DoD Multiple Sclerosis Idea Development Award | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the DoD Multiple Sclerosis Research Program (MSRP) Idea Development Award?

The MSRP Idea Development Award is a competitive funding opportunity administered by the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA) under the Department of the Army. It is designed to move bold, early-stage multiple sclerosis (MS) research ideas toward meaningful breakthroughs.

What is the main goal of this award mechanism?

The main goal is to support conceptually innovative, early-stage MS research that is not yet fully mature but is grounded in a clear, testable hypothesis and strong scientific rationale. The expectation is that successful projects could substantially advance the MS field rather than produce modest or narrowly incremental gains.

What types of research ideas are considered a strong fit?

Projects are expected to be conceptually innovative and capable of changing how people think about MS. Strong fits include research that introduces a new paradigm, challenges established assumptions, or approaches a persistent MS problem from a genuinely different angle, with a credible path to major impact.

Does the program encourage high-risk, high-reward research?

Yes. The award explicitly favors high risk, high reward concepts, as long as the application presents a scientifically convincing rationale and a credible path to major impact if the work succeeds.

Are incremental or follow-on studies competitive under this award?

Generally no. The award emphasizes innovation, and incremental studies described as the next logical step from prior findings are not considered innovative enough for this mechanism and are not expected to be competitive.

What are the core review pillars emphasized in the opportunity description?

Two major pillars are emphasized: innovation and impact. Proposals should demonstrate genuine conceptual innovation and also explain how the work would matter for the MS field and/or patient outcomes if successful.

Does the proposed project need to align with specific program priorities?

Yes. To be responsive, the project must address at least one of the FY13 MSRP Focus Areas. The specific list of focus areas is referenced in the full announcement.

How should applicants describe impact in their applications?

Applicants are expected to explain both near-term value (what the study will deliver during the project period) and longer-term implications (how results could shift MS research directions, clarify mechanisms of disease initiation or progression, or translate into better clinical management, patient care, and quality of life).

Is preliminary data required?

Preliminary support for the concept is encouraged, but the emphasis is not that a large dataset is required. The application should make a scientifically convincing case that the hypothesis is worth testing and that the approach has a reasonable chance of producing informative results.

What kinds of preliminary support can be included?

Applicants may include preliminary data when available, including unpublished results from the principal investigator or named collaborators, as well as relevant published findings that support feasibility and scientific rationale.

What is the funding opportunity number for this announcement?

The Funding Opportunity Number is W81XWH-13-MSRP-IDA.

When was this opportunity posted and when did it close?

It was posted on May 3, 2013. The original and final closing date was September 17, 2013. The opportunity was archived on October 17, 2013.

How many awards were anticipated and what was the estimated total funding level?

The program anticipated making about 5 awards, with an estimated total funding level of $3,240,000.

What type of funding instrument does this opportunity use?

The funding instrument type is listed as a grant or cooperative agreement.

What is the CFDA number associated with this program?

The CFDA number is 12.420, labeled as Military Medical Research and Development.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. Cost sharing or matching was not required for this opportunity.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was described as unrestricted, meaning it was open to any type of applicant entity, subject to any additional eligibility clarifications in the full text of the announcement.

Who can applicants contact for help accessing the announcement or for technical issues?

The contact listed for access issues or announcement assistance is the CDMRP Help Desk at 301-682-5507.

Which organization administered this funding opportunity?

The opportunity is described as coming from the Department of the Army (USAMRAA) under the Department of Defense Multiple Sclerosis Research Program (MSRP).

What kinds of outcomes is the program ultimately trying to enable?

The program seeks research that could lead to critical discoveries about the causes and progression of MS and/or generate improvements in patient care and quality of life, including work that could shift research directions or inform better clinical management.