DOD Neurofibromatosis Investigator Initiated Research Award | Apply Online

Opportunity Summary:

The DOD Neurofibromatosis Investigator Initiated Research Award (IIRA) is a funding opportunity under the Department of Defense Neurofibromatosis Research Program (NFRP) that supports investigator-driven projects focused on neurofibromatosis (NF) and related conditions, including schwannomatosis. This award mechanism has been in place since FY96 and, as of the FY09 cycle described here, it has attracted substantial interest (293 applications received historically, with 86 recommended for funding). The program is geared toward both basic science and clinically oriented research, but with a clear emphasis on work that can meaningfully shift the field forward by improving understanding of disease development, advancing diagnosis and treatment approaches, and ultimately improving quality of life for people living with NF and schwannomatosis.

For FY09, the announcement highlights specific “areas of encouragement” that reflect major unmet needs in the NF community. One major priority is research on high-mortality complications, particularly tumors (neoplasms) and cerebrovascular abnormalities. A second priority is high-morbidity complications that can severely affect daily functioning and long-term outcomes, including skeletal problems, learning and cognitive deficits, hormone-related effects, and pain. A third priority focuses on the tools needed to run better studies and future trials, encouraging refinement and standardization of imaging methods, molecular and cellular markers, and quality-of-life metrics so that results can be compared across sites and used reliably in later-stage clinical research. A fourth priority is translational research, especially the development or preclinical testing of therapeutic agents intended to treat NF, which signals the program’s interest in bridging laboratory discoveries toward interventions that could eventually reach patients.

A key boundary of the IIRA mechanism is that clinical trials are not permitted. Investigators who want to run an actual clinical trial are directed to apply through a separate Clinical Trial Award mechanism instead. Even though clinical trials are excluded, the program still expects applications to be grounded in evidence: proposals must include preliminary data that is relevant to NF and to the proposed project, and that data must originate from the principal investigator, the research team, or a collaborator. This requirement signals that the program is looking for projects that are ready to move beyond purely speculative ideas and have a credible foundation suggesting feasibility and relevance.

Collaboration is strongly encouraged and is treated as a programmatic strength rather than an optional add-on. The announcement specifically supports partnerships between basic scientists and clinical researchers, and also collaborations spanning academia and biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry. The intent is to bring together complementary expertise, speed up translation, and introduce new perspectives or disciplines into NF research. The notice also states that certain collaborations that meet defined criteria can qualify for a higher level of funding, with details referenced in the full program announcement, indicating that the funder is willing to invest more when the team structure is likely to amplify impact.

Administratively, this opportunity was issued by the Department of the Army through USAMRAA under CFDA 12.420 (Military Medical Research and Development). The funding instrument type is listed as grant/cooperative agreement, with no cost sharing or matching requirement. For the FY09 cycle captured in the listing, the program anticipated about 5 awards from an estimated total funding pool of $4.6 million. Eligibility is described as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), subject to any additional eligibility clarifications in the full text. Key dates for that cycle include a posted date of January 20, 2009 and an application closing date of April 14, 2009 (archived May 14, 2009). Contact and help resources are provided through the CDMRP/USAMRAA support channels for assistance accessing the announcement and for electronic submission troubleshooting.

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