Opportunity Information: Apply for W81XWH 14 GWIRP IIRA
Apply for W81XWH 14 GWIRP IIRA
- 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 Gulf War Illness 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 Military Medical Research and Development.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 7, 2014 and posted on May 7, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 25, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $6,300,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The DoD Gulf War Illness (GWI) Investigator Initiated Research Award (IIRA) is a funding opportunity run under the Gulf War Illness Research Program (GWIRP) by the U.S. Army medical research enterprise (USAMRAA/CDMRP). It is built to stimulate fresh, investigator-driven ideas that can move the field forward by establishing early proof of principle, generating convincing rationale, or producing foundational results that can support larger follow-on studies. A key feature is that preliminary data are not required, which lowers the barrier for new entrants or novel approaches; however, applicants can include preliminary data if it strengthens the proposal, even if those data come from outside the GWI field (for example, adjacent chronic multisymptom conditions). Across all approaches, the program stresses that the work must stay clearly centered on veterans with GWI and that the principal investigator must explicitly explain the project’s expected impact on understanding, defining, diagnosing, or ultimately improving outcomes for GWI.
Scientifically, the IIRA supports basic through clinical research that addresses the symptom complex known as Gulf War Illness, advances diagnosis and case identification, characterizes symptom patterns, and improves understanding of underlying biology (pathobiology). The program particularly encourages studies that can yield objective measures, such as biomarkers or other quantifiable indicators, that help distinguish veterans with GWI from healthy veterans, or that clarify biological mechanisms driving the condition. The announcement highlights topic areas of special interest that reflect prominent hypotheses and symptom domains in GWI, including central nervous system structure and function (with special emphasis on glial biology such as astrocytes and microglia), central neuroinflammation, autonomic nervous system function, neuroendocrine measures, immune parameters and possible indicators of chronic infection, gastrointestinal symptoms, genetic/genomic/proteomic/metabolic characteristics, respiratory symptoms, sexual dysfunction, and sleep problems. While these are priority areas, the solicitation leaves room for other topics as long as the relevance to GWI is direct and well justified.
The mechanism also allows for preclinical work tied to suspected Gulf War-related toxicant exposures, with an emphasis on studying chronic, long-term, or latent effects at exposure levels comparable to what may have been encountered during the Gulf War. For animal model research, the program’s bias is toward using established models that already have credibility in the field; developing new animal models is explicitly discouraged unless there is a strong scientific rationale that makes a new model necessary. Beyond mechanism and biomarker-oriented research, the IIRA can support practical translational steps for potential treatments, including ADME studies (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion) and toxicology work for GWI-targeted pharmacologic agents, up to and including IND-enabling pharmacology/toxicology testing. It also allows preclinical development of non-pharmacological interventions, signaling that the program is open to multiple pathways toward eventual clinical benefit.
A major FY14 update is the introduction of a separate “Case Definition Option,” created to push the field toward a stronger, more useful consensus definition of GWI for clinical care and for research enrollment. Applications under this option are reviewed separately from standard IIRA proposals and are expected to focus on applied case-definition science rather than general discovery. Appropriate work can include systematically analyzing what a clinical versus research case definition should contain, how symptoms and features should be prioritized or weighted, what exclusion criteria are appropriate, and how to handle common comorbidities without diluting diagnostic clarity. More advanced projects might develop and test analytic methods that derive case-definition parameters from clinical datasets, then evaluate the resulting definitions for sensitivity and selectivity, reliability, portability across settings, ability to identify meaningful subgroups, and validation in independent datasets. While biomarkers can play a supporting role in building or validating a case definition, the Case Definition Option is not meant for primary biomarker discovery; proposals mainly aimed at discovering biomarkers are directed to the traditional IIRA track instead.
The announcement also emphasizes rigor and reproducibility standards, especially for preclinical studies. Applicants are instructed to build in best practices such as randomization, blinding, sample size estimation, and transparent data handling, and to plan and report animal studies consistent with recognized guidelines like ARRIVE. The overall intent is to fund projects that are not only innovative, but also designed in a way that produces results other teams can trust, reproduce, and translate into future clinical research.
From an administrative perspective, this FY14 opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number W81XWH-14-GWIRP-IIRA) was offered as a discretionary program using grant and cooperative agreement instruments, with an expected six awards and an estimated total funding level of $6.3 million. There was no cost-sharing or matching requirement, and eligibility was listed as unrestricted (open to any entity type, subject to any additional eligibility text in the full announcement). Key dates in the posted notice show it was posted May 7, 2014, with a closing date of September 25, 2014 (and an archive date of October 25, 2014). The CFDA listing associated with it is 12.420 (Military Medical Research and Development).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - DoD Gulf War Illness (GWI) Investigator Initiated Research Award (IIRA)
1) What is the DoD Gulf War Illness (GWI) Investigator Initiated Research Award (IIRA)?
The Investigator Initiated Research Award (IIRA) is a Gulf War Illness Research Program (GWIRP) funding opportunity run through the U.S. Army medical research enterprise (USAMRAA/CDMRP). It is designed to stimulate investigator-driven ideas that can move the GWI field forward by establishing early proof of principle, generating strong rationale, or producing foundational results that can support larger follow-on studies.
2) What is the main goal of this award mechanism?
The mechanism is intended to support innovative, investigator-initiated research that is clearly centered on veterans with Gulf War Illness and that explains an expected impact on understanding, defining, diagnosing, or ultimately improving outcomes for GWI.
3) Are preliminary data required to apply?
No. A key feature of this opportunity is that preliminary data are not required, which lowers the barrier for new entrants or novel approaches.
4) Can preliminary data still be included if available?
Yes. Applicants may include preliminary data if it strengthens the proposal, including data that originate outside the GWI field (for example, from adjacent chronic multisymptom conditions), as long as the project remains directly relevant to GWI.
5) What types of research are supported (basic, clinical, etc.)?
The IIRA supports basic through clinical research that addresses the Gulf War Illness symptom complex, advances diagnosis and case identification, characterizes symptom patterns, and improves understanding of underlying biology (pathobiology).
6) What scientific outcomes does the program particularly encourage?
The program particularly encourages studies that can yield objective measures, such as biomarkers or other quantifiable indicators, that help distinguish veterans with GWI from healthy veterans and/or clarify biological mechanisms driving the condition.
7) What topic areas are highlighted as special interests or priorities?
Special interest areas include central nervous system structure and function (with emphasis on glial biology such as astrocytes and microglia), central neuroinflammation, autonomic nervous system function, neuroendocrine measures, immune parameters and possible indicators of chronic infection, gastrointestinal symptoms, genetic/genomic/proteomic/metabolic characteristics, respiratory symptoms, sexual dysfunction, and sleep problems.
8) Are applicants limited to the listed priority topics?
No. While the announcement highlights priority areas, other topics may be proposed if the relevance to Gulf War Illness is direct and clearly justified.
9) How important is veteran-centered relevance in an application?
It is central. The opportunity stresses that the work must stay clearly centered on veterans with GWI, and the principal investigator must explicitly explain the expected impact on understanding, defining, diagnosing, or improving outcomes for GWI.
10) Does the opportunity support preclinical research related to Gulf War-era exposures?
Yes. The mechanism allows preclinical work tied to suspected Gulf War-related toxicant exposures, emphasizing chronic, long-term, or latent effects at exposure levels comparable to what may have been encountered during the Gulf War.
11) What guidance is given about animal models?
The program favors established animal models that already have credibility in the field. Developing new animal models is explicitly discouraged unless a strong scientific rationale shows that a new model is necessary.
12) Does the program support translational or treatment-enabling work?
Yes. The IIRA can support translational steps for potential treatments, including ADME studies (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion) and toxicology work for GWI-targeted pharmacologic agents, up to and including IND-enabling pharmacology/toxicology testing.
13) Are non-pharmacological interventions eligible for preclinical development?
Yes. The mechanism allows preclinical development of non-pharmacological interventions, indicating openness to multiple pathways toward eventual clinical benefit.
14) What is the “Case Definition Option” mentioned in the announcement?
The FY14 announcement introduced a separate Case Definition Option to push the field toward a stronger, more useful consensus definition of GWI for clinical care and research enrollment. Applications under this option are reviewed separately from standard IIRA proposals.
15) What kinds of projects fit the Case Definition Option?
Projects should focus on applied case-definition science, such as systematically analyzing what clinical versus research case definitions should contain, how symptoms/features should be prioritized or weighted, what exclusion criteria are appropriate, and how to handle common comorbidities without diluting diagnostic clarity.
16) What kinds of advanced approaches are described for the Case Definition Option?
More advanced projects may develop and test analytic methods that derive case-definition parameters from clinical datasets and evaluate resulting definitions for sensitivity and selectivity, reliability, portability across settings, identification of meaningful subgroups, and validation in independent datasets.
17) Can biomarkers be part of a Case Definition Option proposal?
Yes, but in a supporting role. Biomarkers can support building or validating a case definition, but the Case Definition Option is not intended for primary biomarker discovery.
18) If a project is mainly about discovering biomarkers, which track is it best suited for?
Proposals mainly aimed at discovering biomarkers are directed to the traditional IIRA track rather than the Case Definition Option.
19) What expectations are stated regarding rigor and reproducibility?
The announcement emphasizes rigor and reproducibility, particularly for preclinical studies. Applicants are instructed to include best practices such as randomization, blinding, sample size estimation, and transparent data handling.
20) Are any reporting standards or guidelines named for animal studies?
Yes. The notice references planning and reporting animal studies consistent with recognized guidelines such as ARRIVE.
21) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this announcement?
The Funding Opportunity Number is W81XWH-14-GWIRP-IIRA.
22) What kind of funding instrument was used?
The FY14 opportunity was offered as a discretionary program using grant and cooperative agreement instruments.
23) How many awards were expected?
The notice stated an expectation of six awards.
24) What was the estimated total funding level?
The estimated total funding level was $6.3 million.
25) Was cost-sharing or matching required?
No. The announcement indicated there was no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
26) Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was listed as unrestricted (open to any entity type), subject to any additional eligibility text in the full announcement.
27) When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The posted notice shows it was posted on May 7, 2014, with a closing date of September 25, 2014, and an archive date of October 25, 2014.
28) What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The associated CFDA listing is 12.420 (Military Medical Research and Development).
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development
Next opportunity: DoD Gulf War Illness Innovative Treatment Evaluation Award
Previous opportunity: DoD Gulf War Illness Clinical Trial 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 14 GWIRP IIRA
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (W81XWH 14 GWIRP IIRA) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| DoD Gulf War Illness Innovative Treatment Evaluation Award Apply for W81XWH 14 GWIRP ITEA Funding Number: W81XWH 14 GWIRP ITEA Agency: Dept. of the Army USAMRAA Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| DoD Prostate Cancer Biospecimen Resource Site Award Apply for W81XWH 14 PCRP PCBRSA Funding Number: W81XWH 14 PCRP PCBRSA Agency: Dept. of the Army USAMRAA Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| DoD Prostate Cancer Clinical Exploration Award Apply for W81XWH 14 PCRP CEA Funding Number: W81XWH 14 PCRP CEA Agency: Dept. of the Army USAMRAA Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Computational Methods for Decision Making Apply for ONRBAA14 010 Funding Number: ONRBAA14 010 Agency: Office of Naval Research Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Gulf War Illness Innovative Treatment Evaluation Award Apply for W81XWH 14 GWIRP ITEA2 Funding Number: W81XWH 14 GWIRP ITEA2 Agency: Dept. of the Army USAMRAA Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Minerva Research Initiative Apply for ONRBAA14 013 Funding Number: ONRBAA14 013 Agency: Office of Naval Research Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| SPACE TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT DEMONSTRATION AND INFUSION 2015 Apply for NNH15ZOA001N Funding Number: NNH15ZOA001N Agency: NASA Headquarters Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Major Research Instrumentation Program Apply for 15 504 Funding Number: 15 504 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $4,000,000 |
| Applied Research in Quantum Information Science Apply for ONR 15 BAA 0007 Funding Number: ONR 15 BAA 0007 Agency: Office of Naval Research Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Software Infrastructure for Sustained Innovation S2I2 Apply for 15 553 Funding Number: 15 553 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $20,000,000 |
| Cognitive Neuroscience Apply for PD 15 1699 Funding Number: PD 15 1699 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| DoD Prostate Cancer Dr. Barbara Terry Koroma Health Disparity Research Award Apply for W81XWH 15 PCRP HDRA Funding Number: W81XWH 15 PCRP HDRA Agency: Dept. of the Army USAMRAA Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| 2013 Great Lakes Phragmites Collaborative, Phragmites Symbios Collaborative and Coastal Science Strategy Apply for G13AC00099 Funding Number: G13AC00099 Agency: Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $1,515,509 |
| DoD Peer Reviewed Orthopaedic Clinical Trial Award Apply for W81XWH 15 PRORP CTA Funding Number: W81XWH 15 PRORP CTA Agency: Dept. of the Army USAMRAA Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| GENSETS SBIR/STTR Apply for DE FOA 0001380 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001380 Agency: Advanced Research Projects Agency Energy Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $3,225,000 |
| Process Systems, Reaction Engineering and Molecular Thermodynamics Apply for PD 15 1403 Funding Number: PD 15 1403 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Energy for Sustainability Apply for PD 15 7644 Funding Number: PD 15 7644 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Science and Technology Projects Related to Coal Mining and Reclamation Apply for S16AS00005 Funding Number: S16AS00005 Agency: Office of Surface Mining Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Research in the Formation of Engineers (RFE) Apply for PD 15 1340 Funding Number: PD 15 1340 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Pacific Northwest CESU Apply for 08HQPA0032 Funding Number: 08HQPA0032 Agency: Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $380,000 |
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 14 GWIRP IIRA", 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.