DoD Tick-Borne Disease, Idea Development Award

Background
The FY24 TBDRP Idea Development Award is intended to support conceptually innovative research that could lead to impactful discoveries or significant advancements that will accelerate progress toward reducing the burden of Lyme disease and/or other tick-borne diseases and conditions and improve patient care, and/or the quality of life for military Service Members, Veterans, and their Families, as well as the American public.

The TBDRP’s vision is to eliminate the health burden of tick-borne diseases. The TBDRP’s mission is to fund innovative research to understand and provide solutions to prevent, detect, and resolve Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases and conditions for the benefit of Service Members, Veterans, their Families and the American public.

Grant Details
The U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA) is soliciting applications to the fiscal year 2024 (FY24) Tick-Borne Disease Research Program (TBDRP) using delegated authority provided by United States Code, Title 10, Section 4001 (10 USC 4001).

The FY24 TBDRP Idea Development Award Focus Areas include Pathogenesis, Treatment, and Diagnosis. The award history indicates that since its inception in FY20, 206 Idea Development Award applications have been received, and 18 have been recommended for funding.

The FY24 TBDRP Idea Development Award is intended to support conceptually innovative research that could lead to impactful discoveries or significant advancements that will accelerate progress toward reducing the burden of Lyme disease and/or other tick-borne diseases and conditions and improve patient care.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include extramural and intramural organizations such as academic institutions, biotechnology companies, foundations, federal government organizations other than the DOD (i.e., intragovernmental organizations), research institutes, DOD laboratories, DOD military treatment facilities, and/or DOD activities embedded within a civilian medical center.

For the Idea Development Award - Career Development Option, the Principal Investigator must be an early-career research scientist within 10 years of completing their terminal degree (excluding time spent in residency or on family medical leave) with a strong desire to pursue a career in tick-borne diseases research.

Period of Performance
The anticipated direct costs budgeted for the entire period of performance for an FY24 TBDRP Idea Development Award should not exceed $525,000. The anticipated direct costs budgeted for the entire period of performance for an FY24 TBDRP Idea Development Award – Career Development Option should not exceed $350,000.

Awards supported with FY24 funds will be made no later than September 30, 2025.

Grant Value
$3.64M is expected to be allotted to fund approximately three Idea Development Award applications and two Idea Development Award – Career Development Option applications.