DoD Parkinson’s Investigator-Initiated Research Award

Background
The PRP IIRA supports highly rigorous, multidisciplinary, high-impact research projects that have the potential to make an important contribution to Parkinson’s research. The U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA) is soliciting applications to the fiscal year 2024 (FY24) Parkinson’s Research Program (PRP) using delegated authority provided by United States Code, Title 10, Section 4001 (10 USC 4001). The Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) at the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC) is the program management agent for this funding opportunity.

The vision of the PRP is to improve the health and lives of people with Parkinson’s disease through innovative, clinically meaningful treatments. The mission of the PRP is to support high impact Parkinson's research that alters disease progression, improves disease symptoms, and develops treatments that benefit Service members and their families, Veterans, and the general public.

Grant Details
This award mechanism supports the full spectrum of research from basic science through clinical research. The FY24 PRP Focus Areas include biological mechanisms or biomarkers of unmet medical needs that could lead to the development of treatments for PD and interventions that address unmet medical needs of PD that include both clinical and preclinical models.

The award history indicates that since FY22, 111 PRP IIRA applications have been received, and eight have been recommended for funding. The total costs budgeted for the entire period of performance for an FY24 PRP IIRA Award should not exceed $2.0M.

Eligibility Requirements
Extramural and Intramural organizations are eligible to apply, including foreign or domestic organizations, for-profit and non-profit organizations, and public entities. Independent investigators at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent) are eligible to be named by the applicant organization as the PI or as the Initiating or Partnering PI for applications submitted to the Partnering Option.

Period of Performance
Awards supported with FY24 funds will be made no later than September 30, 2025. It is anticipated that awards made from this FY24 funding opportunity will be funded with FY24 funds, which will expire for use on September 30, 2030.

Grant Value
$12.0M is expected to be allotted to fund approximately six PRP IIRA applications.