Opportunity Information: Apply for W81XWH 20 ERP IDA
The DoD Epilepsy Research Program (ERP) Idea Development Award (IDA), FY20, is a discretionary research funding opportunity run through the Department of Defense (DoD), U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA), under CFDA 12.420. Its purpose is to stimulate novel, creative, and paradigm-challenging research focused on post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE), particularly work that helps clarify how big the PTE problem is and what biological or clinical mechanisms drive it. The program is explicitly looking for ideas that are innovative and high-impact, and the expected payoff should matter to military Service members, Veterans, and civilians affected by traumatic brain injury (TBI) and subsequent epilepsy. Applications are expected to be built around both innovation (new concepts, tools, or approaches) and impact (a clear path to meaningful advances for PTE understanding, prevention, detection, or care).
Applicants are encouraged to align their projects with one of the FY20 IDA Focus Areas, although proposals outside these areas are still allowed if the applicant makes a strong case for why the work fits the ERP mission. The first major focus area is Innovative Research Tools, which covers enabling capabilities that change how PTE research can be done. This includes developing hardware or software to improve seizure detection, characterization, or diagnosis; bioinformatics and machine learning approaches that make it easier to access, annotate, curate, and visualize large or complex datasets (including data drawn from multiple sources); creating new PTE-relevant models or improving the characterization of existing etiologically relevant models; mapping and better defining the neural circuits involved in PTE; and validating biological targets involved in post-traumatic epileptogenesis or in established PTE. A second focus area, Markers and Mechanisms, centers on identifying markers or mechanistic pathways using preclinical models, with potential applications to biomarkers, treatment, prevention, diagnosis, prognosis, and comorbidity. A third focus area, Epidemiology, supports population-level characterization of PTE after TBI, including risk factors (demographics, genetics, anatomy, pathology, injury type), outcomes (latency to epilepsy, comorbidities, mortality), the role of pre-existing psychological or psychiatric conditions, treatment and healthcare outcomes research, and efforts to distinguish PTE from psychogenic non-epileptic seizures. A fourth focus area, Longitudinal Studies, emphasizes tracking how PTE evolves over time, including seizure frequency and semiology, links to patient and injury characteristics, comorbidities such as depression or sleep disorders, latency from injury to epilepsy, mortality, and treatment and healthcare outcomes.
The FY20 IDA is offered at two funding levels designed for different career stages and project maturities. Funding Level I is structured to support investigators who are still developing toward independence. The Principal Investigator (PI) can come from any discipline, but the application must include at least one Mentor with strong qualifications and experience specifically in PTE research. The PI is responsible for writing the Project Narrative and assembling the application, with active guidance from the Mentor(s). The application needs to spell out how mentoring will work in practice, including the frequency and types of PI-mentor interactions, how the Mentor(s) will support the PI throughout the project period, and evidence that the Mentor(s) have successfully mentored early-career investigators in TBI and PTE-related research. Even at Level I, the PI is still expected to show enough experience to credibly complete the proposed work. Funding Level II is intended for a more mature project that is hypothesis- or objective-driven, and study teams are expected to demonstrate experience spanning both TBI and epilepsy. Like Level I, Level II is open to applicants from any field or discipline, but the expectations for demonstrated expertise and project readiness are higher.
For both funding levels, preliminary data are encouraged but not mandatory. When included, preliminary data can come from the PI's prior publications, pilot studies, or relevant peer-reviewed literature; for Level I in particular, it is acceptable for preliminary support to draw from the Mentor(s) published work. Awards under this announcement are issued as assistance agreements, meaning the government is supporting a public-purpose research effort rather than buying a product or service for direct government use. The specific mechanism can be either a grant or a cooperative agreement, and that choice depends on the degree of anticipated DoD involvement during performance. If substantial involvement is expected (for example, collaboration, participation, or intervention in aspects of the research), the award would be a cooperative agreement; if not, it would be a standard grant. The final award type and start date are determined during negotiations.
The budget caps are expressed in direct costs over the full period of performance: up to $300,000 for Funding Level I and up to $500,000 for Funding Level II (with applicants directed to the program announcement for detailed restrictions). The program anticipated making roughly five awards total, with an estimated overall allocation of about $0.96 million for approximately two Level I awards and about $2.4 million for approximately three Level II awards, though actual funding depends on federal appropriations, application volume, and the scientific and programmatic review outcomes. The opportunity (W81XWH-20-ERP-IDA) was posted May 19, 2020, with an original closing date of July 21, 2020, and planned award decisions no later than September 30, 2021. Funding for awards made under this FY20 opportunity was expected to use FY20 funds that remain available for use until September 30, 2026. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted (open to any entity type), subject to any clarifications provided in the full announcement text.Apply for W81XWH 20 ERP IDA
- The Department of Defense, Dept. of the Army -- USAMRAA in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "DoD Epilepsy, Idea Development Award" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.420.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 19, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 21, 2020. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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FAQs: DoD Epilepsy Research Program (ERP) Idea Development Award (IDA), FY20
What is the FY20 ERP Idea Development Award (IDA)?
The FY20 DoD Epilepsy Research Program (ERP) Idea Development Award (IDA) is a discretionary research funding opportunity managed by the Department of Defense (DoD) through the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA). It is listed under CFDA 12.420 and supports research related to post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE).
What is the purpose of this funding opportunity?
The purpose is to stimulate novel, creative, and paradigm-challenging research focused on post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE), especially research that clarifies the scope of the PTE problem and identifies biological or clinical mechanisms driving PTE. The program emphasizes both innovation (new concepts, tools, or approaches) and impact (a credible path to meaningful advances in PTE understanding, prevention, detection, or care).
What health condition and population does the program focus on?
The program focuses on post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE) following traumatic brain injury (TBI). It seeks outcomes that matter for military Service members, Veterans, and civilians affected by TBI and subsequent epilepsy.
What types of projects are considered a good fit?
Projects are expected to be innovative and high-impact, with a clear payoff for improving how PTE is understood, prevented, detected, or treated/cared for. The program is particularly interested in research that challenges existing paradigms and improves understanding of the magnitude of PTE and the mechanisms behind it.
Do applicants have to align with specific focus areas?
Applicants are encouraged to align with one of the FY20 IDA Focus Areas. However, proposals outside the listed focus areas may still be considered if the application makes a strong case that the work fits the ERP mission.
What are the FY20 IDA Focus Areas?
The FY20 IDA Focus Areas are:
- Innovative Research Tools
- Markers and Mechanisms
- Epidemiology
- Longitudinal Studies
What is included under the Innovative Research Tools focus area?
This focus area supports enabling capabilities that change how PTE research can be done, including:
- Developing hardware or software to improve seizure detection, characterization, or diagnosis
- Bioinformatics and machine learning approaches to access, annotate, curate, and visualize large or complex datasets (including multi-source data)
- Creating new PTE-relevant models or improving characterization of etiologically relevant models
- Mapping and defining neural circuits involved in PTE
- Validating biological targets involved in post-traumatic epileptogenesis or established PTE
What is included under the Markers and Mechanisms focus area?
This focus area emphasizes identifying markers or mechanistic pathways using preclinical models, with potential applications to biomarkers, treatment, prevention, diagnosis, prognosis, and comorbidity.
What is included under the Epidemiology focus area?
This focus area supports population-level characterization of PTE after TBI, including:
- Risk factors (demographics, genetics, anatomy, pathology, injury type)
- Outcomes (latency to epilepsy, comorbidities, mortality)
- The role of pre-existing psychological or psychiatric conditions
- Treatment and healthcare outcomes research
- Distinguishing PTE from psychogenic non-epileptic seizures
What is included under the Longitudinal Studies focus area?
This focus area supports tracking how PTE evolves over time, including:
- Seizure frequency and semiology
- Links to patient and injury characteristics
- Comorbidities (for example, depression or sleep disorders)
- Latency from injury to epilepsy
- Mortality
- Treatment and healthcare outcomes
How many funding levels are available under this opportunity?
There are two funding levels: Funding Level I and Funding Level II. They are designed for different career stages and different levels of project maturity.
What is Funding Level I intended to support?
Funding Level I is structured to support investigators who are still developing toward independence. The PI may come from any discipline, but the application must include at least one Mentor with strong qualifications and specific experience in PTE research.
What mentoring requirements apply to Funding Level I?
Funding Level I applications must describe a practical mentoring plan, including:
- The frequency and types of PI-mentor interactions
- How the Mentor(s) will support the PI throughout the project period
- Evidence the Mentor(s) have successfully mentored early-career investigators in TBI- and PTE-related research
The PI is responsible for writing the Project Narrative and assembling the application, with active guidance from the Mentor(s).
Does the Funding Level I PI need prior experience?
Yes. Even at Level I, the PI is expected to demonstrate enough experience to credibly complete the proposed work.
What is Funding Level II intended to support?
Funding Level II is intended for a more mature project that is hypothesis- or objective-driven. Study teams are expected to demonstrate experience spanning both traumatic brain injury (TBI) and epilepsy.
Are applicants limited to specific disciplines?
No. For both Level I and Level II, the opportunity is open to applicants from any field or discipline, although Level II has higher expectations for demonstrated expertise and project readiness.
Is preliminary data required?
No. Preliminary data are encouraged but not required for either funding level.
What sources of preliminary data are acceptable if included?
If included, preliminary data may come from the PI's prior publications, pilot studies, or relevant peer-reviewed literature. For Funding Level I, preliminary support may also draw from the Mentor(s) published work.
What type of award mechanism is used?
Awards are issued as assistance agreements, supporting a public-purpose research effort rather than the government purchasing a product or service for direct government use.
Is this a grant or a cooperative agreement?
It can be either. The mechanism may be a grant or a cooperative agreement, depending on how much DoD involvement is anticipated during performance.
When would a cooperative agreement be used instead of a grant?
A cooperative agreement would be used if substantial DoD involvement is expected, such as collaboration, participation, or intervention in aspects of the research. If substantial involvement is not expected, the award would typically be a standard grant.
Who determines the final award type and start date?
The final award type (grant vs. cooperative agreement) and the start date are determined during negotiations.
What are the budget caps for this opportunity?
The budget caps are stated in direct costs over the full period of performance:
- Funding Level I: up to $300,000 (direct costs)
- Funding Level II: up to $500,000 (direct costs)
Applicants are directed to the program announcement for detailed budget restrictions.
How many awards does the program expect to make?
The program anticipated making roughly five awards total, though the actual number depends on federal appropriations, application volume, and scientific and programmatic review outcomes.
How much total funding was estimated for this FY20 opportunity?
The estimated overall allocation described was about $0.96 million for approximately two Funding Level I awards and about $2.4 million for approximately three Funding Level II awards, subject to appropriations and review outcomes.
What is the opportunity number and when was it posted?
The opportunity is identified as W81XWH-20-ERP-IDA. It was posted on May 19, 2020.
What was the original closing date?
The original closing date was July 21, 2020.
When were award decisions planned by?
Award decisions were planned no later than September 30, 2021.
How long were FY20 funds expected to remain available?
Funding for awards made under this FY20 opportunity was expected to use FY20 funds that remain available until September 30, 2026.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted (open to any entity type), subject to any clarifications in the full announcement text.
What administering organization runs this opportunity?
The opportunity is run through the Department of Defense (DoD), U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA), under the DoD Epilepsy Research Program (ERP).
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