DoD Multiple Scherosis Exploration-Hypothesis Development Award | Apply Online

FAQs: DoD Multiple Sclerosis Research Program (MSRP) Exploration-Hypothesis Development Award (EHDA)

What is the EHDA funding opportunity?

The Department of Defense (DoD) Multiple Sclerosis Research Program (MSRP) Exploration-Hypothesis Development Award (EHDA) is a grant/cooperative agreement opportunity intended to support early-stage multiple sclerosis (MS) research ideas. It is designed for concepts that are bold, unproven, and potentially transformative, with an emphasis on opening new lines of investigation rather than making small, incremental extensions of existing work.

What kind of research is this award meant to support?

This mechanism is meant to fund high-risk, high-gain MS research. The goal is to enable investigators to explore innovative directions that could change how MS is understood, studied, or addressed, especially when those ideas are not yet supported by preliminary or published data.

What does "Exploration-Hypothesis Development" mean in practice?

Projects are expected to be organized around a clear, well-formed, and testable hypothesis. The award supports hypothesis-driven exploration where investigators can rigorously test an innovative idea even if they have not yet generated early proof-of-concept results.

Are preliminary data required to apply?

No. A key feature of the EHDA is that preliminary or published data are not required. Even so, proposals must still present a strong scientific rationale and a sound study design, and they must make a persuasive case for feasibility based on solid reasoning.

What is the program's definition of "innovative" for this award?

Innovation is explicitly framed as more than routine progress. Examples of innovation in this context include introducing a new paradigm, challenging existing assumptions in MS research, reframing a long-standing problem through a different lens, or applying a creative approach that has not been seriously explored in MS. Projects that mainly build on previously published data in a straightforward way are described as inconsistent with the intent of the award.

How should applicants demonstrate that their project is genuinely innovative?

The Principal Investigator is expected to clearly and explicitly explain what makes the project innovative and why it represents a meaningful departure from standard approaches in MS research. The application should make the case that the work is not simply incremental and that, if successful, it could lead to a substantial shift in understanding or approach.

Is the award intended for incremental extensions of existing work?

No. The opportunity is positioned as a way to pursue new, potentially transformative directions. Proposals focused on small, incremental steps or straightforward extensions of previously published findings are described as not aligned with the intent of the EHDA.

Are human subjects allowed in EHDA-funded research?

Yes. Research involving human subjects is allowed under this opportunity, provided it complies with applicable requirements and guidance referenced by the program.

Are studies using human anatomical substances allowed?

Yes. The opportunity allows research involving human anatomical substances.

Are clinical trials allowed under the EHDA?

No. Clinical trials are not allowed under this award mechanism. Investigators who want to conduct an MS-related clinical trial are directed to a separate mechanism: the FY16 MSRP Pilot Clinical Trial Award (W81XWH-16-MSRP-PCTA).

If my research involves people but is not a clinical trial, where can I find additional guidance?

The DoD points applicants to additional guidance in a Human Subject Resource Document available through the electronic Biomedical Research Application Portal (eBRAP), which is the system used to support application and program resources.

What is eBRAP and how does it relate to this opportunity?

eBRAP (electronic Biomedical Research Application Portal) is the system referenced by the program for application support and access to program resources, including the Human Subject Resource Document mentioned in the opportunity description.

Can applicants use animal models of MS in the proposed research?

Yes, but the solicitation includes a specific caution. Many animal models represent particular aspects of demyelination or specific genetic alterations and may not reflect the same underlying mechanisms that drive human MS symptoms. Applicants must carefully select and justify the model system used.

What kind of justification is expected when using an animal model?

Applicants are expected to explain why the chosen animal model is relevant to the specific human MS symptoms or processes being studied. It is not enough to use a common model; the proposal needs to justify how that model maps to the human disease features of interest.

How many awards does the solicitation anticipate making?

The solicitation anticipates making about three awards.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning it is broadly open to different types of applicant organizations, subject to any additional eligibility clarifications in the full announcement.

Which agency and program are offering this funding?

The opportunity is offered under the Department of Defense (DoD) Multiple Sclerosis Research Program (MSRP) and is listed as discretionary under DoD-AMRAA.

What are the activity categories associated with this opportunity?

The activity categories are listed as science, technology, and research and development.

What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?

The CFDA number listed for this opportunity is 12.420.

What are the key dates for this opportunity?

The posted and creation dates are April 15, 2016, and the application closing date is August 29, 2016.

Is there an award ceiling or budget cap listed in the summary?

No specific award ceiling is provided in the summary (it is listed as 0). This typically means applicants should rely on the full announcement for budget limits or look for limits defined elsewhere in the program materials.

Is this award best viewed as seed funding?

Yes. Based on how it is described, the EHDA functions like seed funding for intellectually ambitious, hypothesis-driven MS research ideas that are well-reasoned but not yet fully validated.

What are the main reasons a proposal might be viewed as not aligned with EHDA intent?

Based on the description, misalignment could include proposals that are primarily incremental, are straightforward extensions of previously published data, or include clinical trial activity. Proposals that use animal models without a careful justification of relevance to human MS symptoms/processes would also run counter to the stated cautions.