Request for Information (RFI) Special Notice DARPA-SN-26-96 Advancing Autonomous Science for Biological Applications DARPA BTO

Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).

Executive Summary:

Application deadline: July 22, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET). This is a Request for Information (RFI) issued by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Biological Technology Office (BTO)—not a funding opportunity or solicitation for proposals. DARPA is seeking input from the scientific and technical community on the current state of autonomous science for biological applications, key technical challenges, and future investment opportunities that could inform future DARPA programs. Organizations with expertise in autonomous science, AI, robotics, laboratory automation, and related technologies should consider submitting a response before July 22, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) to help shape potential future research initiatives.

How much funding would I receive?

This RFI does not provide funding. Award amounts, contract values, or grant funding are not specified because this is an information-gathering request rather than a solicitation for proposals. This information can be used to apply to the DARPA BTO Broad Agency Announcement for awards under $2 million.

REQUESTED INFORMATION:

Responses should address Informatics Technologies, Physical Technologies, or Both Informatics and Physical Technologies for autonomous science. In each case, a response must address at least one of the following research areas:

1. Current state of the art of autonomous science and transformational enabling technologies to advance that state of the art

• Key existing enabling technologies broadly transferrable across scientific workflows.

• Technologies in development that will be transformational in enabling autonomous science.

• Metrics of success for judging the current state of the art and emerging technologies to surpass it (e.g., throughput, reproducibility, power usage, continuous runtime, cost per assay, etc.).

2. Key technical, organizational, or operational bottlenecks in deploying autonomous science at scale or in new domains

• Challenges to enabling rapid development and exchange of new autonomous workflows, including equipment or assays that provide unique challenges to automation.

• Challenges to interoperability between laboratories and the exchange of data and protocols.

• Measures of success in promoting more efficient, effective, and portable workflow development.

3. Application areas in which new investments could have the greatest impact and best demonstrate the unique advantages of autonomous science to solve problems not amenable to conventional approaches

• Problems of national interest where autonomous science can achieve results infeasible via conventional science, including specific applications for national security.

• Enabling technologies available or emerging to achieve those results.

• Metrics for establishing improvement over conventional approaches.

• Current commercialization strategies and business cases for future development of autonomous science.

4. Safety and security considerations in the operation of highly automated laboratories and ways these might be addressed, for example through simulation, AI digital twins, or formal verification

• Risks to safety and security in the operation of autonomous laboratories.

• Current safeguards, system-level security, traceability, and other approaches to biosecurity.

• Enabling technologies to resolve these risks.

• Measures of success for safe operation.

5. New technologies, opportunities, and challenges for maximizing productive interaction between human operators and autonomous agents in hybrid human-AI workflows

• Applications of national interest that can be achieved only by humans augmented by autonomous scientific facilities.

• Key barriers to productive interaction between human scientists and autonomous laboratories or their AI agents.

• Enabling technologies to overcome these barriers.

• Metrics of success demonstrating the advancement of human-machine partnering over unassisted human or purely autonomous systems.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Submitting a response gives organizations an opportunity to:

• Provide input that may influence future DARPA program development.

• Share perspectives on the current state of autonomous science in biological domains.

• Highlight emerging technologies, technical challenges, commercialization strategies, and national security applications.

Entities that have not previously worked with DARPA are also encouraged to engage with DARPAConnect, which offers educational resources, one-on-one guidance, and outreach to help organizations understand how to engage with DARPA.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

Response deadline: July 22, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET).

Responses must be submitted electronically in PDF format to AutoSci-RFI@darpa.mil.

There is no funding timeline because this is an RFI rather than a funding opportunity. DARPA states that responses may be used to inform future program development, but no subsequent solicitation schedule is provided.

Where does this funding come from?

This RFI was issued by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Biological Technology Office (BTO).

Because this is an RFI, no funding source or funding program is specified.

Who is eligible to apply?

DARPA welcomes responses from all capable sources, including but not limited to:

• Private companies

• Public companies

• Individuals

• Universities

• University-affiliated research centers

• Not-for-profit research institutions

• U.S. Government-sponsored laboratories

Who is not eligible to apply?

The RFI does not specify any excluded applicant categories.

However:

• Classified information must not be submitted.

• DARPA encourages submission of non-proprietary information, and proprietary information must be clearly marked if included.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

This is not a competitive funding opportunity, so there are no awards or winners.

DARPA is seeking responses addressing one or more research areas related to autonomous science, including:

• State-of-the-art autonomous science technologies

• Technical, organizational, and operational bottlenecks

• High-impact application areas

• Safety and security for autonomous laboratories

• Human-autonomous system collaboration

Responses may focus on:

• Informatics Technologies

• Physical Technologies

• Both Informatics and Physical Technologies

How competitive will this solicitation be?

DARPA states that this RFI is issued solely for information and program planning purposes and does not constitute a formal solicitation for proposals or proposal abstracts. Responses are voluntary and will not result in a contract or funding.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

Key submission requirements include:

• Responses are limited to 7 pages maximum using 12-point font, 1-inch margins, and standard letter-sized pages.

• Responses must be submitted as an unprotected Microsoft Word document or PDF.

• Classified information must not be included.

• Proprietary information must be clearly labeled.

• DARPA will not reimburse response preparation costs.

• Responses are voluntary.

• Proposal abstracts or formal proposals submitted in response to this RFI will be disregarded.

• DARPA is under no obligation to acknowledge or provide feedback on submissions.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

Responses must include:

• A one-page cover page

• Up to three pages describing the technical approach

• One page of references

• Optional summary slides

Organizations should also identify which technology category and research area(s) their response addresses.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can help organizations prepare a concise, DARPA-ready RFI response by:

• Aligning your response with DARPA's requested research areas.

• Clearly articulating technical capabilities, challenges, and proposed solutions.

• Developing commercialization and national security narratives where supported by your technical work.

• Ensuring compliance with formatting, page limits, and submission requirements.

• Producing a polished submission designed to communicate your organization's expertise effectively.

Additional Resources

Review the solicitation here.

CDMRP: FY26 Reconstructive Transplant Research Program (RTRP)

Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).

Executive Summary:

The FY26 Reconstructive Transplant Research Program (RTRP) Concept Award supports highly innovative, high-risk research that could open new directions in reconstructive transplantation. The program is designed to fund new concepts and untested theories rather than incremental advances to existing work. Projects must address at least one FY26 RTRP Focus Area and be relevant to improving outcomes for catastrophically injured Service Members, Veterans, their families, caregivers, clinicians, and the American public. Clinical trials are not allowed.

This is a relatively small, early-stage funding opportunity intended to help researchers generate foundational insights that could lead to future development and larger follow-on efforts. The Defense Health Agency expects to fund approximately three awards. The application deadline is 11:59 p.m. ET, September 16, 2026. Organizations interested in applying should begin preparing immediately because a required Letter of Intent must be submitted first by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET), September 2, 2026.

How much funding would I receive?

Applicants may request up to $200,000 in total costs for the entire project period. The maximum period of performance is 18 months.

The FY26 RTRP expects to allocate approximately $0.6 million to fund approximately three Concept Award applications.

Cost sharing is not required.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding is intended to support highly innovative research addressing important problems in reconstructive transplantation and vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA). The award specifically supports exploration of new concepts and untested theories rather than continuation of established research programs.

Projects must address at least one of the following FY26 RTRP Focus Areas:

• Improve or optimize VCA immunosuppression.

• Identify and/or validate prognostic or diagnostic biomarkers, methods, or tools for monitoring VCA graft rejection and immunosuppression.

• Advance VCA preservation strategies.

• Develop tools for measuring VCA outcomes, including performance-based, patient-reported, and neurocognitive outcomes.

Allowable costs may include:

• Research activities supporting the proposed project.

• Travel supporting multi-institutional collaborations.

• Travel for one investigator to present project findings at one scientific or technical meeting per year.

• Required travel for the Principal Investigator to present results at one Department of War-sponsored meeting during the award period.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

In addition to funding, awardees gain the opportunity to conduct research within a Department of Defense-funded program focused on advancing reconstructive transplantation and improving outcomes for catastrophically injured Service Members and Veterans.

Award recipients may also be invited to present project progress at annual RTRP In-Progress Review meetings.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

Key dates include:

• Letter of Intent deadline: 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET), September 2, 2026

• Full application deadline: 11:59 p.m. ET, September 16, 2026

• End of application verification period: 5:00 p.m. ET, September 21, 2026

• Peer review: November 2026

• Programmatic review: January 2027

Awards supported with FY26 funds will be made no later than September 30, 2027.

Where does this funding come from?

This funding opportunity is offered through the Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity (DHACA) and managed by the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) as part of the Reconstructive Transplant Research Program (RTRP).

Congress initiated the RTRP in 2012 to support research that refines reconstructive transplantation approaches and expands access to reconstructive transplants and immunotherapy. The FY26 appropriation for the RTRP is $12 million.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicant organizations include:

• Extramural and intramural U.S. Department of War organizations.

• Foreign organizations.

• Domestic organizations.

• For-profit organizations.

• Nonprofit organizations.

• Public entities.

• Private entities.

Eligible Principal Investigators include:

• Investigators at or above the level of postdoctoral fellow.

• Investigators affiliated with an eligible organization.

• Investigators regardless of ethnicity, nationality, or citizenship status.

• Investigators from academic or non-academic organizations.

An investigator may serve as PI on no more than two FY26 RTRP Concept Award applications.

Who is not eligible to apply?

The solicitation states that:

• Individuals cannot receive awards directly because awards are made to organizations.

• Investigators below the level of postdoctoral fellow are not eligible to serve as PI.

• Investigators serving as PI on more than two FY26 RTRP Concept Award applications are not eligible beyond the first two submissions received.

Applications may also be administratively withdrawn if:

• A clinical trial is proposed.

• Human subjects or specimen studies do not qualify for exempt or expedited review.

• The PI does not meet eligibility requirements.

• Required pre-application materials are not submitted.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

The program is seeking projects that are:

• Highly innovative.

• High-risk with the potential to reveal new avenues of investigation.

• Focused on at least one FY26 RTRP Focus Area.

• Relevant to military health and catastrophic injury recovery.

• Supported by a strong scientific rationale despite the absence of preliminary data.

• Designed with rigorous and reproducible research methods.

Applications leveraging findings from solid organ transplantation for testing in VCA may be competitive when the rationale and potential benefits are clearly justified.

The review criteria place the greatest emphasis on:

1. Innovation

2. Relevance

3. Research Strategy and Feasibility

4. Personnel

5. Transition Plan

6. Research Sharing Plan

7. Budget

8. Environment

9. Application Presentation

How competitive will this solicitation be?

This appears to be a highly competitive opportunity.

The program expects to fund approximately three awards from a total funding pool of approximately $0.6 million.

The solicitation also notes that since FY15, the RTRP Concept Award mechanism has received 196 applications, with 26 recommended for funding.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

Key restrictions include:

• Clinical trials are not allowed.

• Preliminary data cannot be included.

• Research involving human subjects or specimens must qualify for exempt status or expedited review.

• Projects involving painful research using domestic cats or dogs are not supported except for studies relating to military or service animals.

• Classified research data or research likely to generate classified outcomes may result in withdrawal.

• Duplicate submissions of the same research project within the RTRP during the same fiscal year are prohibited.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

The application process includes both:

1. A required Letter of Intent submission.

2. A full application package.

The solicitation does not specify how long preparation will take. However, applicants must prepare multiple application components, including a Project Narrative, Statement of Work, Innovation Statement, Post-Award Transition Plan, budget materials, supporting documentation, and other required forms.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can help your team:

• Evaluate whether your concept aligns with one or more FY26 RTRP Focus Areas.

• Position your project around the program’s primary review criteria, particularly innovation and military relevance.

• Develop a compliant Letter of Intent and full application package.

• Build a compelling research strategy and transition plan.

• Prepare budgets, supporting documentation, and submission materials.

• Manage the application process through submission and compliance review.

Additional Resources

Review the solicitation here.

CDMRP: FY26 Rare Cancers Research Program (RCRP)

Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).

Executive Summary:

The FY26 Rare Cancers Research Program (RCRP) is a Department of Defense-funded grant program that supports research on cancers affecting six or fewer persons per 100,000 people per year in the United States. The program aims to improve outcomes for people with rare cancers through discovery, community building, and expansion of knowledge across the cancer landscape. Research must be relevant to Service Members, Veterans, military beneficiaries, and the American public.
RCRP offers three separate funding opportunities in FY26:

• Concept Award – supports highly innovative, untested, potentially groundbreaking ideas.
• Idea Development Award – supports promising research ideas that are ready for further development and could generate high-impact findings.
• Resource and Community Development Award – supports development of research resources, datasets, infrastructure, and community-building platforms for rare cancers research.

Applicants interested in the Idea Development Award or Resource and Community Development Award must submit a required preproposal by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET), August 19, 2026. Applicants interested in the Concept Award must submit a required Letter of Intent by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET), September 16, 2026, and a full application by 11:59 p.m. ET, September 30, 2026.

How much funding would I receive?

Funding depends on the award mechanism selected:

Concept Award

• Up to $140,000 total costs

• Maximum period of performance: 2 years

• Approximately 18 awards expected

Idea Development Award

• Up to $490,000 total costs

• Maximum period of performance: 3 years

• Approximately 15 awards expected

Resource and Community Development Award

• Up to $1.12 million total costs

• Maximum period of performance: 4 years

• Approximately 5 awards expected

What could I use the funding for?

Projects must address rare cancers and align with one or more FY26 RCRP focus areas.

Concept Award and Idea Development Award focus areas

• Biology

• Preclinical Research Models

• Therapy, including drug repurposing

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) Models
  Resource and Community Development Award focus areas

• Platform Development

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) Models

Examples of activities supported under the Resource and Community Development Award include:

• Biospecimen repositories

• Patient registries

• Databases and centralized data-sharing platforms

• Omics resources

• Longitudinal natural history studies

• Resource-sharing infrastructure

• AI/ML-enabled discovery platforms

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

In addition to funding, successful applicants gain access to a nationally recognized Department of Defense cancer research program focused on advancing rare cancers research and improving outcomes for patients, Service Members, Veterans, and their families.

The Resource and Community Development Award specifically supports the creation of lasting research resources, stakeholder networks, and community infrastructure intended to continue benefiting the field beyond the award period.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

Concept Award

• Letter of Intent Deadline: 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET), September 16, 2026

• Full Application Deadline: 11:59 p.m. ET, September 30, 2026

• Peer Review: December 2026

• Programmatic Review: March/April 2027

• Awards supported with FY26 funds will be made no later than September 30, 2027.

Idea Development Award

• Preproposal Deadline: 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET), August 19, 2026

• Invitation to Submit Full Application: September 30, 2026

• Full Application Deadline: 11:59 p.m. ET, November 18, 2026

• Peer Review: February 2027

• Programmatic Review: March/April 2027

• Awards supported with FY26 funds will be made no later than September 30, 2027.

Resource and Community Development Award

• Preproposal Deadline: 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET), August 19, 2026

• Invitation to Submit Full Application: September 30, 2026

• Full Application Deadline: 11:59 p.m. ET, November 18, 2026

• Peer Review: February 2027

• Programmatic Review: March/April 2027

• Awards supported with FY26 funds will be made no later than September 30, 2027.

Where does this funding come from?

The Rare Cancers Research Program is managed by the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) within the Defense Health Agency Research and Development organization. Congress established the program in 2020 to support research of exceptional scientific merit in rare cancers. The FY26 appropriation is $17.5 million.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants include:

• Foreign and domestic organizations

• For-profit organizations

• Nonprofit organizations

• Public entities

• Private entities

• Extramural and intramural organizations
  Principal Investigator eligibility varies by mechanism:

Concept Award

• Independent investigators at or above the level of postdoctoral fellow (or equivalent)

Idea Development Award

• Independent investigators at all career levels

Resource and Community Development Award

• Independent investigators at all career levels

Who is not eligible to apply?

The solicitation does not provide additional eligibility exclusions beyond the stated organizational and investigator requirements.

However:

• Awards are made to organizations, not individuals. - An investigator may only serve as Principal Investigator on one application within each FY26 RCRP award mechanism.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

The strongest applications will closely align with the intent of the selected mechanism.

Concept Award

• Highly innovative, untested, potentially groundbreaking concepts

• High-risk ideas that open entirely new avenues of investigation

• Novel approaches that challenge existing paradigms in rare cancers research

Idea Development Award

• Research supported by preliminary data

• Projects with strong scientific rationale

• Ideas capable of generating high-impact findings and major advancements in rare cancers research

Resource and Community Development Award

• Platforms, datasets, repositories, and infrastructure that fill major gaps in rare cancers research

• Projects with strong plans for community engagement, dissemination, sustainability, and resource sharing

• Efforts that can benefit multiple rare cancer types or subtypes

How competitive will this solicitation be?

The program is expected to be highly competitive.

Historical data provided in the solicitations show:

Concept Award

• 979 applications received

• 90 recommended for funding

Idea Development Award

• 862 applications received

• 85 recommended for funding

Resource and Community Development Award

• 103 applications received

• 23 recommended for funding

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

Across all three mechanisms:

• Clinical trials are not allowed. - Projects must focus on cancers affecting six or fewer persons per 100,000 people per year in the United States. - Research must be relevant to Service Members, Veterans, military beneficiaries, and the American public.
  Additional Resource and Community Development Award requirements include:

• At least two rare cancer Patient Advocates must participate as integral members of the research team.

• Community building, dissemination, and sustainability plans are required.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

Preparation effort depends on the mechanism selected.

Concept Award

• Requires a Letter of Intent and a short blinded application package.

• Generally expected to require the least preparation effort of the three mechanisms.

Idea Development Award

• Requires a preproposal followed by an invited full application.

• Preliminary data with disease-specific rationale are required.
  Resource and Community Development Award

• Requires a preproposal followed by an invited full application.

• Requires extensive planning around community engagement, patient advocacy, dissemination, sustainment, and resource-sharing infrastructure.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can support applicants with:

• Opportunity assessment and mechanism selection

• Eligibility and project fit review

• Preproposal and Letter of Intent development

• Full proposal writing and editing

• Scientific and commercialization positioning

• Reviewer-focused narrative development

• Patient advocate engagement strategy

• Budget development and compliance review

• Final submission support

Additional Resources

Review the solicitation here.

CDMRP: FY26 Kidney Cancer Research Program (KCRP)

Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).

Executive Summary:

The Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) has released three Fiscal Year 2026 Kidney Cancer Research Program (KCRP) funding opportunities designed to support innovative kidney cancer research, develop future leaders in the field, and accelerate new discoveries that improve outcomes for patients. Collectively, these opportunities represent approximately $10.2 million in anticipated funding across three award mechanisms.

The FY26 KCRP continues to focus on advancing the biology of kidney cancer, developing new therapeutic approaches, improving patient care and survivorship, addressing health disparities, and expanding research capacity through investigator development and collaboration.

Researchers can apply through one of three mechanisms:

Concept Award
Supports highly innovative, untested, and potentially groundbreaking ideas in kidney cancer research. This mechanism is intended for high-risk concepts that could open entirely new avenues of investigation. Preliminary data are not allowed. Awards provide up to $120,000 in total costs over one year.

Idea Development Award
Supports hypothesis-driven research projects backed by preliminary data and a well-developed scientific rationale. Projects must address important questions in kidney cancer research or clinical care and demonstrate potential for significant impact. Awards provide up to $900,000 for a single Principal Investigator or up to $1.2 million through the Partnering Principal Investigator option over three years.

Academy of Kidney Cancer Investigators – Early-Career Scholar Award
Supports promising early-career investigators pursuing independent careers in kidney cancer research. In addition to funding a research project, awardees join a national mentoring and networking academy that provides intensive mentorship, scientific collaboration opportunities, leadership development, and career support. Awards provide up to $1.2 million over four years.

All three mechanisms require submission of a Letter of Intent prior to full application submission and do not allow clinical trials. Applicants should begin preparing immediately to ensure sufficient time for project development, institutional approvals, collaborator coordination, and application assembly.

The earliest deadline is the Concept Award Letter of Intent due July 28, 2026, 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The Idea Development Award and Academy of Kidney Cancer Investigators – Early-Career Scholar Award both require Letters of Intent by September 14, 2026, 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

How much funding would I receive?

Funding depends on the mechanism selected.

Concept Award

• Up to $120,000 total costs

• Maximum period of performance: 1 year

• Approximately 7 awards anticipated

Idea Development Award

• Single PI Option: Up to $900,000 total costs

• Partnering PI Option: Up to $1.2 million total costs

• Maximum period of performance: 3 years

• Approximately 8 awards anticipated

Academy of Kidney Cancer Investigators – Early-Career Scholar Award

• Up to $1.2 million total costs

• Maximum period of performance: 4 years

• Approximately 2 awards anticipated

What could I use the funding for?

All three mechanisms support research addressing at least one FY26 KCRP focus area, including:

• Understanding kidney cancer biology, progression, metastasis, and prevention

• Developing new screening, diagnostic, prognostic, and imaging approaches

• Advancing treatments for rare kidney cancers

• Creating novel therapeutic strategies

• Improving quality of life and survivorship

• Addressing outcomes in high-risk and underserved populations

• Expanding research capacity and developing future kidney cancer researchers

The Concept Award is intended for exploratory, high-risk concepts.

The Idea Development Award supports mature research projects with preliminary data and a clearly defined hypothesis.

The Early-Career Scholar Award supports both a research project and a structured career-development program designed to establish long-term independence in kidney cancer research.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

The Idea Development Award includes a Partnering Principal Investigator option that supports formal collaborations between two investigators contributing distinct expertise to a single project.

The Academy of Kidney Cancer Investigators – Early-Career Scholar Award provides:

• Intensive mentorship from established kidney cancer investigators

• National networking opportunities

• Scientific collaborations

• Monthly academy programming

• Annual and biennial workshops

• Leadership and career development training

• Access to a national peer network of kidney cancer researchers

All three mechanisms encourage multidisciplinary collaborations involving academia, industry, the Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and other federal agencies.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

Concept Award

• Letter of Intent Deadline: July 28, 2026, 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time

• Application Deadline: August 11, 2026, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time

• Peer Review: October 2026

• Programmatic Review: December 2026

Idea Development Award

• Letter of Intent Deadline: September 14, 2026, 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time

• Application Deadline: September 28, 2026, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time

• Peer Review: December 2026

• Programmatic Review: March 2027

Academy of Kidney Cancer Investigators – Early-Career Scholar Award

• Letter of Intent Deadline: September 14, 2026, 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time

• Application Deadline: September 28, 2026, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time

• Peer Review: December 2026

• Programmatic Review: March 2027

Awards funded through FY26 appropriations are expected to be made no later than September 30, 2027.

Where does this funding come from?

Funding comes from the Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs through the Kidney Cancer Research Program.

Congress established the KCRP in 2017 to support research with exceptional scientific merit and high potential impact. The program received $15 million in FY26 appropriations.

The program's mission is to promote rigorous, innovative, high-impact kidney cancer research for the benefit of Service Members, Veterans, their families, and the American public.

Who is eligible to apply?

Concept Award

• Investigators at all career levels, including postdoctoral fellows or equivalent

• Foreign and domestic organizations

• For-profit and nonprofit organizations

• Public and private entities

Idea Development Award

• Investigators at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent)

• Foreign and domestic organizations

• For-profit and nonprofit organizations

• Public and private entities

Academy of Kidney Cancer Investigators – Early-Career Scholar Award

• Investigators within seven years of their most recent postdoctoral research position, clinical fellowship, or equivalent

• Must meet Early-Career Scholar eligibility requirements

• Must identify a qualified Designated Mentor

• Foreign and domestic organizations

• For-profit and nonprofit organizations

• Public and private entities

Who is not eligible to apply?

Concept Award

• Investigators below the postdoctoral fellow level (or equivalent)

Idea Development Award

• Investigators below the Assistant Professor level (or equivalent)

Academy of Kidney Cancer Investigators – Early-Career Scholar Award

• Individuals currently in postdoctoral positions, clinical fellowships, or equivalent training positions at the application deadline

• Investigators more than seven years removed from their last postdoctoral position, fellowship, or equivalent training experience

Additional eligibility restrictions apply to mentors participating in the Academy mechanism.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Competitive applications will closely align with KCRP priorities and demonstrate clear potential to advance the field.

For the Concept Award, reviewers are looking for:

• Highly innovative ideas

• Novel concepts

• New research paradigms

• Research that goes beyond incremental advances

For the Idea Development Award, reviewers are looking for:

• Strong preliminary data

• Well-developed hypotheses

• Rigorous research strategies

• Significant potential impact on kidney cancer research or patient care

For the Early-Career Scholar Award, reviewers are evaluating:

• The investigator's potential to become an independent leader in kidney cancer research

• Quality of the mentoring plan

• Strength of the career-development strategy

• Scientific merit of the proposed research

Across all mechanisms, projects that directly address FY26 KCRP focus areas and demonstrate strong scientific rationale are likely to be most competitive.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

Across all three mechanisms:

• Clinical trials are not allowed.

• Applications must address at least one FY26 KCRP focus area.

• Applications must address at least one eligible kidney cancer disease type.

• Cost sharing is not required.

• Awards are made to organizations rather than individuals.

Additional mechanism-specific restrictions include:

Concept Award

• Preliminary data are not allowed.

• Applications undergo blinded review.

• Applications may not contain identifying information about investigators or institutions.

Idea Development Award

• Preliminary data are required.

Academy of Kidney Cancer Investigators – Early-Career Scholar Award

• Preliminary data are required.

• Applicants must meet specific career-stage requirements.

• Applicants must identify an eligible Designated Mentor.

How competitive will this solicitation be?

The FY26 KCRP funding opportunities are expected to be highly competitive.

Historical funding data demonstrates significant demand:

Concept Award

• 587 applications received since FY17

• 73 recommended for funding

Idea Development Award

• 610 applications received since FY17

• 124 recommended for funding

Academy of Kidney Cancer Investigators – Early-Career Scholar Award

• 40 applications received since FY19

• 14 recommended for funding

Applicants should expect strong competition and should clearly demonstrate alignment with program priorities, innovation, feasibility, and potential impact.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

Preparation effort varies significantly by mechanism.

Concept Award
Typically requires the least preparation because preliminary data are prohibited and the narrative is intentionally brief. However, applicants must carefully comply with blinded-review requirements.

Idea Development Award
Requires substantial preparation due to the need for preliminary data, a comprehensive research strategy, detailed supporting documentation, impact statements, and progression planning.

Academy of Kidney Cancer Investigators – Early-Career Scholar Award
Typically requires the greatest preparation effort because applicants must develop both a research plan and a comprehensive career-development strategy while coordinating mentor participation and institutional commitments.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can help applicants determine which KCRP mechanism best aligns with their technology, scientific maturity, and career stage.

Our team can support:

• Opportunity assessment and go/no-go decisions

• Mechanism selection

• Research strategy development

• Hypothesis refinement

• Innovation positioning

• Impact narrative development

• Mentor and collaborator coordination

• Compliance review

• Proposal writing and editing

• Grants.gov and submission support

Additional Resources

Review the solicitation here.

ARPA-H | IGoR - Intelligent Generator of Research

Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).

Executive Summary:

ARPA-H is seeking multidisciplinary teams to build an AI-enabled interoperable research ecosystem through the Intelligent Generator of Research (IGoR) program. The goal is to dramatically accelerate biomedical research and therapeutic development by creating mechanistic disease models, AI-driven experiment orchestration, standardized protocols, and a distributed network of validated laboratories. ARPA-H states the system is intended to enable researchers to create validated knowledge “at least 10x more rapidly than conventional approaches.”

This is a 5-year, 3-phase program under the ARPA-H Proactive Health Office. ARPA-H anticipates awarding approximately three Other Transaction (OT) agreements to teams capable of addressing all four technical components of the program.

Solution Summaries are due by 06/25/2026, 12:00 PM Eastern Time. Full Proposals are due by 08/06/2026, 12:00 PM (Noon) Eastern Time. Companies interested in applying should begin organizing teaming structures and registrations immediately, particularly because SAM.gov registration can take 7–10 business days.

How much funding would I receive?

The solicitation does not specify total funding amounts or individual award sizes.

ARPA-H states it anticipates making:

• “Multiple Other Transaction (OTs) Agreements”

• Approximately three awards to multidisciplinary teams

The solicitation does not specify:

• Ceiling amounts

• Floor amounts

• Cost share requirements

• Phase-specific funding allocations

What could I use the funding for?

Funding is intended to support development of the IGoR ecosystem, including:

• Mechanistic disease models encoding causal biological relationships across scales

• An AI orchestration layer that identifies knowledge gaps and designs experiments

• A layered protocol architecture enabling reproducible experimentation

• A distributed marketplace of validated laboratories returning standardized data

ARPA-H expects performers to address all four technical components as part of an integrated system.

The solicitation states the objective is to:

• Eliminate longstanding inefficiencies in research

• Accelerate development of therapies for complex diseases

• Enable validated knowledge generation at least 10x faster than conventional approaches

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Potential additional benefits include:

• Participation in a high-visibility ARPA-H initiative

• Access to collaboration and networking opportunities through the Proposers’ Day

• Ability to form multidisciplinary teams and partnerships

• Flexibility associated with Other Transaction (OT) agreements compared to traditional federal contracts

ARPA-H also states that:

• Resource sharing is encouraged

• A recording of the Proposers’ Day will be posted publicly

The solicitation does not specify additional commercialization support, follow-on funding pathways, or transition assistance.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

Key dates:

• Proposers’ Day: T.B.D.

• Solution Summaries due: 06/25/2026, 12:00 PM Eastern Time

• Full Proposals due: 08/06/2026, 12:00 PM (Noon) Eastern Time

Submission process:

1. Submit a Solution Summary

2. Receive feedback from ARPA-H indicating whether proposal submission is encouraged or discouraged

3. Submit a full proposal

ARPA-H notes that proposers may still submit full proposals even if discouraged after the Solution Summary review.

The solicitation does not specify:

• Award announcement dates

• Negotiation timelines

• Expected project start dates

• Timing of funding disbursement

Where does this funding come from?

This funding comes from:

• Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H)

• Proactive Health Office

Program:

• Intelligent Generator of Research (IGoR)

Solicitation Number:

• ARPA-H-SOL-26-155

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants may include:

• Universities

• Non-profit organizations

• Small businesses

• Other commercial entities

ARPA-H states that all sources capable of satisfying the government’s needs may respond unless otherwise restricted.

Restrictions include:

• Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) generally may not participate as prime or sub-performers unless ARPA-H determines unique capabilities are necessary

• Government entities and government employees are generally prohibited

• Current ARPA-H support service providers are ineligible

• Certain foreign entities and individuals are prohibited under the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 and related national security restrictions

Applicants must:

• Be registered in SAM.gov

• Have a valid Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)

• Maintain active SAM.gov registration through award

ARPA-H states new SAM.gov registrations take an average of 7–10 business days.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

ARPA-H states it anticipates selecting approximately three multidisciplinary teams capable of addressing all four components of the IGoR ecosystem.

Competitive proposals will likely demonstrate:

• Integrated multidisciplinary capabilities

• AI and machine learning expertise

• Mechanistic disease modeling capabilities

• Experimental protocol standardization

• Large-scale laboratory coordination capabilities

• Reproducible data generation approaches

• Ability to execute across all technical areas described in Appendix A

The solicitation emphasizes:

• Bold and unconventional research directions

• Accelerated knowledge generation

• Interoperable research infrastructure

• Reproducibility and standardization

ARPA-H also encourages resource sharing and teaming.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

Key restrictions include:

• FFRDCs and government entities generally cannot serve as prime or sub-performers

• Current ARPA-H support contractors are ineligible

• Certain foreign entities and individuals are prohibited

• Submissions containing proprietary information must be clearly marked

• All Solution Summaries must:

  • Be in English

  • Use sans serif fonts no smaller than 11-point

  • Be limited to five pages (excluding cover pages and references)

ARPA-H also notes:

• It will not reimburse proposal preparation costs

• Late submissions caused by delayed registration may not be considered

• Large language models (LLMs) may be used during review under controlled security conditions

The solicitation does not specify:

• Mandatory cost share

• Manufacturing requirements

• Export control classifications

• Intellectual property terms beyond standard OT agreement references

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

This opportunity will likely require substantial preparation effort because:

• ARPA-H expects multidisciplinary teams

• Applicants must address all four major technical components

• Teaming and integration strategies will likely be critical

• OT-based proposals are often highly technical and milestone-driven

Preparation activities may include:

• Forming consortium relationships

• Finalizing technical architecture

• Building execution and management plans

• Completing SAM.gov registration

• Preparing a Solution Summary followed by a full proposal

The solicitation does not specify expected proposal preparation timelines.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can help your team:

• Assess fit with the IGoR program objectives

• Build a competitive teaming strategy

• Translate technical concepts into ARPA-H-ready proposal language

• Develop Solution Summaries and full proposals

• Structure OT-compliant submissions

• Build milestone-driven technical plans

• Coordinate multidisciplinary proposal development

• Prepare management, commercialization, and execution materials

Additional Resources

Review solicitation here.

ARPA-H | HEARING - Hearing Enhancement through ARtificially Intelligent NeurotechnoloGy

Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).

Executive Summary:

ARPA-H’s Hearing Enhancement through ARtificially Intelligent NeurotechnoloGy (HEARING) program is seeking teams capable of developing the first minimally invasive, brain-connected hearing restoration platform that can read and write auditory information directly with the brain’s auditory cortex. The program aims to move beyond traditional hearing aids and cochlear implants by creating closed-loop systems that can reduce background noise in real time, personalize hearing restoration, and restore hearing close to normal for people with mild to severe hearing loss.

This is a highly ambitious, systems-level program requiring integrated teams spanning neurotechnology, wireless power and communications, AI/ML auditory decoding, clinical audiology, neurosurgery, regulatory affairs, and device commercialization. ARPA-H explicitly requires proposals to address all three Technical Areas (TAs) and all three program phases.

Solution Summaries are due Monday, June 29, 2026, 2:00 PM ET. Full Proposals are due Friday, August 14th, 2026, 2:00 PM ET. Companies interested in leading or participating in a team should begin partner discussions immediately because the solicitation strongly emphasizes multidisciplinary integration and system-level execution.

How much funding would I receive?

The solicitation states that ARPA-H anticipates making “Multiple Other Transaction (OTs) Agreements.”

The solicitation does not specify:

• Total program funding

• Individual award sizes

• Ceiling amounts

• Floor amounts

• Number of awards

• Funding by Technical Area

• Funding by phase

Cost sharing is “Encouraged (Optional).”

What could I use the funding for?

Funding is intended to support development of a fully integrated closed-loop hearing restoration platform across three Technical Areas:

• TA1: Intracortical Device(s)

  • Minimally invasive brain interfaces

  • Recording and stimulation technologies

  • Wireless brain-connected devices

  • Cortical targeting technologies

  • Implant delivery systems

• TA2: Dynamic Sound Modulator

  • Wearable hearing-aid-like devices

  • Wireless power transfer

  • Bidirectional communications

  • Closed-loop auditory systems

  • External processing hardware

• TA3: Auditory Read & Write Algorithms

  • AI/ML auditory decoding

  • Neural signal interpretation

  • Personalized hearing restoration algorithms

  • Closed-loop neuroprocessing software

  • Auditory stimulation and modulation systems

The program also supports:

• Animal studies

• Human data collection

• Pre-clinical validation

• Regulatory engagement with FDA

• First-in-human (FIH) studies

• Manufacturing scale-up

• Clinical protocols

• System integration activities

The solicitation requires all proposals to address all three TAs and all program phases.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Potential additional benefits include:

• Direct engagement with ARPA-H

• FDA engagement and regulatory planning support

• Participation in ARPA-H performer meetings

• Collaboration opportunities with multidisciplinary teams

• Potential commercialization pathways

• Clinical translation support

• Access to a high-visibility national neurotechnology initiative

ARPA-H states it is uniquely positioned to:

• Convene multidisciplinary teams

• Set aggressive system-level milestones

• Provide commercialization support

• Provide regulatory support

The solicitation also encourages:

• Open or permissive licensing for interoperability components

• Shared data standards

• Shared benchmarking tools

• Shared reference datasets

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

Key dates are:

• Proposers’ Day: Monday, June 8, 2026

• Questions & Answers (Q&A) due date: Monday, June 15th, 2026, 5:00 PM ET

• Solution Summaries due date: Monday, June 29, 2026, 2:00 PM ET

• Full Proposals due date: Friday, August 14th, 2026, 2:00 PM ET

The HEARING program is structured as a 4.5-year effort consisting of:

• Phase 1: Research & Development (18 months)

• Phase 2: Pre-Clinical (24 months)

• Phase 3: Clinical / First-in-Human Studies (12 months)

The solicitation does not specify:

• Award announcement dates

• Contract negotiation timelines

• Expected project start dates

• Payment schedules

Where does this funding come from?

This funding comes from:

• Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H)

• Health Science Futures (HSF) Office

Program title:

• Hearing Enhancement through ARtificially Intelligent NeurotechnoloGy (HEARING)

Solicitation number:

• ARPA-H-SOL-26-154

Announcement type:

• Innovative Solutions Opening (ISO)

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible proposers include:

• Universities

• Non-profit organizations

• Small businesses

• Other than small businesses

The solicitation states:
“All responsible sources capable of satisfying the Government’s needs may submit a proposal to this ISO.”

Additional eligibility requirements and restrictions include:

• Proposals must address all three Technical Areas and all program phases

• Proposals must be submitted under a single prime awardee

• Teams must include interdisciplinary expertise

• Teams must include representative end-user, clinical, and regulatory expertise

• Proposers may submit a maximum of:

  • One (1) proposal as prime proposer

  • Two (2) proposals as sub proposer

• SAM.gov registration is required

Non-U.S. entities:

• May participate subject to applicable regulations and restrictions

• ARPA-H will prioritize work conducted in the United States

Ineligible entities include:

• Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) as prime or sub performers, unless specifically approved

• Government entities and federal employees as performers

• Organizations with unmitigable organizational conflicts of interest

• Certain foreign entities identified under applicable federal statutes

What companies and projects are likely to win?

The strongest proposals will likely include:

• Fully integrated multidisciplinary teams

• Existing expertise in neurotechnology and BCIs

• Strong preliminary data

• Demonstrated ability to execute complex hardware/software integration

• FDA and clinical strategy experience

• Real-world hearing restoration validation plans

• Commercialization pathways

• Human data collection capabilities

• Experience with wireless implantable systems

• AI/ML auditory decoding expertise

ARPA-H explicitly states that proposals should:

• Be innovative and feasible

• Be supported by preliminary evidence

• Address major technical risks

• Include clear mitigation strategies

• Demonstrate commercialization potential

• Consider end-user experience and accessibility

• Improve speech-in-noise outcomes

• Support real-world usability

Projects that are likely to be noncompetitive include:

• Incremental improvements to existing hearing aids

• Solutions addressing only one TA

• Programs lacking system integration capability

• Solutions requiring craniotomy or craniectomy for the final TA1 device

• Technologies without sufficient preliminary evidence

• Systems with cumbersome form factors

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

Yes. Key restrictions include:

Technical restrictions:

• Proposals must address all TAs and all phases

• Final TA1 devices cannot require surgical skull access (e.g., craniotomy or craniectomy)

• Implanted batteries subdurally or deeper into the brain are out of scope

• Solutions cannot rely on cumbersome form factors

• Solutions functioning only in controlled environments may be deemed non-responsive

Administrative restrictions:

• Solution Summary submission is required before submitting a Full Proposal

• Submissions must be in English

• Submission must occur through the ARPA-H Solution Submission Portal

• SAM.gov registration is required

Program restrictions:

• FFRDCs and Government entities are generally prohibited from participating as performers

• Current ARPA-H support contractors may be ineligible due to OCI restrictions

• Certain foreign entities are prohibited

Regulatory requirements:

• FDA engagement is expected

• IND/IDE approvals or equivalent permissions are required before Phase 3

• Human subject research approvals are required where applicable

The solicitation also notes that ARPA-H may impose publication restrictions for projects involving sensitive information.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

This will likely require a substantial proposal effort.

The solicitation requires:

• A single integrated proposal

• Coverage of all three Technical Areas

• Coverage of all three phases

• Detailed technical milestones

• Regulatory planning

• Clinical planning

• Manufacturing planning

• Animal study plans

• Human data collection strategies

• System integration plans

• Commercialization considerations

• Cost proposals

• Extensive interdisciplinary teaming

Most teams will likely need:

• Multiple institutional partners

• Clinical collaborators

• Regulatory consultants

• Neurotechnology expertise

• AI/ML expertise

• Hardware and firmware engineering support

• Program integration leadership

Teams without existing partnerships and preliminary work may face compressed timelines before the:

• Solution Summaries due date: Monday, June 29, 2026, 2:00 PM ET

• Full Proposals due date: Friday, August 14th, 2026, 2:00 PM ET

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can support:

• Go/no-go evaluation

• Teaming strategy and partner identification

• Technical narrative development

• System integration positioning

• ARPA-H proposal strategy

• Workplan and milestone development

• Commercialization positioning

• Regulatory strategy framing

• Competitive differentiation

• Budget development support

• Full proposal writing and coordination

• Submission management

For HEARING specifically, BW&CO can also help teams:

• Translate highly technical neurotechnology concepts into ARPA-H-ready narratives

• Align deliverables with program metrics

• Structure multidisciplinary proposals across all three TAs

• Position preliminary data effectively

• Build compelling transition and clinical translation strategies

Additional Resources

Review solicitation here.

CDMRP - Prostate Cancer Research Program (PCRP)

Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).

Executive Summary:

The FY26 Prostate Cancer Research Program (PCRP), administered by the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP), is expected to release multiple funding opportunities supporting innovative, high-impact prostate cancer research with clinical relevance. The program is focused on eliminating death and suffering from prostate cancer through new therapies, improved clinical care, survivorship research, and better understanding of disease progression.

This is currently a pre-announcement. Funding opportunity announcements will be posted later on Grants.gov and will include official pre-application and application deadlines. At this time, the application deadline is not specified in the solicitation.

How much funding would I receive?

Funding amounts depend on the award mechanism.

• Data Science Award

  • Maximum allowable funding is $1.4 million for total costs

  • Maximum period of performance is 3 years

• Early Investigator Research Award

  • Maximum allowable funding is $630,000 for total costs

  • Maximum period of performance is 3 years

• Idea Development Award

  • Established Investigator Option:

    • Maximum allowable funding is $1.7M for total costs

    • Maximum period of performance is 3 years

  • New Investigator Option:

    • Maximum allowable funding is $2.1M for total costs

    • Maximum period of performance is 4 years

• Physician Research Award

  • Maximum allowable funding is $1.1M for total costs

  • Maximum period of performance is 4 years

The solicitation states that total costs include direct and indirect costs.

What could I use the funding for?

The allowable use of funds depends on the award mechanism.

Data Science Award 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 areas including:

• Analysis of clinically annotated datasets

• Analysis of “-omics” data

• Artificial intelligence and machine learning

• Bioinformatics

• Computational biology

• Digital pathology

• Epidemiology

• Medical imaging

Early Investigator Research Award supports prostate cancer research conducted by early-stage investigators under mentorship from experienced researchers.

Idea Development Award supports innovative, high-risk and high-gain approaches to prostate cancer research.

Physician Research Award supports mentored research experiences for physicians pursuing careers in prostate cancer research and clinical practice.

Several mechanisms allow clinical research and correlative studies associated with ongoing or completed clinical trials, but clinical trials themselves are not allowed under these awards.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Potential additional benefits include:

• Access to CDMRP-administered funding programs with national visibility

• Support for researcher career development and mentorship under the Early Investigator Research Award and Physician Research Award

• Flexibility for multidisciplinary and multi-institutional collaboration under certain award mechanisms

• Opportunity to pursue high-risk, high-gain research concepts through the Idea Development Award

The solicitation also encourages, but does not require:

• Preliminary data for several award mechanisms

• Multidisciplinary projects

• Multi-institutional projects

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

This notice is a pre-announcement only.

The solicitation states that:

• Funding opportunity announcements will be posted later on Grants.gov

• Once released, the funding opportunity announcements will include pre-application and application deadlines

• The PCRP requires submission of a letter of intent prior to full application submission

• Before full application submission, the CDMRP requires submission of a pre-application through eBRAP prior to the pre-application deadline

The application deadline is not specified in the solicitation.

The timing for award decisions or funding distribution is not specified in the solicitation.

Where does this funding come from?

The funding comes from the FY26 Defense Appropriations Act and is administered through:

• Defense Health Agency Research and Development (DHA R&D)

• Medical Research and Development Command (MRDC)

• Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP)

The funding opportunity is part of the FY26 Prostate Cancer Research Program (PCRP).

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility depends on the award mechanism.

Data Science Award

• Independent investigators at all levels

Early Investigator Research Award

• Early-career investigators possessing a doctoral degree, or equivalent, with fewer than 3 years of postdoctoral research experience at the application submission deadline, excluding clinical residency or clinical fellowship training

Idea Development Award
Established Investigators:

• Independent investigators at all levels

New Investigators:

• Independent investigators that:

  • Have not previously received a PCRP Idea Development Award and/or Health Disparity Research Award

  • Either completed at least 3 years of postdoctoral training or fellowship or are within 10 years after completion of terminal degree, excluding residency or family medical leave

Physician Research Award

• Early-career clinician investigators that are either:

  • In the last year of an accredited medical residency or medical fellowship program

  • Within 5 years of initiating a faculty appointment, including instructor positions or equivalent

Additional personnel requirements apply for mentored mechanisms.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Projects are likely to be competitive if they:

• Address one or more of the PCRP’s overarching challenges

• Demonstrate clinical relevance and potential impact

• Propose innovative approaches to prostate cancer research

• Focus on improving outcomes for patients with lethal prostate cancer

• Advance survivorship, wellness, or clinical care

• Improve understanding of progression to lethal prostate cancer

The solicitation specifically emphasizes:

• Innovation and impact equally under the Idea Development Award

• High-risk and high-gain approaches

• Quantitative and analytical methods for large and complex prostate cancer datasets under the Data Science Award

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

Key restrictions include:

• Applications cannot support clinical trials under all listed award mechanisms

• Data Science Award applications cannot support prospective recruitment of human subjects

• Several awards require submission of a letter of intent prior to full application submission

• Full applications must conform to the final funding opportunity announcements available on Grants.gov

• Certain mechanisms require mentorship and researcher development plans

• Physician Research Award applications strongly encourage protection of at least 20% of the PI’s time for prostate cancer research

The solicitation states that this announcement is only a pre-announcement and should not be construed as an obligation or promise by the government.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

The solicitation does not specify expected preparation time.

However, applicants should anticipate preparing:

• A pre-application through eBRAP

• A letter of intent

• A full application package

• Research development plans for mentored mechanisms

• Supporting documentation related to eligibility, mentorship, and project scope

Because official funding opportunity announcements and deadlines have not yet been released, applicants may benefit from beginning project planning early.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can help companies and research teams:

• Evaluate which FY26 PCRP mechanism best aligns with their technology or research program

• Position projects around the program’s stated overarching challenges

• Develop commercialization and impact narratives

• Coordinate scientific, clinical, and subcontractor partners

• Manage proposal development, writing, compliance, and submission

• Prepare pre-applications, letters of intent, and full proposals

Additional Resources

Review solicitation here.

CDMRP - Neurofibromatosis Research Program (NFRP)

Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).

Executive Summary:

The FY26 Neurofibromatosis Research Program (NFRP), administered by the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP), is expected to fund multiple award mechanisms supporting innovative, high-impact neurofibromatosis (NF) and schwannomatosis research. The program is specifically focused on improving understanding, diagnosis, treatment and quality of life outcomes for people affected by NF and schwannomatosis, including Service Members, Veterans and their families.

Pre-Application due August 31st

Full Application due September 14th

How much funding would I receive?

The FY26 NFRP includes multiple anticipated award mechanisms with varying funding levels:

• Exploration-Hypothesis Development Award

  • Maximum allowable funding: $160,000 total costs

  • Maximum performance period: 2 years

• Investigator-Initiated Research Award

  • Maximum allowable funding: $525,000 total costs

  • Maximum performance period: 3 years

  • Applications using the Qualified Collaborator or NF Open Science Initiative options may request up to $575,000 total costs

• Neurofibromatosis Research Academy – Leadership Award

  • Maximum allowable funding: $2.4 million total costs

  • Maximum performance period: 4 years

• Neurofibromatosis Research Academy – Scholar Award

  • Maximum allowable funding: $1.2 million total costs

  • Maximum performance period: 4 years

• Synergistic Idea Award

  • Maximum allowable funding: $3.2 million total costs

  • Maximum performance period: 3 years

Total costs include both direct and indirect costs.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding is intended to support innovative and impactful neurofibromatosis and schwannomatosis research projects.

Potential project areas include:

• Schwannomatosis and NF2-related research

• Biomarker and endpoint validation

• Data science applications

• Pain and cognitive manifestation research

• Sleep-related NF research

• Genomics, epigenetics and systems biology

• Drug discovery and target identification

• Preclinical efficacy studies

• Nutritional and environmental modifiers of NF

• Health services research

Specific award mechanisms also support:

• Early-stage exploratory concepts

• Multi-investigator collaborative projects

• Early-career investigator development

• Multi-institutional mentoring academies

• Pilot research projects within academy structures

Clinical trials are not allowed under the listed award mechanisms.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Depending on the award mechanism, applicants may receive additional benefits such as:

• Access to collaborative research partnerships

• Participation in the NF Open Science Initiative

• Intensive mentoring and career development

• National networking opportunities

• Participation in a virtual NF research academy

• Access to NF Consumer Consultant Panels

• Multi-institutional collaboration opportunities

The Neurofibromatosis Research Academy mechanisms are specifically designed to support mentorship, networking and long-term investigator development in the NF field.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

Pre-Application due August 31st

Full Application due September 14th

The program requires submission of a pre-application through eBRAP prior to full application submission.

Periods of performance vary by award mechanism:

• 2 years for Exploration-Hypothesis Development Awards

• 3 years for Investigator-Initiated Research Awards

• 4 years for Academy Leadership Awards

• 4 years for Academy Scholar Awards

• 3 years for Synergistic Idea Awards

The solicitation does not specify anticipated award start dates or funding disbursement timelines.

Where does this funding come from?

Funding comes from the FY26 Defense Appropriations Act through the Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP), managed within 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.

Exploration-Hypothesis Development Award:

• Investigators at all career levels

• Includes postdoctoral fellows or equivalent

Investigator-Initiated Research Award:

• Investigators at or above the level of Assistant Professor or equivalent

• Must commit a minimum of 10% effort throughout the award

Neurofibromatosis Research Academy – Leadership Award:

• Academy Director must be an established NF investigator at or above Associate Professor or equivalent

• Academy Deputy Director must also be at or above Associate Professor level and affiliated with a different institution

Neurofibromatosis Research Academy – Scholar Award:

• Scholars must be early-career investigators within 10 years of terminal degree or clinical fellowship

• Requires an eligible Career Guide who is an established NF investigator

Synergistic Idea Award:

• Investigators at or above the level of Assistant Professor or equivalent

Additional eligibility requirements may be included in the final funding opportunity announcements.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

The NFRP is seeking projects that are:

• Innovative and high-impact

• Clinically relevant

• Focused on improving patient outcomes

• Addressing one or more stated Areas of Emphasis

• Advancing understanding, diagnosis or treatment of NF and schwannomatosis

Competitive applications are likely to include:

• Strong scientific rationale

• Significant translational potential

• Collaborative or multidisciplinary approaches

• Novel technologies or methodologies

• Preliminary and/or published data where required

Certain award mechanisms specifically encourage:

• High-risk, high-gain concepts

• Multi-investigator collaboration

• Data science approaches

• Open science participation

• Mentorship and workforce development in NF research

The solicitation also emphasizes research that could benefit Service Members, Veterans and the broader public.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

Yes. Key restrictions include:

• Clinical trials are not allowed under the listed award mechanisms

• Several award mechanisms require preliminary and/or published data

• All applications require a pre-application submission through eBRAP before full application submission

• Multiple award mechanisms require submission of a letter of intent prior to full application submission

• Applications must conform to the final funding opportunity announcements posted on Grants.gov

The pre-announcement states that investigators should not construe the notice as an obligation or promise by the government.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

Preparation timelines will vary significantly depending on the award mechanism.

Applicants pursuing:

• Multi-institutional collaborations

• Academy proposals

• Large-scale synergistic projects

• Open science options

should expect substantially longer preparation timelines due to coordination requirements, mentoring structures, collaborator commitments and supporting documentation.

Because all applications require pre-applications and several require letters of intent, applicants should begin planning before the official funding opportunity announcements are released.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can support applicants with:

• Opportunity assessment and award mechanism selection

• Research strategy positioning

• Commercialization and impact narrative development

• Proposal writing and editing

• Collaboration structuring

• Project management and submission coordination

• Budget development support

• Grants.gov and eBRAP submission support

• Reviewer-style proposal feedback

Additional Resources

Review solicitation here.

CDMRP: Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP)

Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).

Executive Summary:

The FY26 Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP) is a pre-announcement from the Department of Defense indicating substantial upcoming funding across a wide range of medical research topics relevant to military health. This is an early signal to begin preparing—applications are not yet open, and deadlines are not specified in this pre-announcement. Once released on Grants.gov, these opportunities will move quickly and require pre-applications or letters of intent.

This program supports everything from early-stage discovery through large-scale clinical trials, with awards ranging from $385,000 up to $20M+ depending on mechanism. Founders and research teams should begin aligning projects now to be competitive when announcements drop.

Pre-Applications are due on 7/16/26 and 7/23/26.

Full Applications are due between 7/30/26 and 9/22/26.

How much funding would I receive?

Funding varies significantly by award mechanism:

• Clinical Trial Award

  • Planning Phase: up to $800,000

  • Level 1: up to $6M

  • Level 2: up to $10M

  • Level 3: up to $20M

• Discovery Award

  • Up to $385,000

• Impact Award

  • Single PI: up to $2.8M

  • Partnering PI: up to $3.6M

• Lifestyle and Applied Health Research Award

  • Up to $4.2M

• Platform Clinical Translation Award

  • Up to $15M (with only $8M guaranteed from FY26 funds)

• Research Advancement Award

  • Up to $1.4M

• Technology/Therapeutic Development Award

  • Up to $5.6M

All amounts are total costs (direct + indirect).

What could I use the funding for?

Funding supports a broad spectrum of medical research aligned to congressionally mandated topic areas, including (not exhaustive):

• PTSD, traumatic brain injury, suicide prevention

• Burn pit exposure, respiratory health

• Rare diseases (e.g., Rett Syndrome, Fragile X, mitochondrial disease)

• Chronic conditions (e.g., diabetes-related areas not explicitly listed, IBD, fibromyalgia-related analogs where applicable)

• Women’s health (e.g., endometriosis, maternal mental health)

• Neurological and musculoskeletal conditions

Use cases depend on the mechanism:

• Discovery Award: High-risk, early-stage concepts (no preliminary data)

• Impact Award: Hypothesis-driven work with preliminary data

• Clinical Trial Award: Phase 0–3 trials

• Technology/Therapeutic Development: Translating preclinical work into products

• Platform Clinical Translation: Multi-indication platforms

• Lifestyle and Applied Health: Quality of life, behavioral, and applied interventions

Projects must align to at least one specified topic area.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

• Validation from the Department of Defense and CDMRP

• Access to non-dilutive capital at scale (up to $20M)

• Opportunity to support military-relevant health outcomes

• Structured pathways for clinical translation and regulatory readiness (e.g., IND/IDE planning support under Clinical Trial Award)

Additional benefits are not further specified in the pre-announcement.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

• Pre-Applications are due on 7/16/26 and 7/23/26.

• Full Applications are due between 7/30/26 and 9/22/26.

• Submission will require:

  • Pre-application (e.g., preproposal or letter of intent depending on mechanism)

  • Full application (often by invitation only)

• Periods of performance:

  • Range from 2 years to 4 years depending on mechanism

  • Planning phases up to 18 months

Exact award start timelines are not specified.

Where does this funding come from?

• FY26 Defense Appropriations Act

• Administered by:

  • Defense Health Agency (DHA) Research and Development

  • Medical Research and Development Command (MRDC)

  • Managed through the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP)

Who is eligible to apply?

• Independent investigators at all career levels

• Applies across all award mechanisms

No additional institutional, geographic, or organizational eligibility restrictions are specified in this pre-announcement.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Based strictly on the solicitation:

• Projects that:

  • Align directly with congressionally mandated topic areas

  • Demonstrate clear relevance to military health

  • Show high impact and scientific merit

• Competitive profiles by mechanism:

  • Discovery: Bold, untested ideas without preliminary data

  • Impact: Strong preliminary data + near-term impact potential

  • Clinical Trial: Well-developed interventions ready for human testing

  • Technology/Therapeutic Development: Clear product-oriented outcomes

  • Platform Clinical Translation: Solutions addressing multiple topic areas

• Teams:

  • May include clinician researchers or industry partners (required in some partnering options)

Further selection criteria are not specified in this pre-announcement.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

Key restrictions vary by mechanism:

• Clinical Trial Award

  • Cannot support preclinical research

  • Requires regulatory approvals (e.g., IND/IDE) where applicable

• Discovery Award

  • Cannot include preliminary data

  • Cannot support clinical trials

• Impact Award

  • Cannot support clinical trials

• Lifestyle and Applied Health Research Award

  • Cannot support animal studies

• Technology/Therapeutic Development Award

  • Cannot support clinical trials

• Research Advancement Award

  • Cannot support clinical trials

• All applications:

  • Must align to specified topic areas

  • Require pre-application submission (preproposal or LOI depending on mechanism)

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

Not explicitly specified, but based on required steps:

• Pre-application required (LOI or preproposal)

• Full applications often by invitation only

• Clinical trial applications may require:

  • Regulatory documentation (e.g., IND/IDE)

Exact preparation timelines are not specified in the pre-announcement.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can support:

• Opportunity qualification against PRMRP mechanisms

• Topic area alignment and positioning

• Preproposal / LOI development

• Full application strategy and narrative development

• Clinical and product translation positioning

• Partnering strategy (e.g., clinician or industry PI alignment)

How much would BW&CO Charge?

We have both fractional engagements ($250 an hour) and full engagements ($13,000 + 5%) available.

Additional Resources

Review the solicitation here.

CDMRP: Combat Readiness–Medical Research Program (CRRP)

Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).

Executive Summary:

The FY26 Combat Readiness–Medical Research Program (CRRP) will fund innovative, high-impact research to improve Warfighter survivability and readiness, with a focus on trauma care and operational medical capabilities. This is a pre-announcement, giving advance notice so teams can prepare—the full funding opportunity with required deadlines has not yet been released.

Critically, application deadlines are not specified in this pre-announcement. Once released, the solicitation will include required pre-application and full application deadlines. Teams should begin preparing now, as this program uses a pre-application screening process with invitation-only full submissions.

How much funding would I receive?

• Maximum total funding: $2.45 million (total costs)

• Guaranteed funding from FY26: $1.45 million

• Remaining funding supports optional research efforts

• Period of performance:

  • Maximum total: 3 years

  • Base period: 2 years

  • Optional period: 1 year

What could I use the funding for?

Funding supports translational research in combat casualty care, including:

• Battlefield diagnostics, triage, and decision support tools

• Treatments to improve care delivery in:

  • Point of injury

  • Austere surgical/resuscitative environments

  • Prolonged casualty care

  • En route care

• Battlefield readiness solutions focused on pre-hospital and operational environments

Projects must be hypothesis-driven and supported by preliminary data and aim to move promising technologies toward real-world trauma care solutions.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

• Not specified in the pre-announcement.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

• This is a pre-announcement only

• The full funding opportunity will be posted on Grants.gov

• Pre-application submission is required via eBRAP

• Full applications are by invitation only

Application deadlines are not specified in this pre-announcement and will be provided when the official solicitation is released.

Where does this funding come from?

• FY26 Defense Appropriations Act

• Managed by:

  • Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP)

  • Under the Defense Health Agency (DHA) Research and Development – Medical Research and Development Command (MRDC)

Who is eligible to apply?

• Independent Investigators at all academic levels, or equivalent

No additional eligibility restrictions are specified.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Projects most aligned with the program’s intent will:

• Address combat casualty care and operational medical challenges

• Demonstrate strong preliminary data

• Be translational—moving technologies toward real-world use

• Show potential to:

  • Improve survivability

  • Enable care closer to the point of injury

  • Inform trauma care guidelines

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

• Pre-application is required; full submission is invitation-only

• Applications must include preliminary data

• Research may include:

  • Animal models (allowed, not required)

  • Clinical research (allowed, not required)

  • Small-scale pilot clinical trials (optional, within performance period)

• Applications must conform to the final FOA once released

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

Not specified in the pre-announcement.

However, given the pre-application + invitation-only structure and requirement for preliminary data, teams should expect a multi-phase process and begin preparation early.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can support across the full lifecycle:

• Positioning your technology against CRRP focus areas

• Developing a competitive pre-application strategy

• Translating technical work into clear, reviewer-aligned narratives

• Building a data-driven commercialization and impact story

• Managing submission through eBRAP and Grants.gov workflows

How much would BW&CO Charge?

We have both fractional engagements ($250 an hour) and full engagements ($13,000 + 5%) available.

Additional Resources

Review the solicitation here.

CDMRP: Parkinson’s Research Program (PRP)

Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).

Executive Summary:

The FY26 Parkinson’s Research Program (PRP) will fund innovative, high-impact research aimed at reducing risk, slowing progression, or easing symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. This is a pre-announcement, meaning you have time to prepare—but deadlines have not yet been released. Once funding opportunities are posted on Grants.gov, both pre-application and full application deadlines will be specified. Early preparation is critical to compete.

Pre-applications are due October 23rd.

Full applications are due November 6.

How much funding would I receive?

Funding depends on the award mechanism:

Early Investigator Research Award

• Funding Level 1:

  • Up to $300,000 total costs

  • Period of performance: 2 years

• Funding Level 2:

  • Up to $1,000,000 total costs

  • Period of performance: 2 years

Investigator-Initiated Research Award

• Up to $2,000,000 total costs

• Period of performance: 3 years

Total costs include direct and indirect costs.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding supports Parkinson’s disease research aligned to one or more of the following focus areas:

• Disease heterogeneity and its impact on progression and outcomes

• Advanced in vitro model systems that reflect in vivo complexity

• Biomarkers and biological mechanisms tied to unmet medical needs

• Research addressing:

  • Non-motor symptoms (e.g., cognitive, sleep, psychiatric, pain)

  • Motor symptoms (e.g., tremor, gait, dyskinesia)

• Development and testing of interventions, including:

  • Biological, pharmacological, and non-pharmacological approaches

  • Surgical and non-surgical devices

  • Non-invasive CNS stimulation

Projects may range from laboratory models to studies involving human participants, depending on the mechanism.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

• Opportunity to work within a Department of Defense-funded research program

• Access to a program prioritizing clinically relevant, high-impact outcomes

• Optional Partnering PI structure (Investigator-Initiated Research Award) to support collaboration between two investigators

• Structured support for early-career researchers, including mentorship (for Funding Level 1)

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

• Pre-applications are due October 23rd.

• Full applications are due November 6.

• Funding opportunity announcements will be posted on Grants.gov

• A pre-application is required via eBRAP before full submission

• Exact pre-application and full application deadlines will be included in the official announcements

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?

Early Investigator Research Award

• Postdoctoral fellows, clinical fellows, or independent investigators within 10 years of degree or residency completion

• Eligibility must be verified via an institutional statement

Investigator-Initiated Research Award

• Independent investigators at all academic levels, or equivalent

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Competitive applications will:

• Address one or more of the specified focus areas

• Demonstrate high-impact potential and clinical relevance

• Include:

  • Strong mentorship and career development (early investigators)

  • Preliminary data where required

  • Rigorous, multidisciplinary approaches (Investigator-Initiated Research Award)

• Target unmet medical needs in Parkinson’s disease, especially across motor and non-motor symptoms

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

Early Investigator Research Award

• Clinical trials are not allowed

• Mentorship is required for Funding Level 1

• Preliminary data:

  • Not required for Level 1

  • Required for Level 2

Investigator-Initiated Research Award

• Preliminary data are required

• Clinical trials are allowed

General

• Pre-application submission via eBRAP is required

• Applications must follow final instructions in the official funding announcements

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

• Not specified in the pre-announcement

• However, the requirement for a pre-application and full application, along with preliminary data (for most mechanisms), indicates a moderate to high preparation effort

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can support you by:

• Interpreting the full funding announcement once released

• Positioning your project against PRP focus areas and review criteria

• Developing a compelling technical narrative and commercialization angle

• Managing pre-application and full submission workflows

• Supporting teaming strategies, including Partnering PI structures

How much would BW&CO Charge?

We have both fractional engagements ($250 an hour) and full engagements ($13,000 + 5%) available.

Additional Resources

Review the solicitation here.

CDMRP: Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Research Program (DMDRP)

Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).

Executive Summary:

The FY26 Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Research Program (DMDRP), managed by the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP), will fund high-impact research to improve function and quality of life for individuals with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). This is a pre-announcement, meaning application deadlines are not yet specified. Founders and investigators should begin preparing now ahead of the official release on Grants.gov, where deadlines will be published.

Pre-applications are due on September 4th.

Full applications are due on September 18th.

How much funding would I receive?

Two award mechanisms are anticipated:

Idea Development Award

• Maximum funding: $500,000 in total costs

• Period of performance: 2 years

Clinical/Translational Research Award

Funding Level 1

• Single PI: $910,000 in total costs

• Partnering PI Option: $1 million in total costs

• Period of performance: 3 years

Funding Level 2

• Single PI: $1.75M in total costs

• Partnering PI Option: $1.9M in total costs

• Period of performance: 4 years

Total costs include direct and indirect costs.

What could I use the funding for?

Idea Development Award

• High-risk/high-reward research advancing understanding of DMD

• Development of macromolecular and cellular therapies targeting primary pathology

• Research must include preliminary data

• Cannot fund clinical trials or clinical trial aims

Clinical/Translational Research Award

• Translational research with near-term clinical impact

• Preclinical work supporting IND-enabling studies

• Clinical research including:

  • Real-world data or post-market studies

  • Combination or sequential therapy studies

  • Long-term safety and efficacy studies

  • Studies to improve care and quality of life

  • Clinical trial tools and outcome measures

  • Natural history studies for trial readiness

• Can include clinical trials, pilot trials, and readiness studies

• Must include preliminary data

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

• Access to CDMRP-managed funding programs within the Defense Health Agency Research and Development ecosystem

• Optional Partnering PI structure for Clinical/Translational Research Awards to support collaboration between investigators

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

• Pre-applications are due on September 4th.

• Full applications are due on September 18th.

• Deadlines will be released with the official funding opportunity announcements on Grants.gov

• A pre-application submission through eBRAP is required prior to full application submission

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?

Idea Development Award

• Established independent investigators

• Early-stage investigators:

  • Within 10 years of first faculty appointment

  • Must not have previously received this award

• Transitioning investigators entering DMD from another field

• Must:

  • Be pursuing an active line of DMD research

  • Commit at least 10% effort annually

Clinical/Translational Research Award

• Independent investigators at all academic levels

• Optional Partnering PI must be:

  • Early-career (within 10 years), or

  • Established investigator from another field entering DMD

What companies and projects are likely to win?

• Projects focused on safe and effective macromolecular and cellular therapies addressing the primary pathology of DMD

• Research with clinical relevance and translational potential

• Studies that demonstrate impact across the lifespan, including:

  • Infants

  • Toddlers

  • Non-ambulatory individuals

• Applications supported by strong preliminary data

• High-risk/high-reward ideas (Idea Development Award) or near-term clinical impact (Clinical/Translational Award)

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

• Idea Development Award:

  • Cannot fund clinical trials or clinical trial aims

• All applications:

  • Must include preliminary data

  • Must align with specified focus areas

• Pre-application submission via eBRAP is required

• Applications must conform to final FOA requirements once released

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

• Not specified in the pre-announcement

• However, preparation should begin now given:

  • Required preliminary data

  • Mandatory pre-application step

  • Competitive, high-impact nature of the program

How can BW&CO help?

• Evaluate fit across Idea Development vs. Clinical/Translational tracks

• Shape your research into a CDMRP-aligned, reviewer-ready narrative

• Support Partnering PI strategy and positioning

• Develop compliant pre-applications and full submissions

• Maximize competitiveness for high-risk/high-reward and translational proposals

How much would BW&CO Charge?

We have both fractional engagements ($250 an hour) and full engagements ($13,000 + 5%) available.

Additional Resources

Review the solicitation here.

CDMRP: Pharmacotherapies for Alcohol and Substance Use Disorder Alliance (PASA)

Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).

Executive Summary:

PASA has four live RFA 8 opportunities under the Study Research Planning Program (SRPP), and the first deadline comes fast: pre-applications are due 04/15/2026 across all four opportunities. Full applications are then due either 06/05/2026 or 06/17/2026 depending on the award type. In plain terms, this is a staged PASA funding cycle for teams working on drug discovery, pre-clinical animal research, human participant clinical trial planning, or expansion of previously funded PASA work. The planning award is for human participant clinical trial planning, the pre-clinical award is for animal research, the drug discovery award is for nonclinical discovery work, and the expansion award is only for current or previously funded PASA studies.

How much funding would I receive?

RFA 8a / Planning Award
Maximum Total Cost (Direct and Indirect): $150,000.
Period of Performance: 9-12 months.

RFA 8b / Pre-Clinical Award
The maximum total cost is not specified in the source materials I reviewed.
The period of performance is not specified in the source materials I reviewed.

RFA 8c / Drug Discovery Award
Maximum Total Cost (Direct and Indirect): $600,000.
Period of Performance: 24 months.

RFA 8d / Expansion Award
Maximum Total Cost (Direct and Indirect): $250,000-$750,000.
Period of Performance: 12-24 months.

What could I use the funding for?

RFA 8a / Planning Award
Use this for a specific compound or combination of compounds where you need a clinical implementation strategy to move toward FDA approval for ASUD treatment. PASA says the award supports development of a series of studies, the protocol for the first study, and related regulatory pathway work.

RFA 8b / Pre-Clinical Award
Use this for proof-of-principle pre-clinical animal research to determine which compounds are most appropriate for human research trials.

RFA 8c / Drug Discovery Award
Use this for proof-of-principle nonclinical drug discovery research to determine which compounds are most appropriate for later human research trials. The RFA says this can include computational-based analysis, including in silico and augmented intelligence research.

RFA 8d / Expansion Award
Use this only to continue or extend research that was previously funded by PASA. PASA says the expansion award may support drug discovery, pre-clinical, or clinical research, as long as it is the next step or an expansion on currently funded work.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

PASA says successful projects are conducted as part of PASA with PASA Management Core involvement. Across the RFAs, that support includes oversight and coordination, data repository functions, and analytic support. PASA’s support page also says PASA statisticians are available during proposal development to review or help develop power, sample size, and analytic plans, and that PASA-funded projects receive centralized management and statistical support after award.

For the Planning Award specifically, PASA says a productive award will yield a clinical implementation strategy, a protocol for the first study in the plan, and FDA approval or exemption for the plan and protocol.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

RFA 8a / Planning Award
Pre-application Due 04/15/2026.
Go/ No Go Response from PASA Management Core (for submission of full applications) 04/24/2026.
Full Application Due 06/05/2026.
Peer Review Process July 2026.
Consortium Steering Committee Review Mid-August 2026.
Notification of Award Recommendations August 2026.
Award Negotiations Begin September 2026.

RFA 8b / Pre-Clinical Award
Pre-application Due 04/15/2026.
Go/ No Go Response from PASA Management Core (for submission of full applications) 04/24/2026.
Full Application Due 06/17/2026.
Peer Review Process Ends July 2026.
Consortium Steering Committee Review Mid-August 2026.
Notification of Award Recommendations August 2026.
Award Negotiations Begin September 2026.

RFA 8c / Drug Discovery Award
Pre-application Due 04/15/2026.
Go/ No Go Response from PASA Management Core (for submission of full applications) 04/24/2026.
Full Application Due 06/17/2026.
Peer Review Process Ends July 2026.
Consortium Steering Committee Review Mid-August 2026.
Notification of Award Recommendations August 2026.
Award Negotiations Begin September 2026.

RFA 8d / Expansion Award
Pre-application Due 04/15/2026.
Go/ No Go Response from PASA Management Core (for submission of full applications) 04/24/2026.
Full Application Due 06/05/2026.
Peer Review Process Ends July 2026.
Consortium Steering Committee Review Mid-August 2026.
Notification of Award Recommendations August 2026.
Award Negotiations Begin September 2026.

The solicitations say award negotiations begin in September 2026. They do not specify an exact award date or disbursement date.

Where does this funding come from?

The solicitations and FAQ say PASA is funded by the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) through the Alcohol and Substance Use Disorders Research Program (ASUDRP). The FAQ states PASA’s work is supported by the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs endorsed by the Department of Defense, managed by CDMRP under Awards W81XWH-15-2-0077, W81XWH-18-2-0044, W81XWH-22-2-0081 and HT94252520002.

Who is eligible to apply?

The FAQ says any institution can apply. It also says international submissions are allowed, more than one application from the same institution is allowed, and those applications are reviewed independently. Co-PIs are allowed. You do not need to already be associated with PASA to apply. For studies involving human participants, the FAQ says applications with Veteran’s Administration (VA) collaborators may be viewed more positively.

There is one major award-specific eligibility limit: RFA 8d / Expansion Award is only for current or previously funded PASA studies.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

The solicitations consistently favor projects that align closely with PASA’s goals and focus areas, address ASUD particularly but not limited to comorbid PTSD and other mental health conditions, and have strong potential to inform future clinical trials or improve pharmacotherapies.

• The strongest projects are likely to be those that:

  • show clear alignment with PASA strategic goals and focus areas;

  • present a strong research idea and clear impact;

  • demonstrate feasibility, appropriate budget, and strong team qualifications;

  • show how the work could support regulatory progression and future clinical trials; and

  • for planning awards and clinical work, show a path toward pharmaceutical collaboration or eventual marketing.

The FAQ says a commercial partnership is not required for funding, but for planning awards and clinical trials it is recommended, and a demonstrated relationship with a pharmaceutical company with a path to eventual marketing will be a factor in award selections.

For RFA 8d, the strongest projects are likely to be previously funded PASA studies that can clearly justify why the research is ready for the next phase and how the proposed work builds on prior PASA-funded results.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

All four opportunities require a pre-application before a full application. PASA states that a “go” response from the PASA Management Core is required to proceed with the full application.

RFA 8d is limited to current or previously funded PASA work.

The FAQ says PASA RFA8 does not include the development and/or validation of animal models of disease.

For pre-clinical studies, PASA says most funded studies must be conducted in accordance with Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) requirements, though some basic science studies may not require GLP and PASA will make that determination in consultation with the PI.

For expansion awards, PASA says most studies must be conducted in accordance with GCP and/or GLP requirements.

Because PASA funding comes through CDMRP/ASUDRP, the solicitations say subaward funds will be subject to policies and restrictions based on that source of funding.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

What is specified is the application structure. Each RFA requires a pre-application first, followed by a full application only if you receive a go decision. The pre-application is limited to four pages. Full applications then require multiple technical sections, budget materials, and supporting documentation. The planning award, pre-clinical award, drug discovery award, and expansion award each have different required components, so preparation time will depend on which RFA you target.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can support across all phases of the CSO:

• Strategize the correct solicitation according to your project

• Help strategize on the nature and scope of the project

• Drafting the initial submission and managing the project of applying

• Increasing likelihood of success and saving time

How much would BW&CO Charge?

We have both fractional engagements ($250 an hour) and full engagements ($13,000 + 5%) available.

Additional Resources

Review the solicitation here.

CDMRP: Toxic Exposures Research Program (TERP)

Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).

Executive Summary:

This is a pre-announcement for the FY26 Toxic Exposures Research Program (TERP), signaling upcoming funding opportunities but no application deadline is provided at this stage. Founders and researchers should begin planning now, as future funding opportunity announcements will include required pre-application and full application deadlines once released on Grants.gov.

The program will fund high-impact research with clinical relevance focused on preventing, diagnosing, and treating conditions related to military-related toxic exposures. Awards span clinical trials, translational research, and investigator-initiated studies.

How much funding would I receive?

Funding depends on the award mechanism:

• Clinical Trial Award

  • Up to $4.5 million total costs

  • Maximum 4 years

• Translational Research Award

  • Up to $1.5M total costs

  • Maximum 3 years

• Investigator-Initiated Research Award

  • Up to $800,000 total costs

  • Maximum 3 years

Total costs include direct and indirect costs.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding supports research aligned with at least one program goal:

• Predict and prevent

  • Monitoring and prevention strategies

  • Risk factor identification

  • Multigenerational and reproductive effects

  • Exposure tracking technologies

• Diagnose

  • Biomarkers and diagnostics

  • Disease progression understanding

  • Multi-exposure and stressor interactions

• Treat

  • Therapeutics and interventions

  • Preclinical models (non-clinical trial mechanisms only)

  • Strategies to reduce symptoms and disease progression

Projects must also address at least one topic area:

• Neurotoxin Exposure

• Gulf War Illness and Its Treatment

• Airborne Hazards and Burn Pits

• Other military-related toxic exposures (e.g., pesticides, organophosphates, metals)

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

• Partnering PI option available for Clinical Trial and Translational Research Awards (two PIs, separate awards)

• Strong encouragement for:

  • Collaboration with military and/or VA researchers and clinicians

  • Inclusion of a clinician on the team

  • Participation of a military or Veteran consumer (required/encouraged depending on mechanism)

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

• This is a pre-announcement

• Application deadlines are not specified

• Future funding opportunity announcements will include:

  • Pre-application (required) via eBRAP

  • Full application (by invitation only)

Additional timing details:

• Clinical trials are expected to begin within 12 to 18 months of the award date

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?

• Independent investigators at all career levels

No additional eligibility restrictions are specified.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Projects that:

• Address at least one program goal and one topic area

• Demonstrate clinical relevance and impact on patient outcomes

• Include preliminary data (required across all mechanisms)

• Align with:

  • Prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of toxic exposure effects

• Incorporate:

  • Collaboration with military/VA stakeholders

  • Clinical expertise

  • Consumer (Veteran/military) input where encouraged

Clinical Trial Awards specifically favor:

• Trials ready for rapid implementation

• Studies evaluating products, drugs, biologics, devices, or clinical approaches

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

• Preproposal is required; full application is by invitation only

• All applications must include preliminary data

Mechanism-specific restrictions:

• Clinical Trial Award

  • Must include a clinical trial

  • Cannot include preclinical studies (including animal research)

• Investigator-Initiated Research Award

  • Cannot include clinical trials

• Translational Research Award

  • Cannot include clinical trials

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

Not specified in the pre-announcement.

However:

• A pre-application is required first, followed by an invited full application

• Investigators are encouraged to begin planning now due to the staged process

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can support you by:

• Interpreting TERP priorities and aligning your project to program goals and topic areas

• Structuring a competitive preproposal to secure invitation

• Developing a full application strategy grounded in clinical impact and reviewer expectations

• Positioning collaborations with military, VA, and clinical stakeholders

• Ensuring compliance with CDMRP and eBRAP submission requirements

How much would BW&CO Charge?

We have both fractional engagements ($250 an hour) and full engagements ($13,000 + 5%) available.

Additional Resources

Review the solicitation here.

CDMRP: Military Burn Research Program (MBRP)

Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).

Executive Summary:

The FY26 Military Burn Research Program (MBRP) will fund innovative, high-impact research focused on military-relevant burn trauma care in austere, combat environments. This is an early pre-announcement, giving teams time to prepare ahead of formal release on Grants.gov.

Application deadlines are not yet specified — they will be provided when the official funding opportunity announcements are released. Founders and researchers should begin planning now, as all mechanisms require a preproposal and are invitation-only for full applications.

How much funding would I receive?

Funding varies by award mechanism:

• Discovery Award

  • Up to $200,000 total costs

  • Up to 2 years

• Patient-Centered Research Award (PCRA)

  • Single PI: Up to $1.6 million total costs

  • Mentorship Option: Up to $1.8 million total costs

  • Up to 4 years

• Technology/Therapeutic Development Award (TTDA)

  • Single PI: Up to $1.6 million total costs

  • Mentorship Option: Up to $1.8 million total costs

  • Up to 3 years

Total costs include direct and indirect costs.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding must support research aligned to combat-relevant burn care, including:

• Cold injury triage, treatment, and prevention

• Acute burn care in combat settings

• Prevention, assessment, or treatment of burn-related complications:

  • Fluid resuscitation issues

  • Endotheliopathy

  • Sepsis

  • Inhalation injuries

  • Fungal infections

  • Hypermetabolism

• Early interventions to reduce long-term complications (e.g., chronic pain, neuropathy, pruritus)

By mechanism:

• Discovery Award: Early-stage, exploratory, non-clinical research (no clinical trials)

• PCRA: Clinical research and clinical trials only

• TTDA: Product-focused development (devices, drugs, or clinical practice tools), no clinical trials

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

• Optional Mentorship Option (PCRA and TTDA) to support collaboration between senior and junior researchers

• Access to CDMRP-managed funding infrastructure

• Opportunity to build solutions for military and battlefield healthcare applications

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

• This is a pre-announcement only

• Application deadlines are not yet specified

• Once released:

  • Pre-applications must be submitted via eBRAP

  • Full applications are invitation-only following preproposal review

• Timing for award decisions and funding is not specified

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?

• Discovery Award: Investigators at all academic levels (or equivalent)

• PCRA & TTDA: Independent investigators at all academic levels (or equivalent)

No additional eligibility restrictions are specified.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Competitive applications will:

• Directly address combat-relevant burn care challenges

• Focus on austere, resource-limited, battlefield environments

• Show:

  • Strong scientific rationale

  • Clear study design and analysis plan

  • Alignment with one or more listed focus areas

By mechanism:

• Discovery: Novel, early-stage ideas with potential future impact

• PCRA: Clinically actionable research with preliminary data

• TTDA: Clear path to a tangible product, supported by proof of concept

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

• Preproposal required; full application is invitation-only for all mechanisms

• Mechanism-specific restrictions:

  • Discovery: No clinical trials

  • PCRA: No preclinical or animal research

  • TTDA: No clinical research or clinical trials

• Preliminary data:

  • Required for PCRA and TTDA

  • Optional for Discovery

• All applications must follow final FOA requirements once released

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

• Not explicitly specified

• However, applicants should plan for:

  • Preproposal development

  • Invitation-based full application

• Given the structure, preparation will likely require multiple stages, but exact timelines are not specified

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can support you across both stages:

• Identify the best-fit mechanism (Discovery vs. PCRA vs. TTDA)

• Shape your concept to align with combat burn priorities

• Develop a competitive preproposal strategy

• Build a full application (if invited), including:

  • Technical narrative

  • Commercialization or translation framing (for TTDA)

  • Clinical positioning (for PCRA)

How much would BW&CO Charge?

We have both fractional engagements ($250 an hour) and full engagements ($13,000 + 5%) available.

Additional Resources

Review the solicitation here.

CDMRP: Joint Warfighter Medical Research Program (JWMRP)

Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).

Executive Summary:

The Joint Warfighter Medical Research Program (JWMRP) FY26 funding opportunity is expected to support continuation of late-stage medical R&D projects that address critical Department of War (DOW) capability gaps. This is not for new ideas—only existing, previously funded projects that are close to delivering impact are eligible.

This is a pre-announcement, and full funding opportunity announcements (FOAs) with deadlines will be posted on Grants.gov. The application deadline is not specified in this pre-announcement. Founders should begin preparing now to align with the anticipated requirements and pre-application process.

How much funding would I receive?

Two award options are available:

• MMRDA

  • Maximum funding: $1.25M (total costs)

  • Period of performance: Up to 3 years

• MMRDA – Clinical Research/Trial Option

  • Maximum funding: $3M (total costs)

  • Period of performance: Up to 3 years

Total costs include direct and indirect costs.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding is strictly for continuation of existing projects, including:

• Late-stage preclinical studies

• Late-stage technology development

• Technology demonstration

• Translational research

• Clinical research and trials (under Clinical Research/Trial Option)

• Development of:

  • Pharmaceutical or biologic candidates

  • Medical devices

  • Medical technologies

Projects must address at least one focus area:

• Non-vaccine infectious disease prevention/treatment (excluding malaria)

• Hemorrhage mitigation and trauma resuscitation

• Injury from temperature extremes

• Musculoskeletal injury (MSKI) treatment and prevention

• Radiation exposure countermeasures (excluding cytokines)

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Not specified in the pre-announcement.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

• This is a pre-announcement only

• Full FOAs will be released on Grants.gov

• A pre-application is required via eBRAP

• Full applications are by invitation only

The application deadline is not specified in this pre-announcement.
Award timing is not specified.

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?

• Extramural and intramural applicants

• Independent investigators at all academic levels (or equivalent)

Additional required eligibility conditions:

• Must have previously received DOW core or congressionally directed funding

• Must propose a continuation of the same research concept

• Projects must already be at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5 or above

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Based on stated requirements, competitive projects will:

• Be continuations of previously funded DOW projects

• Be near deployment or impact (TRL 5+)

• Address one or more JWMRP focus areas

• Demonstrate clear progress toward military medical capability gaps

• Be positioned for translation, demonstration, or clinical validation

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

Yes—this program is highly restrictive:

• No new projects allowed

• No basic research allowed

• Must be a continuation of prior DOW-funded work

• Must meet TRL 5 or higher requirement

• Pre-application is mandatory

• Full application is by invitation only

• Must align with at least one focus area

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

Not specified in the pre-announcement.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO supports companies pursuing defense innovation and CSO opportunities like this one.

We help by:

• Assess whether your prior DOW-funded project qualifies

• Position your continuation strategy to align with JWMRP focus areas

• Develop a compelling pre-application for eBRAP

• Prepare a full application (if invited) that emphasizes:

  • Translational readiness

  • Military relevance

  • Programmatic alignment

How much would BW&CO Charge?

We have both fractional engagements ($250 an hour) and full engagements ($13,000 + 5%) available.

Additional Resources

Review the solicitation here.

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.

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.

Pre-Applications are due: August 5th and October 7th

Full Proposals are due: November 4th

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-Applications are due: August 5th and October 7th

• Full Proposals are due: November 4th

• 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

• 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.

Additional Resources

Review the solicitation here.

CDMRP: FY26 Epilepsy Research Program (ERP)

Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).

Executive Summary:

The FY26 Epilepsy Research Program (ERP) from the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP), managed by the Defense Health Agency Research and Development – Medical Research and Development Command, is expected to fund innovative research focused on post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE) and related comorbidities.

The program’s goal is to improve quality of life for Service Members, Veterans, caregivers, and the broader epilepsy community by advancing understanding of the biological mechanisms, epidemiology, progression, and treatment of PTE.

This announcement is a pre-announcement, meaning investigators should begin preparing ideas now. Application deadlines have not yet been released. The official Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs), which will include submission deadlines, will be posted on Grants.gov.

How much funding would I receive?

Funding amounts depend on the award mechanism.

• Idea Development Award

  • Maximum funding: $1 million total costs

  • Maximum period of performance: 3 years

• Leveraging Research Award

  • Maximum funding: $800,000 total costs

  • Maximum period of performance: 3 years

• Research Partnership Award

  • Maximum funding: $2 million total costs

  • Maximum period of performance: 3 years

• Virtual Post-Traumatic Epilepsy Research Center – Leadership Award

  • Maximum funding: $1.6 million total costs

  • Maximum period of performance: 4 years

• Virtual Post-Traumatic Epilepsy Research Center – Faculty Award

  • Maximum funding: $800,000 total costs

  • Maximum period of performance: 3 years

Total costs include direct and indirect costs.

What could I use the funding for?

ERP funding supports research designed to advance understanding of post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE) and related conditions. Applications should address at least one of the program’s focus areas:

Markers and Mechanisms of PTE

• Identification of biomarkers predicting epilepsy development

• Research into biological mechanisms that could prevent epileptogenesis or seizure activity

Epidemiological Characterization of PTE

• Identifying predictors of epilepsy development

• Studying patient outcomes such as latency to epilepsy onset, comorbidities, and mortality

• Measuring impacts on quality of life for patients and caregivers

Longitudinal Studies of PTE Progression

• Tracking disease progression over time

• Evaluating treatment outcomes and quality of care

• Studying interactions between epilepsy and comorbid conditions such as psychiatric disorders, cognitive deficits, sleep disorders, and fatigue

Innovative Research Tools and Technologies

• Artificial intelligence or bioinformatics tools

• Clinical databases and advanced device technologies for seizure detection and diagnosis

• Models for studying post-traumatic epilepsy

• Tools enabling future clinical trials

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Some award mechanisms provide benefits beyond funding.

For example:

• Research Partnership Award

  • Supports collaborative research between two named Principal Investigators

• Virtual Post-Traumatic Epilepsy Research Center – Leadership Award

  • Provides funding to lead a virtual research center

  • Includes responsibilities such as mentoring investigators and facilitating collaboration

• Virtual Post-Traumatic Epilepsy Research Center – Faculty Award

  • Supports early-career researchers or investigators new to the PTE field

  • Includes mentorship and career development within a collaborative research environment

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

The process will include:

• Pre-application submission through eBRAP

• Pre-applications will be Letters of Intent

• Full applications will follow the requirements outlined in the final FOAs on Grants.gov

Where does this funding come from?

Funding comes from the FY26 Defense Appropriations Act, which provides funding for the Epilepsy Research Program (ERP).

The program is administered by:

• Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP)

• Defense Health Agency Research and Development – Medical Research and Development Command

ERP focuses on research that benefits Service Members, Veterans, caregivers, and the broader epilepsy community.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility depends on the award mechanism:

• Idea Development Award

  • Independent investigators at any career level may serve as Principal Investigator

• Leveraging Research Award

  • Independent investigators at any career level may serve as Principal Investigator

• Research Partnership Award

  • Two named Principal Investigators who are independent investigators at any career level

• Virtual P-TERC Leadership Award

  • Director and Deputy Director must be independent investigators with:

    • Strong history of PTE research funding

    • Peer-reviewed publications

    • Mentorship experience

• Virtual P-TERC Faculty Award

  • Early-career investigators or investigators new to the PTE field

What companies and projects are likely to win?

ERP prioritizes research that:

• Advances understanding of post-traumatic epilepsy and associated comorbidities

• Improves quality of life for Service Members, Veterans, and caregivers

• Demonstrates innovation or high creativity

• Challenges existing research paradigms

• Leverages existing datasets, cohorts, or research infrastructure

• Includes strong collaborations where appropriate

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

Key requirements include:

• Pre-applications must be submitted through eBRAP

• All pre-applications are Letters of Intent

• Full applications must follow the requirements of the final Funding Opportunity Announcements on Grants.gov

• Applications must align with the ERP’s focus areas on post-traumatic epilepsy

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

Preparation time will depend on the complexity of the project and research team.

Typical CDMRP submissions involve:

• A Letter of Intent (pre-application)

• A full application including research plan, budget, and supporting documentation

Because official deadlines have not yet been released, investigators should begin developing project concepts now so they are ready once the FOAs are posted.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO supports companies and research teams pursuing CDMRP and other federal research funding by:

• Identifying the most competitive award mechanism

• Developing a compelling proposal narrative aligned with program priorities

• Structuring the research plan and milestones

• Coordinating multi-institution collaborations

• Managing the full submission process through eBRAP and Grants.gov

Our team has extensive experience helping applicants pursue defense health and biomedical research funding.

How much would BW&CO Charge?

We have both fractional engagements ($250 an hour) and full engagements ($13,000 + 5%) available.

Additional Resources

Review the solicitation here.

CDMRP: FY26 Alzheimer’s Research Program (AZRP)

Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).

Executive Summary:

The Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Alzheimer’s Research Program (AZRP) is expected to release funding opportunities through the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) to support impactful research addressing Alzheimer’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease–related dementias (AD/ADRD).

06-22-2026 - (Pre-application - Pre-Proposal)
09-24-2026 - (Application)

The program’s mission is to fund solution-oriented research that improves quality of life for people living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, including Service Members, Veterans, their Families, and the general public.

Congress appropriated $15.0 million for the FY26 Alzheimer’s Research Program.

The FY26 AZRP is expected to support research that improves diagnosis, prevention, risk reduction, and quality of life for individuals affected by AD/ADRD.

How much funding would I receive?

Funding depends on the award mechanism.

Transforming Care Award

• Maximum funding: $1.6M total costs

• Maximum period of performance: 4 years

Career Initiation or Transition Partnership Option (CITPO):

• Maximum funding: $1.8M total costs

• Maximum period of performance: 4 years

Transforming Diagnosis Award

• Maximum funding: $1.5M total costs

• Maximum period of performance: 4 years

Career Initiation or Transition Partnership Option (CITPO):

• Maximum funding: $1.7M total costs

• Maximum period of performance: 4 years

Transforming Research Award

• Maximum funding: $1M total costs

• Maximum period of performance: 3 years

What could I use the funding for?

Funding supports non-incremental, solution-focused research addressing Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (AD/ADRD).

The allowable research depends on the mechanism.

Transforming Care Award

Supports well-designed non-incremental clinical research or clinical trials in dementia care that provide solutions for individuals living with AD/ADRD.

Projects may address:

• Care interventions

• Strategies or technologies for dementia care

• Tools that improve daily living and support systems

• Approaches that reduce caregiver burden and stress

• Methods that improve quality of life for individuals with dementia

Applications are encouraged to prioritize both:

• Individuals living with AD/ADRD

• Their care partners

Transforming Diagnosis Award

Supports solutions-oriented research addressing barriers to diagnosis, disease monitoring, or prognosis.

Barriers may include:

• Diagnostic technologies

• Cost barriers

• Access to diagnostic tools

• Clinical implementation challenges

• Biomarker validation

• Disease monitoring methods

• Lack of longitudinal data for prediction or prognosis

Research may include:

• Prospective human subject recruitment

• De-identified human samples, specimens, or datasets

Transforming Research Award

Supports research that reduces risk and prevents the development of AD/ADRD.

Applications must address one of two focus areas:

Risk factor knowledge

• Identification or validation of risk or protective factors

• Environmental, epigenetic, genetic, lifestyle, or occupational risks

Risk reduction solutions

• Non-pharmacological methods

• Technologies

• Prevention strategies that reduce risk of AD/ADRD

The program encourages studies leveraging existing cohorts or datasets, including cohorts 65 years or younger.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

The pre-announcement does not specify additional non-funding benefits.

However, CDMRP programs typically provide:

• Access to a two-tier review system combining scientific peer review and programmatic review to ensure scientific merit and mission relevance.

• Opportunities to collaborate with researchers, clinicians, and community stakeholders affected by the disease.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

06-22-2026 - (Pre-application - Pre-Proposal)
09-24-2026 - (Application)

Where does this funding come from?

This funding comes from the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) within the Department of Defense.

Key facts:

• Funding was appropriated through the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026.

• CDMRP manages biomedical research programs supporting the health of Service Members, Veterans, their Families, and the American public.

Who is eligible to apply?

Detailed eligibility criteria will be provided in the official Funding Opportunity Announcements.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

The AZRP supports projects that:

• Address critical needs in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias

• Deliver solution-oriented outcomes

• Improve diagnosis, prevention, or patient quality of life

• Demonstrate clear relevance to Service Members, Veterans, their Families, or the broader public

Projects that show strong scientific merit and mission relevance are prioritized through CDMRP’s two-tier review process.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

Restrictions and requirements are not specified in the pre-announcement.

These details—including allowable costs, research scope limitations, and regulatory requirements—will be defined in the full Funding Opportunity Announcements.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

The preparation timeline is not specified in the pre-announcement.

CDMRP programs often use a two-stage process that may include:

• Pre-application submission

• Invitation to submit a full application

However, the specific process for FY26 AZRP is not specified in the pre-announcement.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO supports teams pursuing CDMRP funding by:

• Assessing project fit with the AZRP mission and research priorities

• Developing a competitive technical narrative

• Structuring proposals to align with CDMRP review criteria

• Managing submission strategy, compliance, and timeline

• Coordinating collaborators, investigators, and supporting documentation

Our team has extensive experience supporting Department of Defense CDMRP grant applications.

Additional Resources

Review the solicitation here.

CDMRP: FY26 Autism Research Program

Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).

Executive Summary:

The Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Autism Research Program (ARP) from the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) will fund innovative, high-impact research with clinical relevance that improves outcomes for individuals with autism and their families. The program released this pre-announcement to allow investigators time to plan proposals before the formal Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) are released.

The FY26 ARP was funded through the FY26 Defense Appropriations Act. Investigators should begin preparing now because the program will require a pre-application before submission of a full proposal once the FOAs are released.

Application deadline: The deadline is not specified in the solicitation. Deadlines will be published in the FY26 ARP funding opportunity announcements when they are released on Grants.gov.

How much funding would I receive?

Funding depends on the specific award mechanism.

Career Development Award

• Maximum funding: $750,000 total costs

• Maximum period of performance: 3 years

Clinical Trial Award

• Maximum funding: $1.5 million total costs

• Maximum period of performance: 4 years

Clinical Trial Award – Nested Early-Career Investigator Option

• Maximum funding: $1.75 million total costs

• Maximum period of performance: 4 years

Idea Development Award

• Maximum funding: $750,000 total costs

• Maximum period of performance: 3 years

Total costs include direct and indirect costs.

What could I use the funding for?

Each mechanism supports different types of autism research.

Career Development Award

• Supports early-career independent investigators or established investigators transitioning into autism research.

• Projects must pursue research with the potential to have a major impact on autism.

• Supported activities include:

  • Innovative, high-impact research ideas

  • Early-phase, proof-of-principle clinical trials

• Preliminary data is required.

Clinical Trial Award

• Supports research with the potential to have a major impact on the treatment and/or management of autism.

• Projects must involve clinical trials supported by preliminary data.

Clinical Trial Award – Nested Early-Career Investigator Option

• Allows a senior investigator (initiating PI) to collaborate with a young investigator.

• Supports the development of investigators pursuing careers in autism clinical trial research.

Idea Development Award

• Supports innovative, high-impact ideas that advance understanding of autism and lead to improved outcomes.

• Includes a Partnering PI Option allowing collaboration between two investigators.

• Clinical trials are not allowed under this mechanism.

All mechanisms require preliminary data relevant to the proposed project.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

The program includes several structural benefits:

• Career Development Award supports the transition of researchers into the autism field.

• Clinical Trial Award – Nested Early-Career Investigator Option provides structured development for young investigators.

• Idea Development Award – Partnering PI Option encourages collaboration between investigators.

These structures are designed to expand the autism research workforce and accelerate impactful research.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

• Pre-announcement released: March 2, 2026

• Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) will be posted on Grants.gov.

• Pre-application submission through eBRAP is required before submitting a full application.

• Application submission is by invitation only after review of the pre-application.

• Pre-application and full application deadlines are not specified in the pre-announcement.

• Funding start dates are not specified in the pre-announcement.

Where does this funding come from?

Funding for the program comes from the FY26 Defense Appropriations Act and is administered by the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) within the Defense Health Agency Research and Development – Medical Research and Development Command.

The program is part of the Department of Defense’s Autism Research Program (ARP).

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility varies by mechanism.

Career Development Award
Applicants must:

• Be independent investigators at or below the level of Assistant Professor, or equivalent,

  or

• Be established investigators in a field other than autism at or above the level of Assistant Professor seeking to transition into autism research.

Additional requirements:

• Must not have previously received a Career Development Award (or equivalent) from any CDMRP program or other federal agency.

• Must not have received more than $250,000 in total direct costs for previous or concurrent autism research as a PI of federally or privately funded non-mentored peer-reviewed grants.

• Must hold a Ph.D., M.D., M.D./Ph.D., or equivalent at the time of pre-application submission.

• Must not be a graduate student, postdoctoral fellow, or other mentored researcher.

Clinical Trial Award

• Independent investigators at any career level.

Clinical Trial Award – Nested Early-Career Investigator Option
Young investigator must:

• Be currently in postdoctoral training or have completed postdoctoral training.

• Be no more than 7 years from receipt of a terminal degree.

• Commit at least 50% time to the project.

Idea Development Award

• Independent investigators at any career level.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Based on the pre-announcement, competitive applications will likely:

• Propose innovative, high-impact research addressing autism

• Demonstrate strong preliminary data

• Show potential for major impact on understanding, treatment, or management of autism

• Align with the goals of the specific award mechanism

• For collaboration options, demonstrate meaningful partnerships between investigators

Applications must clearly demonstrate scientific merit and potential impact.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

Key restrictions include:

• Pre-application submission through eBRAP is required before submitting a full application.

• Full applications are submitted by invitation only.

• Preliminary data is required for all mechanisms.

• Idea Development Award applications cannot support clinical trials, including a clinical trial aim.

• Career Development Award applicants must meet prior funding and career stage restrictions.

All applications must conform to the final Funding Opportunity Announcements posted on Grants.gov.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

The solicitation does not specify preparation time.

However, because the ARP uses a two-stage process (pre-application followed by invitation-only full application), applicants typically need time to:

• Prepare a competitive pre-proposal

• Develop preliminary data and a detailed research plan

• Assemble collaborators and institutional approvals

Investigators are encouraged to begin planning early before FOAs are released.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can support applicants throughout the ARP application process, including:

• Evaluating project fit with ARP mechanisms

• Developing a competitive proposal strategy

• Structuring impact-focused research narratives

• Managing the pre-application and full application process

• Preparing supporting documents and compliance materials

• Coordinating multi-investigator collaborations

Our team has extensive experience supporting Department of Defense CDMRP grant applications.

How much would BW&CO Charge?

We have both fractional engagements ($250 an hour) and full engagements ($13,000 + 5%) available.

Additional Resources

Review the solicitation here.