Multiple Sclerosis Metric Development and Validation Award | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is this funding opportunity?

The FY09 Department of Defense Multiple Sclerosis Metric Development and Validation Award (MSRP MDVA) is a research funding opportunity focused on speeding progress in multiple sclerosis (MS) by improving how the disease is measured. Its core goal is to support projects that develop and/or validate practical, readily accessible, and cost-effective analytical methods (metrics) to quantify MS, track progression over time, and/or assess response to therapy.

2) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?

The Funding Opportunity Number is W81XWH 09 MSRP MDVA.

3) Who is offering this grant?

This is a discretionary federal opportunity offered by the Department of the Army through USAMRAA (U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity).

4) What CFDA program does this fall under?

This opportunity is under CFDA 12.420, Military Medical Research and Development.

5) What type of funding instrument will be used?

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

6) What is the main purpose of the award?

The central purpose is to improve MS measurement by supporting rigorous development and systematic validation of metrics, with a major emphasis on measurement quality, especially reproducibility and accuracy. The expectation is that resulting tools will be broadly useful in clinical and research settings and provide a clear, high-impact payoff for the MS community.

7) What kinds of projects does the program want to fund?

Projects are expected to address a central, critical measurement gap in MS research where current tools are not sensitive enough, not specific enough, too costly, too inconsistent, or otherwise inadequate. The program is especially interested in metrics that would materially improve the ability to run informative experiments and studies aligned with the MSRP vision (preventing MS, reversing or slowing progression and disability, and reducing overall impact).

8) Can a project focus on validating an existing metric, or must it create something new?

Both are within scope. The announcement emphasizes systematic validation of both existing measures and novel approaches, as long as the validation is rigorous and focuses on high-quality measurement (reproducibility and accuracy).

9) What does the program mean by "metrics"?

Metrics are analytical methods or measures that can quantify MS, track disease progression over time, and/or assess how well therapies are working. The announcement highlights practical, readily accessible, and cost-effective metrics.

10) What are examples of project concepts mentioned in the announcement?

Examples include: metrics that predict prognosis or monitor progression within individual patients; disease activity or severity measures suited for longitudinal studies; new ways to integrate and validate existing datasets; measures tailored to specific MS subgroups (including ethnicity considerations); and quick, inexpensive function-specific tests to quantify changes in physical or cognitive performance before and after a defined workload.

11) Which topic areas are specifically highlighted as being of strong interest?

The announcement highlights several broad categories of metrics, provided they are developed and validated in a rigorous, systematic way. These include biometrics/biomarkers (CNS autoimmunity and tissue injury/repair), cognitive disability metrics, imaging metrics, multidimensional/composite metrics, physical disability metrics, and quality-of-life metrics.

12) What types of biomarkers and biometrics are mentioned?

Examples mentioned include markers related to central nervous system autoimmunity and tissue injury or repair, such as demyelination, axonal degeneration, and synaptic regeneration. The announcement also mentions indicators tied to microbial exposure, nutrition, gene expression patterns, epigenetics, or genetic susceptibility.

13) What kinds of cognitive disability metrics are included?

Cognitive disability metrics that quantify deficits in areas such as memory, attention, visual perception, processing speed, and executive function are included.

14) What imaging approaches are called out?

Imaging metrics are a major area of interest, including approaches based on MRI, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and PET.

15) What are multidimensional metrics in this context?

Multidimensional metrics include approaches such as algorithms that combine multiple measures into a composite indicator.

16) What physical disability measures are of interest?

Physical disability metrics that capture movement, strength, speed, coordination, dexterity, and/or reliance on assistive devices are included.

17) Are quality-of-life (QoL) measures within scope?

Yes. Quality-of-life metrics are included, covering issues such as pain, fatigue, sleep disorders, depression, anger, sexual dysfunction, and comorbidities.

18) Are clinical trials allowed under this award?

No. Clinical trials are not allowed under this mechanism. Applicants are directed to the program's clinical trials guidance (referenced as Appendix 6 in the application instructions) to ensure proposed work does not cross into prohibited clinical trial activities.

19) Is preliminary data required?

No. Preliminary data are encouraged to support MS relevance and feasibility, but they are not required.

20) If preliminary data are included, are there restrictions on where they can come from?

Yes. If preliminary data are included, they must come from the Principal Investigator's laboratory or from collaborators named in the application.

21) Does the program allow innovative or higher-risk ideas?

The program is open to innovative and potentially higher-risk ideas, but proposals are still expected to be based on a strong scientific rationale grounded in logical reasoning and/or careful analysis of the existing literature.

22) What does the announcement emphasize about measurement quality?

A major emphasis is placed on measurement quality, especially reproducibility and accuracy, along with systematic validation.

23) What is the estimated total funding available?

The estimated total funding for the announcement is $1.4 million.

24) How many awards are expected?

The announcement expects nine awards.

25) Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement.

26) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), subject to any additional eligibility notes in the full announcement.

27) When was the opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted on June 18, 2009.

28) What is the application deadline?

The application deadline is November 24, 2009.

29) When is the archive date?

The archive date is December 24, 2009.

30) Where can applicants get help accessing the announcement or submitting an application?

The notice lists support contacts including PA HELP (301-619-7079; cdmrp.pa@amedd.army.mil), eReceipt HELP (301-682-5507; help@cdmrp.org), and the CDMRP Help Desk.