Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA Grants

Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA

<p><strong>Summary:</strong> The fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Prostate Cancer Research Program (PCRP) Data Science Award (DSA) supports research that develops or uses quantitative and analytical approaches, processes and/or systems to obtain knowledge and insight from large and/or complex sets of prostate cancer data in one or more of the following research areas: Analysis of clinically annotated datasets; analysis of -omics data; artificial intelligence and machine learning; bioinformatics; computational biology; digital pathology; epidemiology; and medical imaging. All applications must address one of the <a href="https://militaryhealth-my.sharepoint-mil.us/personal/teresa_m_parkerreeser_civ_health_mil/Documents/Documents/FY%202026/PCRP/HT942526PCRPDSA_for%20GO%20review.docx#Overarching_Challenges" target="_blank">FY26 PCRP Overarching Challenges</a>.</p> <p><br></p> <p><strong>Distinctive Features: This funding mechanism allows for multiple Principal Investigators (PIs).</strong> Only the initiating PI will submit a pre-application, but all PIs will need to submit full applications. The partnering PI application is an abbreviated package specific to their distinct portion of the research project. Be advised, all associated applications for a research project may be withdrawn if the initiating or partnering application is rejected or administratively withdrawn.</p> <p><br></p> <p><br></p>

Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA

<p><strong>Summary:</strong> The fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Prostate Cancer Research Program (PCRP) Physician Research Award (PRA) Supports a mentored research experience to prepare physicians with clinical duties for careers in prostate cancer research. All applications must address one of the <a href="https://militaryhealth-my.sharepoint-mil.us/personal/teresa_m_parkerreeser_civ_health_mil/Documents/Documents/FY%202026/PCRP/HT942526PCRPPRA_for%20GO%20review.docx#Overarching_Challenges" target="_blank">FY26 PCRP Overarching Challenges</a>.</p> <p><strong>Distinctive Features:</strong><strong style="color: red;"> </strong></p> <p><span style="color: black;">·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><strong style="color: black;">Early-Career Clinician Investigator:</strong><span style="color: black;"> Serves as the Principal Investigator (PI). Includes investigators with clinical duties in the last year of an accredited medical residency or medical fellowship program, or within five years of initiating a faculty appointment. </span></p> <p><span style="color: black;">·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><strong style="color: black;">Mentorship:</strong><span style="color: black;"> Applications must include at least one mentor who demonstrates experience in prostate cancer research and successful mentorship.</span></p> <p><span style="color: black;">·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><strong style="color: black;">Researcher Development Plan:</strong><span style="color: black;"> Applications must include a research development plan articulating an individualized strategy for acquiring necessary skills, competence and expertise to complete the projects and foster the PI’s career development.</span></p> <p><br></p> <p><a href="https://cdmrp.health.mil/pubs/press/2026/pcrppreann" target="_blank">https://cdmrp.health.mil/pubs/press/2026/pcrppreann</a></p>

Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA

<p><strong>Summary:</strong> The fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Lung Cancer Research Program (LCRP) Translational Research Award (TRA) supports advanced translational research that will foster transformation of promising ideas in lung cancer into clinical applications. Research must address at least one of the FY26 LCRP areas of emphasis.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Distinctive Features:</strong> This funding mechanism intends to support a broad range of translational studies and allows application submission under: Funding Level 1 – Advanced/late-stage preclinical work or correlative studies; or Funding Level 2 – Pilot clinical trials of novel interventions.</p>

Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA

<p><strong>Summary:</strong> The fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Prostate Cancer Research Program (PCRP) Early Investigator Research Award (EIRA) supports prostate cancer research conducted by investigators in the early stages of their careers with guidance from an experienced mentor. All applications must address one of the <a href="https://militaryhealth-my.sharepoint-mil.us/personal/teresa_m_parkerreeser_civ_health_mil/Documents/Documents/FY%202026/PCRP/HT942526PCRPEIRA_for%20GO%20review.docx#Overarching_Challenges" target="_blank">FY26 PCRP Overarching Challenges</a>.<strong style="color: rgb(0, 176, 80);"><em> </em></strong></p> <p><br></p> <p><strong>Distinctive Features:</strong><strong style="color: red;"> </strong></p> <p><span style="color: black;">·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><strong style="color: black;">Early-Career Investigator:</strong><span style="color: black;"> Serves as the principal investigator. Includes investigators possessing a doctoral degree or equivalent with fewer than three years of postdoctoral research experience at the application submission deadline, excluding clinical residency or clinical fellowship training.</span></p> <p><span style="color: black;">·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><strong style="color: black;">Mentorship:</strong><span style="color: black;"> Applications must include at least one mentor who demonstrates experience in prostate cancer research and successful mentorship.</span></p> <p><span style="color: black;">·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><strong style="color: black;">Researcher Development Plan: </strong><span style="color: black;">Applications must include a researcher development plan articulating an individualized strategy for acquiring necessary skills, competence, and expertise to complete the project and foster the Principal Investigator’s (PI’s) career development</span></p> <p><br></p> <p><br></p>

Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA

Summary: The fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Lung Cancer Research Program (LCRP) Patient-Centered Outcomes and Survivorship Award (PCOSA) promotes evidence-based and patient-centered approaches to improve health and lung cancer related outcomes and enhance the patient experience in defined populations. Research must address at least one of the FY26 LCRP areas of emphasis in the Health Outcomes and Survivorship category.Distinctive Features: This funding mechanism requires the research team to include an advocate who is a lung cancer patient/survivor or caregiver. This funding mechanism allows proposed projects to include translational or clinical research, including pilot clinical trials.

Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA

Summary: The fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Lung Cancer Research Program (LCRP) Idea Development Award (IDA) supports conceptually innovative, high-risk/high-reward research that could lead to critical discoveries or major advancements that will accelerate progress toward eradicating deaths and suffering from lung cancer. This mechanism promotes new ideas that are in the early stages of development and have the potential to yield impactful data and new avenues of investigation. Research must address at least one of the FY26 LCRP areas of emphasis.Distinctive Features: This FY26 LCRP IDA mechanism has a New Investigator category that is designed to allow applicants early in their faculty appointments to compete for funding separately from established investigators. Preliminary data to support the feasibility of the research hypotheses and research approaches are required; however, these data do not necessarily need to be derived from studies of lung cancer.

Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA

Summary: The fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Prostate Cancer Research Program (PCRP) Idea Development Award (IDA) supports new ideas that represent innovative approaches to prostate cancer research and have the potential to make an important contribution to the PCRP mission. All applications must address one of the FY26 PCRP Overarching Challenges. Distinctive Features: New Investigator Category: In addition to established investigators, the FY26 PCRP Idea Development Award encourages research ideas from investigators in the early stages of their careers (i.e., within 10 years after completion of their terminal degree). Qualified new investigators must identify a collaborator(s) experienced in prostate cancer research. https://cdmrp.health.mil/pubs/press/2026/pcrppreann

Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA

Summary: The fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Prostate Cancer Research Program (PCRP) Early Investigator Research Award (EIRA) supports prostate cancer research conducted by investigators in the early stages of their careers with guidance from an experienced mentor. All applications must address one of the FY26 PCRP Overarching Challenges. Distinctive Features: Early-Career Investigator: Serves as the principal investigator. Includes investigators possessing a doctoral degree or equivalent with fewer than three years of postdoctoral research experience at the application submission deadline, excluding clinical residency or clinical fellowship training. Mentorship: Applications must include at least one mentor who demonstrates experience in prostate cancer research and successful mentorship. Researcher Development Plan: Applications must include a researcher development plan articulating an individualized strategy for acquiring necessary skills, competence, and expertise to complete the project and foster the Principal Investigator s (PI s) career development

Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA

Summary: The fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Prostate Cancer Research Program (PCRP) Data Science Award (DSA) supports research that develops or uses quantitative and analytical approaches, processes and/or systems to obtain knowledge and insight from large and/or complex sets of prostate cancer data in one or more of the following research areas: Analysis of clinically annotated datasets; analysis of -omics data; artificial intelligence and machine learning; bioinformatics; computational biology; digital pathology; epidemiology; and medical imaging. All applications must address one of the FY26 PCRP Overarching Challenges. Distinctive Features: This funding mechanism allows for multiple Principal Investigators (PIs). Only the initiating PI will submit a pre-application, but all PIs will need to submit full applications. The partnering PI application is an abbreviated package specific to their distinct portion of the research project. Be advised, all associated applications for a research project may be withdrawn if the initiating or partnering application is rejected or administratively withdrawn.

Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA

<p><strong>Summary: </strong>The fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Lung Cancer Research Program (LCRP) Idea Development Award (IDA) supports conceptually innovative, high-risk/high-reward research that could lead to critical discoveries or major advancements that will accelerate progress toward eradicating deaths and suffering from lung cancer. This mechanism promotes new ideas that are in the early stages of development and have the potential to yield impactful data and new avenues of investigation. Research must address at least one of the FY26 LCRP areas of emphasis.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Distinctive Features:</strong> This FY26 LCRP IDA mechanism has a New Investigator category that is designed to allow applicants early in their faculty appointments to compete for funding separately from established investigators. Preliminary data to support the feasibility of the research hypotheses and research approaches are required; however, these data do not necessarily need to be derived from studies of lung cancer.</p>

Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA

Summary: The fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Prostate Cancer Research Program (PCRP) Physician Research Award (PRA) Supports a mentored research experience to prepare physicians with clinical duties for careers in prostate cancer research. All applications must address one of the FY26 PCRP Overarching Challenges. Distinctive Features: Early-Career Clinician Investigator: Serves as the Principal Investigator (PI). Includes investigators with clinical duties in the last year of an accredited medical residency or medical fellowship program, or within five years of initiating a faculty appointment. Mentorship: Applications must include at least one mentor who demonstrates experience in prostate cancer research and successful mentorship. Researcher Development Plan: Applications must include a research development plan articulating an individualized strategy for acquiring necessary skills, competence and expertise to complete the projects and foster the PI s career development. https://cdmrp.health.mil/pubs/press/2026/pcrppreann

Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA

Summary: The fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Lung Cancer Research Program (LCRP) Translational Research Award (TRA) supports advanced translational research that will foster transformation of promising ideas in lung cancer into clinical applications. Research must address at least one of the FY26 LCRP areas of emphasis.Distinctive Features: This funding mechanism intends to support a broad range of translational studies and allows application submission under: Funding Level 1 Advanced/late-stage preclinical work or correlative studies; or Funding Level 2 Pilot clinical trials of novel interventions.

Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA

<p><strong>Summary:</strong> The fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Vision Research Program (VRP) Mentored Clinical Research Award (MCRA) supports patient-oriented vision injury research conducted by highly motivated military or civilian clinicians in training. The MCRA may be used to support a standalone study of high impact to vision injury care or the generation of clinical research data in preparation for a more expansive study. Research must align with at least one of the <a href="https://militaryhealth-my.sharepoint-mil.us/personal/teresa_m_parkerreeser_civ_health_mil/Documents/Documents/FY%202026/VRP/HT942526VRPMCRA_GG.docx#FocusAreas" target="_blank">FY26 VRP Focus Areas</a>. The MCRA may<strong> not</strong> be used to support preclinical research or <a href="https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/gai.htm?version=CD26_01#_Definition_List:~:text=or%20hardware%20procurement.-,Clinical%20Trial%3A,-As%20defined%20in" target="_blank">clinical trials</a>.</p> <p><strong>Distinctive Features: </strong></p> <p>·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Key personnel must include an established clinician or Ph.D. clinical scientist, who will serve as Principal Investigator (PI) and a clinician in training (e.g., a fellow, resident, junior clinician, clinician in a Ph.D. program), who will conduct the proposed research under mentorship of the PI, with support from supporting personnel as appropriate.</p> <p>·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The clinician in training should have sufficient time remaining in their training program to complete the research proposed under the MCRA.&nbsp;</p> <p>·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Scored<strong> </strong><a href="https://militaryhealth-my.sharepoint-mil.us/personal/teresa_m_parkerreeser_civ_health_mil/Documents/Documents/FY%202026/VRP/HT942526VRPMCRA_GG.docx#PeerReviewCriteria622" target="_blank"><strong>peer review criteria</strong></a> include Research Idea/Rationale, Research Strategy and Feasibility, Impact and Personnel.</p> <p>·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://militaryhealth-my.sharepoint-mil.us/personal/teresa_m_parkerreeser_civ_health_mil/Documents/Documents/FY%202026/VRP/HT942526VRPMCRA_GG.docx#Programmatic_Review" target="_blank"><strong>Programmatic review criteria</strong></a> include adherence to the intent of the MCRA, contribution to program portfolio, relative impact and relevance to military health.</p> <p>·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Applicants must submit <strong>documentation of Institutional Review Board (IRB)/Ethics Committee (EC) approval or exemption</strong> by <strong>January 1, 2027</strong>, in order for the MCRA application to be considered for funding.&nbsp;</p> <p><br></p> <p><a href="https://cdmrp.health.mil/pubs/press/2026/vrppreann" target="_blank">https://cdmrp.health.mil/pubs/press/2026/vrppreann</a></p>

Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA

<p><strong>Summary:</strong> The fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Hearing Restoration Research Program (HRRP) Focused Research Award (FRA) supports promising research that accelerates drug discovery and therapeutic development for hearing restoration after military-relevant auditory system injury. The FRA may be used to support preclinical studies and/or clinical research. Research must align with at least one of the FY26 HRRP Focus Areas. The FRA cannot be used to support clinical trials, tinnitus research or vestibular research.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Distinctive Features:</strong></p><p>• The FRA offers two Funding Levels to support research at different stages and the exploration/development of ideas of different maturity levels.</p><p>• Funding Level 2 includes a Partnering Principal Investigator (PI) Option (PPIO) for two PIs, an Initiating PI and a Partnering PI.</p><p>• Scored peer review criteria include Research Idea/Rationale, Research Strategy and Feasibility, Impact, and Personnel.</p><p>• Programmatic review criteria include adherence to the intent of the FRA, contribution to the HRRP portfolio, relative impact, and relevance to military health.</p>

Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA

Summary: The fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Hearing Restoration Research Program (HRRP) Focused Research Award (FRA) supports promising research that accelerates drug discovery and therapeutic development for hearing restoration after military-relevant auditory system injury. The FRA may be used to support preclinical studies and/or clinical research. Research must align with at least one of the FY26 HRRP Focus Areas. The FRA cannot be used to support clinical trials, tinnitus research or vestibular research.Distinctive Features: The FRA offers two Funding Levels to support research at different stages and the exploration/development of ideas of different maturity levels. Funding Level 2 includes a Partnering Principal Investigator (PI) Option (PPIO) for two PIs, an Initiating PI and a Partnering PI. Scored peer review criteria include Research Idea/Rationale, Research Strategy and Feasibility, Impact, and Personnel. Programmatic review criteria include adherence to the intent of the FRA, contribution to the HRRP portfolio, relative impact, and relevance to military health.

Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA

Summary: The fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Vision Research Program (VRP) Mentored Clinical Research Award (MCRA) supports patient-oriented vision injury research conducted by highly motivated military or civilian clinicians in training. The MCRA may be used to support a standalone study of high impact to vision injury care or the generation of clinical research data in preparation for a more expansive study. Research must align with at least one of the FY26 VRP Focus Areas. The MCRA may not be used to support preclinical research or clinical trials. Distinctive Features: Key personnel must include an established clinician or Ph.D. clinical scientist, who will serve as Principal Investigator (PI) and a clinician in training (e.g., a fellow, resident, junior clinician, clinician in a Ph.D. program), who will conduct the proposed research under mentorship of the PI, with support from supporting personnel as appropriate. The clinician in training should have sufficient time remaining in their training program to complete the research proposed under the MCRA. Scored peer review criteria include Research Idea/Rationale, Research Strategy and Feasibility, Impact and Personnel. Programmatic review criteria include adherence to the intent of the MCRA, contribution to program portfolio, relative impact and relevance to military health. Applicants must submit documentation of Institutional Review Board (IRB)/Ethics Committee (EC) approval or exemption by January 1, 2027, in order for the MCRA application to be considered for funding. https://cdmrp.health.mil/pubs/press/2026/vrppreann

Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA

<p><strong>Summary:</strong> The fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Neurofibromatosis Research Program (NFRP) Neurofibromatosis Research Academy – Leadership Award (NFRALA) supports visionary, established neurofibromatosis (NF) investigators with documented history of neurofibromatosis funding, publications, strong mentorship and commitment to leadership to serve as Director and Deputy Director of the Neurofibromatosis Research Academy. The Academy Director and Deputy Director will execute a multi-institutional, interactive, virtual research academy that consists of scholars, who are early-career investigators, and their career guides, who serve as the scholars’ primary mentors.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Distinctive Features:</strong></p><p>• Academy Director: Established NF investigators at or above the level of Associate Professor, or equivalent, at the full application submission deadline.</p><p>• Academy Deputy Director: Investigators at or above the level of Associate Professor, or equivalent, at the full application deadline and affiliated with a different institution than the Academy Director.</p><p>• Pilot Research Project: The Academy Director and Deputy Director will conduct one or more pilot research projects in collaboration with the academy scholars. Preliminary and/or published data relevant to NF and the proposed research project are encouraged but not required.</p><p><br></p>

Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA

Summary: The fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Neurofibromatosis Research Program (NFRP) Neurofibromatosis Research Academy Leadership Award (NFRALA) supports visionary, established neurofibromatosis (NF) investigators with documented history of neurofibromatosis funding, publications, strong mentorship and commitment to leadership to serve as Director and Deputy Director of the Neurofibromatosis Research Academy. The Academy Director and Deputy Director will execute a multi-institutional, interactive, virtual research academy that consists of scholars, who are early-career investigators, and their career guides, who serve as the scholars primary mentors.Distinctive Features: Academy Director: Established NF investigators at or above the level of Associate Professor, or equivalent, at the full application submission deadline. Academy Deputy Director: Investigators at or above the level of Associate Professor, or equivalent, at the full application deadline and affiliated with a different institution than the Academy Director. Pilot Research Project: The Academy Director and Deputy Director will conduct one or more pilot research projects in collaboration with the academy scholars. Preliminary and/or published data relevant to NF and the proposed research project are encouraged but not required.

Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA

DoW Neurofibromatosis Research Academy &ndash; Leadership Award

Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA

<p><strong>Summary:</strong> The fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Reconstructive Transplant Research Program (RTRP) Concept Award supports the exploration of highly innovative new concepts or untested theories that address an important problem relevant to reconstructive transplantation. The Concept Award does not support <a href="https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/gai.htm?version=CD26_01#_Definition_List:~:text=or%20hardware%20procurement.-,Clinical%20Trial%3A,-As%20defined%20in" target="_blank">clinical trials</a>.</p> <p><strong>Distinctive Features:</strong><strong style="color: red;"> </strong></p> <p>·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong>Innovation:</strong> Innovative research may introduce a new paradigm, challenge existing paradigms, examine existing problems from new perspectives, or exhibit other highly creative qualities. Research that is an incremental advance upon published data is not considered innovative.</p> <p>·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong>Relevance:</strong> Projects should address at least one of the FY26 RTRP Focus Areas.</p> <p>·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong>Preliminary Data:</strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 176, 80);"> </span>Presentation of preliminary data is not allowed; however, applications should demonstrate the ability to achieve interpretable results. A rationale for the proposed work must be provided.</p> <p>·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong>Early-Career Investigators: </strong>Early-career investigators are encouraged to apply. Investigators at or above the level of postdoctoral fellow are eligible to apply.</p> <p><br></p> <p><br></p>

Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA

<p><strong>Summary: </strong>The fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Research Program (DMDRP) Idea Development Award (IDA) promotes new ideas that are still in the early stages of development and have the potential to yield impactful data and new avenues of investigation. This award supports impactful, high-risk/high-reward research that could lead to critical discoveries or major advancements that will accelerate progress in improving outcomes for individuals with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in the near term. Applications should include a well-formulated, testable hypothesis based on strong scientific rationale. <strong><em>The DMDRP strongly encourages research projects investigating therapies designed to demonstrate efficacy cross the life span, including infants, toddlers and nonambulatory individuals.</em></strong></p><p><br></p><p><strong><em>Distinctive Features: The FY26 DMDRP IDA mechanism offers three eligibility career categories:</em></strong></p><p>• The <u>Established Investigator</u> category is for independent investigators at all academic levels, or equivalent</p><p><br></p><p>• The <u>New Investigator – Early-Stage</u> category is for independent investigators early in their careers (i.e., within 10 years of their first faculty appointment or equivalent). Applicants in this category will be reviewed separately from Established Investigators.</p><p><br></p><p>• The <u>New Investigator – Transitioning</u> category is for independent investigators at all academic levels, or equivalent, in an area other than muscular dystrophy who are seeking to transition to a career in DMD, thereby bringing their expertise to the field. Applicants in this category will be reviewed separately from Established Investigators.</p><p><br></p><p>Preliminary data relevant to DMD that supports the feasibility of the research hypotheses and research approaches are <strong><em>required </em></strong>for all applications. Clinical trials or clinical trial aims are not allowed.</p>

Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA

<p><strong>Summary:</strong> The fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Research Program (DMDRP) Clinical/Translational Research Award (CTRA) supports advanced translational research to accelerate promising ideas in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) research toward clinical applications. Research must address at least one of the FY26 CTRA Focus Areas. Research projects investigating therapies that will be efficacious across the life span are strongly encouraged.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Distinctive Features: </strong>The FY26 CTRA offers two funding levels:</p><p><br></p><p>• <u>Funding Level 1</u> to support smaller, less complex preclinical and/or clinical research.</p><p><br></p><p>• <u>Funding Level 2 </u>to support larger, more complex preclinical and/or clinical research.</p><p><br></p><p>The FY26 CTRA also offers a Partnering PI Option (PPIO) to support meaningful and productive partnerships between two investigators collaborating on the proposed research project. The PPIO has two eligibility categories:</p><p><br></p><p>• <u>Early-Career Partnering PI</u> category for an independent, early-career investigator within 10 years of their first faculty appointment (or equivalent) by the time of application submission.</p><p><br></p><p>• <u>Established Interdisciplinary Partnering PI</u> for independent investigators at all academic levels, or equivalent, in an area other than muscular dystrophy, seeking to transition to a career in DMD, thereby bringing their expertise to the field.</p><p><br></p><p>Preliminary data are required for all applications. Pilot clinical trials and clinical trial readiness studies to better inform development of drugs, devices, and other interventions are allowed.</p>

Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA

Summary: The fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Research Program (DMDRP) Clinical/Translational Research Award (CTRA) supports advanced translational research to accelerate promising ideas in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) research toward clinical applications. Research must address at least one of the FY26 CTRA Focus Areas. Research projects investigating therapies that will be efficacious across the life span are strongly encouraged.Distinctive Features: The FY26 CTRA offers two funding levels: Funding Level 1 to support smaller, less complex preclinical and/or clinical research. Funding Level 2 to support larger, more complex preclinical and/or clinical research.The FY26 CTRA also offers a Partnering PI Option (PPIO) to support meaningful and productive partnerships between two investigators collaborating on the proposed research project. The PPIO has two eligibility categories: Early-Career Partnering PI category for an independent, early-career investigator within 10 years of their first faculty appointment (or equivalent) by the time of application submission. Established Interdisciplinary Partnering PI for independent investigators at all academic levels, or equivalent, in an area other than muscular dystrophy, seeking to transition to a career in DMD, thereby bringing their expertise to the field.Preliminary data are required for all applications. Pilot clinical trials and clinical trial readiness studies to better inform development of drugs, devices, and other interventions are allowed.

Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA

Summary: The fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Research Program (DMDRP) Idea Development Award (IDA) promotes new ideas that are still in the early stages of development and have the potential to yield impactful data and new avenues of investigation. This award supports impactful, high-risk/high-reward research that could lead to critical discoveries or major advancements that will accelerate progress in improving outcomes for individuals with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in the near term. Applications should include a well-formulated, testable hypothesis based on strong scientific rationale. The DMDRP strongly encourages research projects investigating therapies designed to demonstrate efficacy cross the life span, including infants, toddlers and nonambulatory individuals.Distinctive Features: The FY26 DMDRP IDA mechanism offers three eligibility career categories: The Established Investigator category is for independent investigators at all academic levels, or equivalent The New Investigator Early-Stage category is for independent investigators early in their careers (i.e., within 10 years of their first faculty appointment or equivalent). Applicants in this category will be reviewed separately from Established Investigators. The New Investigator Transitioning category is for independent investigators at all academic levels, or equivalent, in an area other than muscular dystrophy who are seeking to transition to a career in DMD, thereby bringing their expertise to the field. Applicants in this category will be reviewed separately from Established Investigators.Preliminary data relevant to DMD that supports the feasibility of the research hypotheses and research approaches are required for all applications. Clinical trials or clinical trial aims are not allowed.