DoD FY11 Multiple Sclerosis Idea Award | Apply Online

FAQs: DoD FY11 Multiple Sclerosis Idea Award (W81XWH-11-MSRP-IA)

What is the DoD FY11 Multiple Sclerosis Idea Award?

The DoD FY11 Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Idea Award is a research funding opportunity offered through the Department of the Army, U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA), under the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) Multiple Sclerosis Research Program (MSRP). It is intended to support early stage, conceptually innovative research ideas in multiple sclerosis.

What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?

The main purpose is to push forward brand-new, early stage ideas in MS research that are not yet fully developed but still have a realistic chance of producing high-impact results. The program aims to spark new lines of investigation that could ultimately lead to meaningful discoveries about MS causes and progression or improvements in patient care and quality of life.

What types of projects are a strong fit for this award?

Projects that are conceptually innovative, high-risk, and potentially high-reward. The opportunity is designed for research that challenges existing assumptions, changes how people think about an MS-related problem, introduces a new paradigm, applies an unconventional perspective, or uses creative approaches that could pay off significantly if successful.

What types of projects are not considered competitive?

Proposals that represent routine, incremental, or modest next-step extensions of existing work are not considered competitive for this mechanism. The intent is specifically not to fund standard, low-risk, incremental studies.

Does the award support high-risk research even if the idea is early stage?

Yes. A central theme of this award is supporting early stage concepts that are high-risk but could deliver high-impact results. The program is explicitly intended to encourage risk-taking and innovative thinking.

If the work is high-risk, what level of scientific grounding is expected?

Even with an emphasis on innovation, the proposed work must be grounded in strong science. Applications are expected to be built around a well-formulated, testable hypothesis with a solid scientific rationale. The idea should be logically developed and defensible based on reasoning and a careful reading of existing literature, rather than being unsupported speculation.

What will reviewers be looking for in the rationale and approach?

Reviewers will look for a clear explanation of why the approach is worth pursuing, how it can be tested, and what results would meaningfully move the MS field forward. The application should show that the idea is testable and that the planned work can be interpreted in a meaningful way.

How is "innovation" defined for this award?

Innovation is defined broadly and may include introducing a new paradigm, applying an unconventional perspective, or using creative approaches that could significantly advance the field if successful. The key expectation is that the work changes thinking, challenges assumptions, or approaches MS from a fresh angle.

How important is "impact" for this funding mechanism?

Impact is a defining requirement. The proposed research is expected to address a central, critical issue in MS research rather than a minor technical question. If successful, the project should significantly advance understanding, tools, or concepts in a way aligned with the MSRP vision and with a plausible pathway to outcomes that ultimately matter for patients.

What kinds of outcomes does the program hope to enable over time?

The program is looking for projects that could lead to meaningful discoveries about MS causes and progression, open new therapeutic directions, or contribute to improvements in patient care and quality of life.

Is preliminary data required even though this is an "idea" award?

Yes. Although the mechanism is idea-focused, preliminary support is still expected. The goal is to show the concept is not purely a leap of faith and is anchored in evidence.

What can count as preliminary support for the application?

Preliminary support may include unpublished results from the principal investigator or named collaborators, or relevant evidence drawn from the published scientific literature. The expectation is not that the project is already mature, but that there is a reasonable basis to believe the work can be executed and produce interpretable results.

Who is the sponsoring organization for this opportunity?

The opportunity is offered under the Department of the Army through the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA), within the CDMRP framework for the Multiple Sclerosis Research Program (MSRP).

What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?

The Funding Opportunity Number is W81XWH-11-MSRP-IA.

What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?

The listing is under CFDA 12.420, Military Medical Research and Development.

What type of funding instrument is used?

The opportunity uses grant and cooperative agreement instruments.

Is this a discretionary funding opportunity?

Yes. It is listed as a discretionary funding opportunity.

How many awards were anticipated?

The program anticipated making about five awards.

What was the estimated total funding level?

The estimated total funding level was $3.4 million.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The listing indicates there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning it was open to a wide range of applicant entity types, subject to any additional clarifications contained in the full announcement.

When was the opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted on April 25, 2011.

What was the application closing date?

The application closing date was September 14, 2011.

What was the archive date?

The archive date was October 14, 2011.

Where can applicants get help accessing the full announcement?

The notice provides a CDMRP Help Desk contact number for issues accessing the full announcement: 301-682-5507.