collaborator or a Data Sharing Option.
  • Maximum period of performance is 3 years.
New Investigator Award Early-Stage Investigator (ESI): An independent investigator who is at or below the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent) and able to commit at least a 30% level of effort during each budget year of their efforts toward the proposed NF research project.

Established Investigator (EI): An independent investigator who is above the level of Assistant Professor and able to commit at least a 10% level of effort during each budget year of their efforts toward the proposed NF research project.
  • ESI: Supports research conducted by promising independent investigators.
  • EI: Supports research conducted by independent investigators who will transition from other research fields. The investigator will bring their expertise into a career in the field of NF research.
  • Experience in NF research is allowed, but not required.
  • Preliminary and/or published data are required.
  • Clinical trials are not allowed.
  • Must not have received a New Investigator Award previously from any program within the CDMRP.
  • Submission of a Letter of Intent is required prior to full application submission.
  • Maximum funding of $450,000 for direct costs (plus indirect costs).
  • Maximum period of performance is 3 years.
Synergistic Idea Award Investigators must be at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent).
  • Supports new or existing partnerships between two or three investigators to address a central innovative question or problem in NF that may include high risk, provided there is a potential for significant impact.
  • Investigators are expected to demonstrate within the application the synergistic components (i.e., leveraging disciplines, expertise, or critical resources) that will significantly advance the project such that the research outcomes as a whole will be realized rapidly and efficiently and could not otherwise be accomplished through the independent efforts of a single investigator.
  • Preliminary and/or published data are required.
  • Synergy, Research Strategy, Personnel, and Impact are the most important review criteria.
  • Clinical trials are not allowed.
  • Submission of a Letter of Intent is required prior to full application submission.
  • Maximum funding of $2.0M for direct costs (plus 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 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 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@health.mil