DoW Lupus, Idea Award

Background
The FY26 Lupus Idea Award is part of the Lupus Research Program (LRP), initiated by Congress in 2017 to support innovative research with high potential impact and exceptional scientific merit relevant to lupus.

The Defense Health Agency (DHA) manages this funding opportunity through the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP). The LRP aims to cure lupus through collaboration among scientists, clinicians, and individuals affected by the disease. It focuses on understanding, preventing, diagnosing lupus, and improving treatments and quality of life for patients, including Service Members and their Families, Veterans, and the general public.

Grant Details
This funding mechanism supports innovative, high-risk/high-reward research that could lead to critical discoveries or major advancements relevant to lupus. Key features include:
- Early-career investigators are eligible to serve as Principal Investigators (PIs).
- Preliminary data are permitted but not required.
- Applications must describe future directions of the work.
- An individual may be named as PI on only one application per LRP award mechanism for a maximum of four applications to the FY26 LRP.

The CDMRP expects to allot approximately $1.5 million to fund about five Idea Award applications with total cost caps of $300,000 per award. The maximum period of performance is 2 years. Awards will be funded with FY26 funds that expire on September 30, 2032.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include extramural and intramural U.S. Department of War organizations, including foreign and domestic organizations, for-profit and nonprofit entities. Principal Investigators must be independent or mentored investigators who have received their terminal degree affiliated with an eligible organization. Applications submitted with a mentored PI require a mentorship statement.

Period of Performance
The maximum period of performance for the grant is 2 years.

Grant Value
The total value of the grant is approximately $1.5 million, with individual grant awards capped at $300,000.