DoD Peer Reviewed Alzheimers Military Risk Factors Research Award | Apply Online

FAQs: DoD Peer Reviewed Alzheimers Military Risk Factors Research Award (MRFA) (FY2014)

What is the MRFA opportunity?

The Peer Reviewed Alzheimers Military Risk Factors Research Award (MRFA) was a FY2014 Department of Defense funding opportunity offered under the Peer Reviewed Alzheimers Research Program (PRARP) and administered by the Department of the Army (USAMRAA).

What was the main goal of this award?

The primary goal was to drive high-impact, systematic, population-based clinical research to clarify whether and how traumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with the later development of Alzheimers disease (AD), with particular relevance to military Veterans and other populations affected by TBI.

What major gap was this program trying to address?

The program targeted a key gap identified by the DoD: too few clinical studies and research resources capable of realistically examining the TBI-to-AD relationship in well-characterized human populations.

What kind of studies were expected (population-based, clinical, etc.)?

The solicitation emphasized systematic, population-based clinical research in humans, designed to produce interpretable results within the award period and to strengthen understanding of risk and disease processes related to TBI and later AD.

Were applicants expected to build a new cohort as part of the project?

No. The opportunity explicitly signaled that speculative or early-stage cohort-building work was not what the DoD wanted for this mechanism. Proposals were expected to leverage a well-defined, already identified cohort.

What did the solicitation require regarding the study cohort?

Applicants needed to specify exactly which cohort would be used, demonstrate expedited access to that cohort, explain how participants would be accessed and evaluated without major delays, and justify why the cohort was appropriate for testing the proposed hypothesis or hypotheses.

What did "move quickly" mean in practical proposal terms?

It meant showing that the cohort already existed and was already identified, and that the research team had a credible, expedited path to accessing participants and collecting or using needed data during the award period.

Was preliminary data required?

Yes. The solicitation required preliminary data that directly supported the planned use of the cohort and strongly backed the proposed research hypothesis or hypotheses, not just general feasibility statements.

What did the MRFA expect regarding the TBI-to-AD association being studied?

Applicants were expected to be explicit about how they would characterize the association between TBI exposure and subsequent AD outcomes, including clear definitions and measurements of exposure and outcomes and careful study design considerations.

What kinds of confounding factors were applicants expected to address?

The announcement emphasized thoughtful handling of confounders common in military and Veteran populations, as part of a rigorous approach to analyzing the TBI-to-AD relationship.

What types of outcomes and symptoms were emphasized?

The MRFA specifically called for assessing cognitive and behavioral symptoms that translate into functional impairments, indicating an interest in real-world consequences of neurodegenerative change rather than relying only on diagnostic labels.

Were multi-modal or complementary measurement approaches encouraged?

Yes. Studies were encouraged to use combinations of complementary measures, such as neuropsychological testing alongside imaging, genomics, and cerebrospinal fluid measures, to improve mechanistic interpretation and strengthen confidence in findings.

What were the two main scientific focus areas highlighted in the opportunity?

The opportunity highlighted two focus areas: (1) Genomics/Proteomics/Bioinformatics and (2) Imaging, in addition to the overarching challenge of clarifying the TBI-to-AD relationship.

What types of work fit under the Genomics/Proteomics/Bioinformatics focus area?

This focus area included genetic, proteomic, epigenetic, and related computational strategies to characterize neurological changes linked to TBI and later AD, including development or evaluation of relevant technologies or tests.

What types of work fit under the Imaging focus area?

This focus area emphasized the development and application of anatomic and molecular imaging methods to detect and track neurological changes associated with TBI and subsequent AD.

Could a project be proposed outside the two highlighted focus areas?

Yes. Projects could fall outside the Genomics/Proteomics/Bioinformatics and Imaging areas, but applicants would need a strong justification showing how their approach still advanced the program goals.

Were pharmacologic intervention studies supported?

They were discouraged. The solicitation discouraged projects centered on pharmacologic interventions, including studies requiring investigational drugs or even FDA-approved drugs.

Was drug discovery or development an intended use of this award?

No. Drug discovery and development efforts aimed at producing new therapeutic agents were discouraged. The award was positioned toward clinical and translational research that improves understanding, characterization, and measurement of risk and disease processes rather than creating or testing medicines.

What funding mechanisms were used for MRFA?

This was a discretionary DoD research funding opportunity offered as grants and cooperative agreements.

How much total funding was estimated, and how many awards were expected?

The estimated total funding level was $5.5 million, with an expectation of one award.

Was cost sharing required?

No. Cost sharing was not required.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was described as unrestricted, subject to any additional eligibility details in the full announcement.

What was the CFDA number for this opportunity?

The opportunity was listed under CFDA 12.420 (Military Medical Research and Development).

When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?

It was posted on September 11, 2014, and closed on January 14, 2015.

Where were applicants directed for help with application system issues?

Program support for application system issues was routed through the CDMRP help desk.

Which organizations were involved in offering and administering the opportunity?

The opportunity was part of the DoD PRARP and was administered through the Department of the Army (USAMRAA).