DoD FY15 Orthotics Outcomes Research Award | Apply Online

Opportunity Summary:

The DoD FY15 Orthotics Outcomes Research Award (OORA) is a Department of Defense funding opportunity focused on strengthening the evidence base behind orthotic care for Service members and Veterans living with traumatic limb impairment or limb amputation. The program is aimed at studies that move beyond basic device testing and instead look at real-world clinical impact: how well orthotic interventions work compared with alternatives, which patients benefit most, and what measurable differences these interventions make in day-to-day function and longer-term health. A central theme is patient-centric outcomes, meaning applicants are expected to evaluate results that matter directly to patients and clinicians, such as functional performance, comfort, mobility, participation in life roles, and the practical consequences of using an orthotic device over time.

The research emphasis is comparative effectiveness, including orthotic devices themselves as well as the rehabilitation approaches that accompany orthotic use. The opportunity specifically seeks projects that generate outcomes data that can guide clinical decision-making and improve care pathways. Proposed studies should be designed to show the anticipated effect on patient care metrics, signaling that the DoD is looking for work that can translate into clearer treatment choices, measurable improvements in clinical practice, and ultimately better health and functional outcomes for the target population. The award is also positioned to help the field better understand secondary health effects associated with orthotic device use, such as complications, overuse injuries, skin breakdown, pain issues, or other downstream effects that can influence long-term recovery and quality of life.

A strong application under this program typically includes longitudinal follow-up (tracking outcomes over time rather than at a single snapshot), direct comparisons between different patient care approaches, and robust patient-centered outcome assessments. The program highlights deliverables that can shape practice, such as new knowledge to support the development of new clinical practice guidelines or the modification of existing guidelines, as well as the creation or refinement of prescription algorithms that help clinicians select the most appropriate orthotic device for specific patient needs. Beyond clinical measures, the DoD signals interest in outcomes tied to quality of life, reintegration, and return to duty or return to work, recognizing that successful orthotic and rehabilitation interventions should support meaningful participation and independence, not just performance in a clinic.

Examples of studies that fit the intent of the OORA include identifying when, during a patient’s treatment course, an orthotic intervention is most effective; testing different treatment algorithms for selecting devices; comparing the effectiveness of different orthotic devices; assessing strategies to prevent secondary adverse consequences related to orthotic use; and evaluating rehabilitation interventions that accelerate or improve functional outcomes for orthotic users. Across all these examples, the core expectation is that results should be directly translatable into clinical practice and usable by patients and care teams, rather than remaining purely theoretical or confined to lab settings.

From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary funding opportunity managed by the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA) under the Military Medical Research and Development CFDA listing (12.420). The funding mechanism is listed as grant/cooperative agreement, with an estimated total funding amount of $4.5 million and an expected six awards. Eligibility is described as unrestricted (open to a wide range of applicant organizations), and there is no cost sharing or matching requirement indicated. The announcement was posted in mid-2015, with the closing date listed as November 16, 2015, and an archive date of December 16, 2015. Investigators are strongly encouraged to collaborate with or align their work with DoD and/or VA research laboratories and programs, reflecting the program’s interest in coordination with existing military and veteran healthcare research infrastructure and a clearer path to implementation within those systems.

In practical terms, the OORA is designed to fund studies that help clinicians answer hard, everyday questions about orthotic care for traumatic extremity injury and amputation: which device or approach works better, for whom, at what time, and with what tradeoffs, while also generating evidence that can be adopted into standards of care across military and veteran health settings. For access issues related to the announcement, the listed support channel is the CDMRP Help Desk (help@eBRAP.org, 301-682-5507).

Browse more opportunities from the same agency: Dept. of the Army USAMRAA

Browse more opportunities from the same category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development

Next opportunity: THE FUTURE OF NATO FROM WALES TO WARSAW

Previous opportunity: DoD FY15 Prosthetics Outcomes Research Award

USGrants.org Applicant Portal:

Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.

Apply for W81XWH 15 OPORP OORA

 

[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?

Applicants also applied for:

Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (W81XWH 15 OPORP OORA) also looked into and applied for these:

 

Grant application guides and resources

It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!

Apply for Grants

 

 

Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers

Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.

If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.

Subscribe to Leads

 

Request more information:

Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "W81XWH 15 OPORP OORA", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:

Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.