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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the funding opportunity called?

The opportunity is the Department of Defense (DOD) Multiple Sclerosis Research Program (MSRP) Investigator-Initiated Research Award (IIRA).

What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number is W81XWH-16-MSRP-IIRA.

What is the central scientific focus of this IIRA cycle?

This cycle is focused specifically on research that addresses obstacles to remyelination in multiple sclerosis (MS), with an emphasis on understanding and overcoming the biological and translational barriers that prevent damaged myelin from being effectively repaired in people with MS.

How is this IIRA cycle different from prior years?

The IIRA mechanism has covered other priorities in earlier years (an example mentioned is MS symptoms in FY15). In this competition, the scope is narrowed to remyelination failure, specifically the barriers that block effective myelin repair in MS.

What does "investigator-initiated" mean for applicants?

Investigator-initiated means applicants propose their own research questions, hypotheses, and approaches. The key requirement is that the proposed work must clearly align with the stated topic area: obstacles to remyelination in MS.

What types of research are allowed under this opportunity?

Projects may fall anywhere along the research pipeline, including basic mechanistic studies, applied preclinical work, and translational research, as long as they are aligned with remyelination failure in MS.

Are clinical trials allowed under this award?

No. Clinical trials are explicitly excluded under this opportunity.

Where can project ideas come from?

The announcement notes that strong ideas can originate from multiple sources, including laboratory discoveries, insights from past clinical trial outcomes, population-based or epidemiologic findings, direct clinical experience with MS patients, and well-grounded anecdotal observations that lead to a testable hypothesis.

Is preliminary data required?

Yes. Applications must be supported by preliminary and/or published data that are relevant to MS and directly connected to the proposed project. This requirement signals that the award is intended for well-justified efforts rather than purely speculative early concepts.

Does the supporting data have to be directly related to multiple sclerosis?

Yes. The supporting preliminary and/or published data must be relevant to MS and directly tied to the proposed research plan.

What is the program trying to achieve overall?

The intent is to fund scientifically rigorous research that is likely to produce high-impact advances in MS research and ultimately contribute to patient care by explaining why remyelination often fails and identifying strategies or targets to overcome those barriers.

Are animal models allowed, and are there special requirements?

Animal models may be proposed, but there is a notable requirement: if using animal models of MS or demyelination/remyelination, applicants must carefully justify model selection and explain why the chosen model(s) are relevant to remyelination in human MS.

Why does the announcement emphasize careful selection of animal models?

The opportunity highlights a field-wide concern that many commonly used animal systems rely on induced demyelination or specific genetic manipulations, and the mechanisms behind remyelination failure in those models may not match the true obstacles present in human MS. Reviewers are therefore expected to scrutinize whether the model captures the barrier being studied and whether the findings are plausibly translatable to human disease biology.

What kinds of remyelination barriers might a proposal address?

The announcement gives examples of barriers reviewers may consider when assessing model relevance, such as inhibitory lesion environments, immune-mediated effects on oligodendrocyte lineage cells, age-related changes, astrocytic scarring, or other factors that could block effective remyelination in MS.

Who administers this funding opportunity?

It is a discretionary federal funding program administered by DOD-AMRAA.

What type of award will be made (grant or cooperative agreement)?

The opportunity may be offered as either a grant or a cooperative agreement, depending on the nature of the proposed work and the anticipated level of government involvement.

What does it mean that the program may use a grant or a cooperative agreement?

Based on the description provided, the mechanism (grant versus cooperative agreement) may vary depending on how much involvement the government expects to have in the project. The specific determination is tied to the nature of the proposed work.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning a wide range of organizations may apply, subject to any additional clarifications in the full announcement.

What is the CFDA number for this program?

The CFDA number associated with the program is 12.420.

What is the activity category for this funding opportunity?

The activity category is science and technology research and development.

When was the opportunity posted?

The posting date is April 15, 2016.

What is the application closing date?

The application closing date is August 29, 2016.

How many awards are anticipated?

The opportunity anticipates making about three awards.

What is the maximum award amount (ceiling)?

The award ceiling is shown as 0 in the listing summary, which often indicates the maximum is not provided in that summary record. The ceiling would need to be confirmed in the full funding announcement or program guidelines.

What will reviewers likely look for in a strong application?

Based on the description provided, strong applications will typically combine: a clear MS-relevant rationale focused on remyelination failure; credible supporting preliminary and/or published data directly connected to the project; a rigorous research plan; and, when applicable, a thoughtful and defensible justification for animal model selection and relevance to human MS remyelination challenges.

Can a project be translational without being a clinical trial?

Yes. The opportunity allows translational research and applied preclinical work, while explicitly excluding clinical trials.