DoD Peer Reviewed Medical Investigator-Initiated Research Award | Apply Online

FAQs: DoD PRMRP Investigator-Initiated Research Award (IIRA) (FY2016)

What is the PRMRP Investigator-Initiated Research Award (IIRA)?

The Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP) Investigator-Initiated Research Award (IIRA) is a Department of Defense (DoD) funding opportunity intended to support investigator-driven research studies that can meaningfully advance scientific understanding and/or improve patient care.

What kinds of research ideas is this award trying to fund?

This award is designed for strong, well-justified research ideas that originate from real scientific or clinical observations. The program is not asking applicants to fit a narrowly scripted research plan; it is looking for investigator-initiated concepts with clear potential to move a field forward.

Do projects need to align with specific topic areas?

Yes. Proposed research must address diseases or conditions that fall within at least one of the Congressionally directed FY2016 PRMRP Topic Areas.

Is this opportunity limited to a specific type of institution or applicant?

Eligibility is described as unrestricted, which generally indicates a wide range of applicant organizations may apply. Any additional conditions or nuances would be provided in the full announcement under the eligibility clarification section.

What is the required level of justification or evidence for an application?

A central expectation is that proposals are grounded in a defensible rationale supported by relevant data. Applications must include data supporting why the study is needed and why the proposed approach is likely to work.

What types of supporting data are acceptable?

Supporting evidence can include unpublished preliminary results or evidence from the existing published literature, as long as it credibly strengthens the scientific justification for the proposed work.

Where can good research ideas for this award come from?

The program explicitly recognizes that strong ideas can originate from multiple starting points, including laboratory discoveries, population-based or epidemiological findings, a clinician's day-to-day experience treating patients, or well-documented anecdotal observations.

Does the program require preliminary (unpublished) data?

The summary indicates the application must include supporting data, and it notes that such data may be unpublished preliminary results or may come from published literature. In other words, the support does not have to be unpublished, but it does need to be credible and relevant.

What does "investigator-initiated" mean in this context?

It means the research concept is driven by the applicant (the investigator) rather than being dictated by a narrowly defined research plan from the funder. The emphasis is on the strength and justification of the investigator's idea and its potential impact within the FY2016 PRMRP Topic Areas.

What is the funding opportunity number for this solicitation?

The Funding Opportunity Number is W81XWH-16-PRMRP-IIRA.

Which DoD office released this opportunity?

This opportunity was released by DOD-AMRAA.

What is the CFDA number associated with this program?

The summary lists CFDA 12.420.

What type of government program is this categorized as?

It is categorized as a discretionary science and technology / research and development program.

What award mechanisms are expected (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?

Awards may be made as either grants or cooperative agreements. This means the level of DoD involvement can vary depending on the specific award mechanism and project needs.

What is the difference between a grant and a cooperative agreement for this opportunity?

The provided summary indicates that grants and cooperative agreements differ in the expected level of DoD involvement: a cooperative agreement can involve more DoD involvement than a grant, depending on the project and mechanism used.

When was this opportunity posted?

The posting and creation dates are listed as May 5, 2016.

What was the application deadline?

The closing deadline for submissions was October 19, 2016.

How many awards did the solicitation expect to make?

The solicitation anticipated making around 47 awards.

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

No. The award ceiling is not specified in the provided summary. Applicants would typically need to consult the full funding announcement for budget caps, project period limits, and any cost restrictions.

Does the summary state a maximum project period or duration?

No. The summary does not include project period limits. Those details would normally be found in the full funding announcement.

What is the overall goal or emphasis of the IIRA?

The IIRA emphasizes contribution and relevance. The proposed work should be more than scientifically interesting; it should plausibly connect to improving knowledge, outcomes, and/or patient care for the targeted medical conditions within one or more FY2016 PRMRP Topic Areas.

Who is this award best suited for?

Based on the summary, it is positioned for researchers with a well-formed, data-supported hypothesis and a study plan capable of generating impactful results tied directly to one or more FY2016 PRMRP Topic Areas.

Does the program allow ideas originating from clinical practice or anecdotal observations?

Yes. The summary explicitly notes that ideas may come from clinical experience and well-documented anecdotal observations, as long as the application includes relevant data and a defensible rationale.