DOD Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Idea Development Award

Background
The fiscal year 2025 (FY25) Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Research Program (DMDRP) Idea Development Award (IDA) is issued by the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA) under the Defense Health Program. The DMDRP aims to support innovative research that can lead to significant advancements in improving outcomes for individuals with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). This program encourages high-risk/high-reward research that has the potential to yield impactful data and new avenues of investigation.

Grant Details
The FY25 DMDRP IDA supports conceptually innovative research with a focus on developing safe and effective therapies for DMD. Applications must include a well-formulated, testable hypothesis based on strong scientific rationale. Key areas of focus include:
- Preclinical testing of combination therapies
- Optimized delivery methods
- Strategies to overcome preexisting immunity
- Cell-based therapies for muscle repopulation
- Non-genomic therapies addressing disease pathogenesis
- Discovery of novel targets.

Preliminary data relevant to DMD is required to support the feasibility of proposed hypotheses and approaches. The maximum direct cost for each application is capped at $350,000, with a total funding expectation of approximately $1.68 million for about three awards.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include extramural and intramural organizations such as academic institutions, biotechnology companies, and federal government organizations. Principal Investigators (PIs) must select one category from: Established Investigator (independent investigator at or above Assistant Professor level), New Investigator - Early Stage (within 10 years of first faculty appointment), or New Investigator - Transitioning (investigator transitioning from another field into DMD research). All applicants must meet specific eligibility criteria outlined in the solicitation.

Period of Performance
The maximum period of performance for this grant is two years. Awards are anticipated to be funded with FY25 funds which will expire on September 30, 2031.

Grant Value
The total value allocated for this grant opportunity is approximately $1.68 million, with individual grant awards capped at $350,000.

Place of Performance
The solicitation does not specify particular geographic locations; however, eligible organizations may be located both domestically and internationally.