DoD Multiple Sclerosis, Investigator-Initiated Research Award | HT942524MSRPIIRA

Opportunity Information: Apply for HT942524MSRPIIRA

The Department of Defense Multiple Sclerosis Research Program (MSRP) Investigator-Initiated Research Award (IIRA) is a discretionary grant opportunity administered through the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA) to support highly rigorous, high-impact multiple sclerosis research. The core aim is to fund research projects that can meaningfully advance MS science and translate into better patient care and/or improved quality of life. The program is intentionally broad in what it will consider, allowing investigators to propose work across essentially any phase of research, but it explicitly does not support clinical trials under this mechanism.

A key feature of this award is that it is genuinely investigator-initiated, meaning the research question and approach can originate from many different starting points. Applicants can build their rationale from laboratory discoveries, insights generated from previous clinical trial results, analyses from population-based or epidemiologic studies, direct observations from clinicians caring for MS patients, or even well-supported anecdotal or practice-based observations. Regardless of where the idea comes from, the program expects proposals to be grounded in evidence: applications must include preliminary data and/or published findings that are directly relevant to MS and to the proposed project. In practice, this means reviewers are looking for proof that the idea is feasible and that the team has already taken steps that reduce scientific and technical risk.

The opportunity also highlights a specific focus area, "Correlates of Disease Activity and Progression in MS." For applications submitted under this focus area, there is an added expectation around feasibility and access. Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they already have access to the specimens and/or datasets needed for the cohort they plan to study. This requirement is not just a general statement of intent; it needs to be documented with confirmation materials, referenced in the solicitation as Attachment 8, Letter(s) Confirming Access to Specimens and/or Data. In other words, proposals in this area are expected to be ready to execute, with clear evidence that sample and data access is secured rather than speculative.

For teams proposing projects that use animal models of MS, the solicitation provides a caution that reviewers will be paying close attention to model choice and justification. Applicants are expected to be deliberate and "prudent" in selecting animal model(s), and they must clearly justify how those models map onto the specific aspect of human MS being investigated. This emphasis reflects a common challenge in MS translational research: not all models capture the same immunology, neurodegenerative features, or progression patterns seen in people, so the program wants applicants to demonstrate that the chosen system is the right tool for the question and that conclusions will be relevant to human disease.

The FY24 IIRA also includes a dedicated New Investigator option meant to bring more early-career researchers into the MS field and help them develop as independent investigators. This option is aimed at investigators who are still early in their faculty appointments and building their MS research portfolio. Importantly, New Investigator applications are not simply pooled together with Established Investigator submissions; instead, established and new investigators will be peer reviewed and programmatically reviewed in separate groups, which can help ensure early-career proposals are assessed in an appropriate context. At the same time, New Investigators are encouraged to strengthen their competitiveness by collaborating with investigators who have substantial MS experience and/or other relevant expertise, demonstrated through prior funding and publication records.

From an administrative standpoint, the grant opportunity number is HT942524MSRPIIRA, the assistance listing (CFDA) number is 12.420, and eligibility is listed as unrestricted, signaling broad applicant eligibility (subject to the full solicitation terms). The application deadline is October 7, 2024. The funding instrument is a grant under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category. The notice indicates an expected total of about six awards, and the award ceiling is not specified in the provided source details, which typically means applicants should consult the full funding announcement for budget caps, period of performance limits, and any cost-related constraints.

• The Dept. of the Army -- USAMRAA in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "DoD Multiple Sclerosis, Investigator-Initiated Research Award" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.420.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-04-19.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-10-07. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.

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