CDMRP: Bone Marrow Failure Research Program (BMFRP)
Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).
Executive Summary:
The FY26 Bone Marrow Failure Research Program (BMFRP) pre-announcement is live. This is an early signal to start preparing now—formal funding opportunities will follow on Grants.gov. There is no application deadline specified in this pre-announcement, and investigators should not wait for the full announcement to begin planning.
This program will fund research addressing bone marrow failure (BMF), with a focus on treatments, disease understanding, and community resources. Pre-announcements like this are your only early advantage—teams that move now are significantly more competitive once the FOA drops.
How much funding would I receive?
Funding varies by award mechanism:
Idea Development Award
Maximum: $800,000 total costs
Period of performance: Up to 3 years
Investigator-Initiated Research Award
Maximum: $1,250,000 total costs
Period of performance: Up to 3 years
Resource Development Award
Maximum: $1,250,000 total costs
Period of performance: Up to 2 years
Total costs include direct and indirect costs.
What could I use the funding for?
Projects must align to at least one required FY26 BMFRP focus area:
Develop durable resources for the bone marrow failure research community
Find effective BMF treatments and cures
Understand the causes and progression of BMF diseases
Each award mechanism has specific intent:
Idea Development Award: Early-stage, hypothesis-driven research with translational potential
Investigator-Initiated Research Award: More mature research building on prior findings with strong preliminary data
Resource Development Award: Creation of shared tools, datasets, or infrastructure for the BMF community
Are there any additional benefits I would receive?
Partnering Principal Investigator option available under the Investigator-Initiated Research Award
Separate review tracks for early-career vs. established investigators (Idea Development Award)
Encouragement for correlative studies tied to existing clinical trials/studies
Emphasis on translational potential, including work supporting an Investigational New Drug (IND) application
What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?
Pre-announcement released: March 10, 2026
Pre-application required via eBRAP before full application
Full applications are invitation-only after preproposal review
Funding opportunity announcements will be posted on Grants.gov
Application deadline: Not specified in the pre-announcement
Award timing: Not specified in the pre-announcement
Where does this funding come from?
FY26 Defense Appropriations Act
Managed by the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP)
Under the Defense Health Agency Research and Development – Medical Research and Development Command (DHA R&D-MRDC)
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility depends on the award mechanism:
Idea Development Award:
Early-Career Investigators (<10 years from first appointment)
Established Investigators (≥10 years from first appointment)
Investigator-Initiated Research Award:
Independent investigators at all career levels
Resource Development Award:
Independent investigators at all career levels
Additional institutional or organizational eligibility is not specified in the pre-announcement.
What companies and projects are likely to win?
Based on required criteria:
Projects must align tightly with one of the FY26 BMFRP focus areas
Strong scientific rationale and testable hypothesis (Idea Development Award)
Preliminary data required (Investigator-Initiated and Resource Development Awards)
Clear translational impact and potential to advance patient care
Resource proposals must demonstrate data/sample access and a clear distribution plan
Are there any restrictions I should know about?
Preproposal required; full applications are invitation-only
Clinical trials are not allowed under any mechanism
Applications must align to specified focus areas
Resource Development Award is limited to the resource-focused track only
The pre-announcement does not obligate the government to fund awards
How long will it take me to prepare an application?
The structure implies:
Initial preproposal preparation (required for all mechanisms)
Full proposal only if invited
The pre-announcement is explicitly intended to give teams time to begin planning ahead of the formal deadlines.
How can BW&CO help?
BW&CO supports companies pursuing defense innovation and CSO opportunities like this one.
We help by:
Position your project against the three distinct award mechanisms
Build a preproposal strategy that secures invitation to full application
Shape your narrative around CDMRP review expectations and translational impact
Align your work to IND-enabling or high-impact outcomes where applicable
How much would BW&CO Charge?
We have both fractional engagements ($250 an hour) and full engagements ($13,000 + 5%) available.