DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE - CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED MEDICAL RESEARCH PROGRAMS

NEWS RELEASE

Released: January 18, 2023

Department of Defense
Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP)
Peer Reviewed Alzheimer's Research Program
Anticipated Funding Opportunities for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23)

The FY23 Defense Appropriations Act provides funding for the PRARP to support research that addresses the long-term implications of military service as they pertain to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and AD-related dementias (ADRD) for Service Members, Veterans, and the general public. The managing agent for the anticipated funding opportunities is the CDMRP at the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC).

The PRARP 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 PRARP 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 PRARP must have a translational/transition component, community engagement, and address one of the following Focus Areas specific to each mechanism:

  • Prevention and Risk Reduction:  Transformative research to support preventative and risk reduction strategies that have near-term high impact. Research can include, but is not limited to:
    • Identification of risk factors, including but not limited to environmental, genetic, epigenetic, psychosocial, and lifestyle for development of AD/ADRD during and after military service
    • Identification and implementation of culturally competent interventions and/or strategies to reduce AD/ADRD risk and prevent cognitive issues following traumatic brain injury (TBI) and/or military service
    • Understanding the role of social determinants of health in risk reduction
    • Informational (not descriptive) epidemiology to understand environmental and other factors that contribute to development of AD/ADRD and may be a prevention target

  • Diagnostic, Environmental, and Prognostic Factors:  Research to better detect, diagnose, support treatment decisions, and manage long-term outcomes associated with AD/ADRD following military service and/or TBI. Research of interest can include, but is not limited to:
    • Understanding how social/behavioral impairments function as biomarkers and factor into diagnosis of disease (e.g., biobehavioral markers)
    • Accelerating technologies and methods for early and premortem diagnosis
    • Validation and implementation of diagnostic and prognostic tests
    • Addressing diagnosis cost, availability, and other access challenges
    • Diagnostic/prognostic tests that can be administered at home to reduce patient burden
    • Implementation of diagnostic/prognostic tests into the clinic and community

  • Individual, Caregiver, and Family Support:  Clinical research and resources focused on long-term care (note: not medical care), quality of life, psychosocial wellness and support, and community and home resources supporting aging-in-place and community living for individuals living with dementia, their families, and care partners. “Family” is broadly defined to include family of choice and/or family of origin. Study population diversity is expected. Community-based participatory research inclusion is required. Research of interest may include, but is not limited to:
    • Navigating the AD/ADRD diagnosis
    • Navigating the care path throughout the disease progress
    • Aging in place
    • Education and integration of care giver education in the community

    In addition, the FY23 PRARP is offering a Career Initiation and Transition Partnering Option (CITPO) for each mechanism. This option is to allow for two investigators to work towards a common research goal. Each investigator is supported as a named principal investigator (PI), with an award to each of their institutions. The CIT partner must be an investigator within 10 years of a terminal degree OR new to the field.


    Award Mechanism Eligibility Key Mechanism Elements Funding
    Transforming Research Award The Principal Investigator (PI) must be an independent investigator as named by their institution.

    Career Initiation and Transition Partnering Option (CITPO):
    The CIT partner must be an investigator within 10 years of a terminal degree OR new to the field.
    • Within the Prevention and Risk Reduction Focus Area, supports transformative research with near term, high impact outcomes.
    • Clinical trials will not be supported.
    • Studies with prospective human subjects’ enrollment are allowed.
    • Community Collaboration is required.
    • CITPO available.
    • Submission of a Letter of Intent is required prior to full application submission.
    • Maximum funding of $1.0 million (M) for total costs.
    • CITPO: Maximum funding of $1.0M for total costs.
    • Maximum period of performance is years. 
    Transforming Diagnosis Award The Principal Investigator (PI) must be an independent investigator as named by their institution.

    CITPO Option:
    The CIT partner must be a within 10 years of their terminal degree OR new to the field.
    • Within the Diagnostic, Environmental, and Prognostic Factors Focus Area, supports research to transform diagnosis and prognosis to better determine the trajectory, long-term outcomes, and impact of AD/ADRD following military service and/or TBI.
    • Community Collaboration is required.
    • CITPO available.
    • Submission of a Letter of Intent is required prior to full application submission.
    • Maximum funding of $2.5M for total costs.
    • CITPO: Maximum funding of $2.5M for total costs.
    • Maximum period of performance is years. 
    Transforming Care Award The Principal Investigator (PI) must be an independent investigator as named by their institution.

    CITPO Option:
    The CIT partner must be a within 10 years of their terminal degree OR new to the field.
    • Within the Individual, Caregiver, and Family Support Focus Area, supports research that prioritizes the individual with AD/ADRD, their care partner/caregiver, and/or both that clearly demonstrates feasibility and identifies a realistic approach to scaling and implementation. “Care” does not include medical care (such as medical interventions administered by a physician).
    • Community Collaboration required.
    • Animal studies are not allowed.
    • CITPO available.
    • Submission of a Letter of Intent is required prior to full application submission.
    • Maximum funding of $1.0M for total costs.
    • CITPO: Maximum funding of $1.2M for total costs.
    • Maximum period of performance is 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 PRARP 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 Wednesday, January 18, 2023