Opportunity Information: Apply for W81XWH 14 GWIRP NIA
Apply for W81XWH 14 GWIRP NIA
- 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 New Investigator 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 $1,500,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 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.
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Opportunity Summary:
The DoD Gulf War Illness New Investigator Award (NIA) is a FY14 funding mechanism under the Gulf War Illness Research Program (GWIRP) run by the Department of the Army (USAMRAA). It was introduced for the first time in FY14 to bring new people into Gulf War Illness (GWI) research and to give them a fair shot at funding without having to compete directly against long-established GWI labs. The program is built around helping investigators at different early stages of their careers launch credible GWI-focused projects that can generate early proof-of-principle results and set the stage for larger, follow-on studies.
The award is specifically aimed at investigators who meet eligibility requirements under one of three categories: Transitioning Postdoctoral Fellow, Early Career Investigator, or New GWI Researcher. Prior experience in GWI research is allowed but not required, which is a key feature of the opportunity. At the same time, applicants who do not have a deep GWI background are strongly encouraged to partner with collaborators who do have GWI experience or other highly relevant expertise. The application is expected to clearly explain what each collaboration contributes and how it strengthens the principal investigator's ability to answer the proposed research question, rather than listing collaborators in a superficial way.
From a scientific standpoint, the NIA is meant to promote fresh ideas in GWI and support studies that establish feasibility or proof of concept. Preliminary data are not required, and the solicitation is explicit that any preliminary data used do not need to come from prior GWI work. If an applicant chooses not to include preliminary data, the proposal still needs to be grounded in a strong scientific rationale. Acceptable rationales can include clinical observations or adapting discoveries from related chronic multisymptom illnesses, as long as the project remains clearly centered on veterans with GWI. A recurring expectation throughout the announcement is that the applicant must spell out, directly and convincingly, how the work could make a meaningful impact on GWI.
In terms of scope, the award supports research across the spectrum from basic to clinical studies. Priority is placed on improving how GWI is defined and diagnosed, characterizing the symptom complex, and understanding underlying disease biology (pathobiology). The opportunity encourages projects that can identify objective measures, such as biomarkers, that distinguish healthy veterans from those with GWI, or that clarify biological mechanisms driving GWI symptoms. The topic list in the announcement highlights multiple systems and symptom domains, including central nervous system structure and function (with special attention to glial biology, astrocytes, and microglia), central neuroinflammation, autonomic nervous system function, neuroendocrine measures, immune parameters and indicators of chronic infection, gastrointestinal symptoms, genetic/genomic/proteomic/metabolic features, respiratory symptoms, sexual dysfunction, and sleep problems. The program also allows other topics if they are directly relevant to GWI.
The solicitation also notes interest in studies examining chronic effects of neurotoxic exposures at doses comparable to those encountered during the Gulf War. For animal research, the guidance is fairly specific: studies should emphasize long-term and latent effects to better mirror the current condition of people living with GWI, and investigators are expected to use established animal models unless there is a compelling scientific reason to introduce a new one. In general, creating entirely new animal models is discouraged, signaling a preference for approaches that are more immediately comparable across studies and more likely to translate.
Beyond mechanistic work, the NIA can support early development steps for interventions. That includes testing GWI-targeted pharmacologic agents in ADME studies (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion) and toxicology testing, including pharmacology/toxicology work that can contribute to an Investigational New Drug (IND) enabling package. Preclinical development of non-pharmacological interventions is also allowed, which keeps the door open to approaches outside traditional drug development.
A major emphasis of the announcement is research rigor and reproducibility. Applicants are directed to follow core standards for transparent study design and reporting, drawing on widely recognized best practices such as randomization, blinding, sample size estimation, and clear data handling procedures. The announcement points applicants to the Landis et al. Nature 2012 recommendations on transparent reporting and also encourages use of the ARRIVE guidelines for animal studies, signaling that review and program oversight will likely scrutinize methodological quality, not just novelty.
Administratively, the opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number W81XWH-14-GWIRP-NIA) was posted May 7, 2014, with an original and final closing date of September 25, 2014, and an archive date of October 25, 2014. It is categorized as discretionary funding, offered as a cooperative agreement grant within science and technology/research and development. The expected number of awards was 2, with an estimated total funding amount of $1.5 million. Cost sharing or matching is not required. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted (open to any entity type), subject to any additional eligibility clarifications in the full announcement. For assistance accessing the announcement, the contact listed is the CDMRP Help Desk at 301-682-5507.
FAQs: DoD Gulf War Illness New Investigator Award (NIA) - FY14 (GWIRP)
What is the DoD Gulf War Illness New Investigator Award (NIA)?
The Gulf War Illness New Investigator Award (NIA) is a FY14 funding mechanism under the Gulf War Illness Research Program (GWIRP), managed by the Department of the Army (USAMRAA). It was created to bring new investigators into Gulf War Illness (GWI) research and support credible, GWI-focused projects that can generate early proof-of-principle results and position investigators for larger follow-on studies.
Who runs and administers this opportunity?
The program is part of the GWIRP and is run through the Department of the Army (USAMRAA) under the DoD umbrella.
What is the main purpose of creating this award in FY14?
The NIA was introduced for the first time in FY14 to attract new people into GWI research and give them a fair funding opportunity without having to compete directly against long-established GWI laboratories.
Who is eligible to apply?
The award targets investigators who meet eligibility requirements under one of three categories: Transitioning Postdoctoral Fellow, Early Career Investigator, or New GWI Researcher. The eligibility listing is described as unrestricted (open to any entity type), subject to any additional eligibility clarifications contained in the full announcement.
Do applicants need prior Gulf War Illness (GWI) research experience?
No. Prior experience in GWI research is allowed but not required, which is a key feature of this opportunity.
If an applicant is new to GWI, are collaborations encouraged?
Yes. Applicants without a deep GWI background are strongly encouraged to partner with collaborators who have GWI experience or other highly relevant expertise.
How should collaborations be presented in the application?
The application is expected to clearly explain what each collaboration contributes and how it strengthens the principal investigator's ability to answer the proposed research question, rather than listing collaborators in a superficial way.
What kind of research does the NIA support (basic, clinical, or both)?
The NIA supports research across the spectrum from basic studies to clinical studies, as long as the work is clearly centered on veterans with GWI.
What scientific emphasis or research goals does the NIA prioritize?
Priority is placed on improving how GWI is defined and diagnosed, characterizing the symptom complex, and understanding underlying disease biology (pathobiology). Projects that identify objective measures (such as biomarkers) distinguishing healthy veterans from those with GWI, or that clarify biological mechanisms driving GWI symptoms, are encouraged.
Are preliminary data required?
No. Preliminary data are not required.
If preliminary data are included, do they have to come from prior GWI studies?
No. The solicitation states that any preliminary data used do not need to come from prior GWI work.
If no preliminary data are included, what is expected instead?
If an applicant chooses not to include preliminary data, the proposal still needs to be grounded in a strong scientific rationale. The announcement describes acceptable rationales such as clinical observations or adapting discoveries from related chronic multisymptom illnesses, provided the project remains clearly centered on veterans with GWI.
What is meant by "proof-of-principle" or "feasibility" in this award?
The NIA is intended to support studies that establish feasibility or proof of concept, helping investigators generate early results that can justify and support larger, follow-on research efforts.
Does the proposed work need to show potential impact on GWI?
Yes. A recurring expectation is that the applicant must spell out directly and convincingly how the proposed work could make a meaningful impact on Gulf War Illness.
What topics or body systems are highlighted as relevant to GWI research under this announcement?
The announcement highlights multiple systems and symptom domains, including central nervous system structure and function (with attention to glial biology, astrocytes, and microglia), central neuroinflammation, autonomic nervous system function, neuroendocrine measures, immune parameters and indicators of chronic infection, gastrointestinal symptoms, genetic/genomic/proteomic/metabolic features, respiratory symptoms, sexual dysfunction, and sleep problems. Other topics may also be appropriate if they are directly relevant to GWI.
Are biomarker and objective-measure projects encouraged?
Yes. The opportunity encourages projects that can identify objective measures, including biomarkers, that distinguish healthy veterans from those with GWI and/or clarify biological mechanisms driving GWI symptoms.
Does the NIA support studies on Gulf War-related neurotoxic exposures?
Yes. The solicitation notes interest in studies examining chronic effects of neurotoxic exposures at doses comparable to those encountered during the Gulf War.
What guidance is provided for animal research?
For animal studies, the guidance emphasizes long-term and latent effects to better mirror the current condition of people living with GWI. Investigators are expected to use established animal models unless there is a compelling scientific reason to introduce a new one, and creating entirely new animal models is discouraged.
Can the NIA support early-stage intervention or treatment development?
Yes. The NIA can support early development steps for interventions, including testing GWI-targeted pharmacologic agents in ADME studies (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion) and toxicology testing. It also allows pharmacology/toxicology work that can contribute to an IND-enabling package.
Are non-pharmacological interventions allowed?
Yes. The award allows preclinical development of non-pharmacological interventions as well.
What does the announcement say about research rigor and reproducibility?
The opportunity places major emphasis on rigor and reproducibility. Applicants are directed to follow core standards for transparent study design and reporting, including practices such as randomization, blinding, sample size estimation, and clear data handling procedures.
Are there specific reporting or methodology guidelines referenced?
Yes. The announcement points applicants to the Landis et al. Nature 2012 recommendations on transparent reporting and encourages use of the ARRIVE guidelines for animal studies.
What type of funding instrument is this?
This opportunity is offered as a cooperative agreement grant and is categorized under science and technology/research and development.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. Cost sharing or matching is not required.
How many awards were expected and what was the estimated total funding?
The expected number of awards was 2, with an estimated total funding amount of $1.5 million.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this announcement?
The Funding Opportunity Number is W81XWH-14-GWIRP-NIA.
When was the opportunity posted and what were the key dates?
The opportunity was posted on May 7, 2014. The original and final closing date was September 25, 2014, and the archive date was October 25, 2014.
Where can applicants get help accessing the full announcement?
For assistance accessing the announcement, the contact listed is the CDMRP Help Desk at 301-682-5507.
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