DoD Lupus, Concept Award | W81XWH 18 LRP CA

Opportunity Information: Apply for W81XWH 18 LRP CA

The DoD Lupus, Concept Award (FY18 Lupus Research Program; opportunity number W81XWH-18-LRP-CA) is a Department of Defense funding opportunity administered through the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA) to back early-stage, high-risk, high-reward lupus research. The purpose of this mechanism is to let investigators test truly new ideas or unproven theories that address important problems in lupus, with the expectation that successful projects could open up entirely new directions for the field rather than extend what is already known in small steps. Projects funded through this award are meant to generate new insights and, if results are promising, can provide the kind of initial findings that help a Principal Investigator compete for larger follow-on research funding later.

A key theme of this award is that innovation is the top priority and the most important review criterion. Applications need to make a clear, explicit case that the proposed work is genuinely novel, such as introducing a new paradigm, reframing a longstanding challenge from a different angle, or applying a creative approach that changes how lupus is studied. Proposals that mainly represent an incremental continuation of the applicant’s existing research program, or that only slightly advance previously published work, are specifically discouraged and would not be viewed as meeting the intent of the Concept Award. Importantly, preliminary data is not required, which is meant to lower the barrier for pursuing bold concepts that have not yet been tested.

Beyond innovation, reviewers will also weigh the likely impact of the research on lupus. Applicants are expected to explain why the question matters, what gap it addresses, and how the findings could significantly affect understanding of lupus disease, its mechanisms, or future approaches to diagnosis, prevention, or treatment research. The research strategy is also a major component: the application should show strong scientific rationale and thoughtful experimental design that reflects deep familiarity with lupus biology and the current literature. While methods can be novel, they still need to be well-justified and credible, with a clear line of reasoning for how the work will test the central concept.

The proposed project must align with at least one of the FY18 Lupus Research Program Focus Areas, meaning applicants need to map their idea to the program’s stated priorities for that fiscal year. The announcement also makes clear that clinical trials are not allowed under this program, so projects must remain in the preclinical, mechanistic, translational (non-trial), or other non-clinical-trial research space consistent with the solicitation rules.

Funding is relatively modest by design, reflecting the exploratory nature of the award. The anticipated maximum total cost for the full period of performance is capped at $150,000. While the listing shows an award ceiling of $0 in the summary fields, the narrative section specifies the practical budget limit as not exceeding $150,000 total costs, with additional details governed by the program’s funding restrictions section. The program anticipated making about 12 awards.

Eligibility is described as unrestricted (open to any type of entity, subject to any additional eligibility clarifications in the full announcement). The opportunity was listed as discretionary, and funding could be made via a grant or cooperative agreement. Finally, all proposed research must be relevant to active duty Service members, Veterans, military beneficiaries, and/or the broader American public, so applicants should connect the significance of their lupus concept to these populations and the DoD’s health-related mission.

• The Department of Defense, Dept. of the Army -- USAMRAA in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "DoD Lupus, Concept Award" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.420.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jun 08, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 07, 2018. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 12 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.

Apply for W81XWH 18 LRP CA

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: