DoD Neurofibromatosis New Investigator Award | HT9425 23 NFRP NIA

Opportunity Information: Apply for HT9425 23 NFRP NIA

The DoD Neurofibromatosis Research Program (NFRP) New Investigator Award is designed to build the next wave of researchers in neurofibromatosis (NF) by supporting either early-stage investigators who are still establishing their independent careers or established investigators who are moving into NF from a different scientific area. A key point is that prior NF experience is not required, so the program is intentionally open to talented researchers who can bring new ideas, methods, or perspectives into NF1, NF2, and schwannomatosis research. At the same time, applicants who do not have a strong NF track record are strongly encouraged to include a collaborator with meaningful NF expertise, which signals that the program values both fresh thinking and credible disease-area grounding.

From a research scope standpoint, the award supports projects across essentially any stage of biomedical research as long as the work is not a clinical trial. That leaves room for basic, translational, and preclinical studies, including mechanistic work, model development, biomarker discovery, therapeutic target validation, and other research directions that can ultimately reduce the clinical burden of NF. The application must include preliminary and/or published data tied to NF and to the proposed project, meaning it is not meant for purely speculative concepts; investigators need to demonstrate some relevant feasibility or prior evidence that supports the project rationale.

A central expectation of the program is strong data stewardship and sharing. Awardees are expected to share data in line with the FAIR Data Principles: Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable. In practical terms, this points applicants toward planning for well-described datasets, clear metadata, appropriate repositories, and reuse-friendly formats so that results can be validated and built upon. The opportunity specifically points applicants to a required Data and Research Resources Sharing Plan (referenced as Attachment 11 in the full package), underscoring that reproducibility and community benefit are not optional add-ons but baked into how the program wants the science conducted.

A notable FY23 update is the integration with the Neurofibromatosis Research Academy (NFRA), a career-development ecosystem that brings together established investigators and early-career independent investigators to help grow a productive NF workforce focused on reducing the impact of NF1, NF2, and schwannomatosis. The Academy structure includes Scholars paired with Career Guides (mentors) and is overseen by Academy leadership (a Director and Deputy Director). Importantly, the leadership will also create engagement opportunities between NFRA Scholars and selected investigators funded under the FY23 (and later) Early Investigator Research Award and New Investigator Award (Early-Stage Investigator category). The message is that awardees are not only funded to do a project, but are also being pulled into a broader training, mentoring, and networking structure intended to accelerate their success in the field.

Administratively, awards under this announcement are issued as assistance agreements, which can be either a grant or a cooperative agreement. The deciding factor is how involved the Department of Defense expects to be during the research period. If substantial involvement is not anticipated, the award is made as a grant. If substantial involvement is anticipated, the award becomes a cooperative agreement, and the specific ways the DoD will be involved are identified. Substantial involvement can include collaboration, participation, or intervention in the research, and the final award type and start date are settled during negotiations.

Based on the posted opportunity details, the sponsor is the Department of Defense, Department of the Army, administered through USAMRAA. The opportunity number is HT9425-23-NFRP-NIA, categorized as discretionary funding within science and technology and other research and development (CFDA 12.420). Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning it is broadly open to many entity types unless further limitations are stated elsewhere in the full announcement. The posting indicated an anticipated two awards, and while the listing shows an award ceiling of 0, that typically reflects how the listing was entered rather than a literal maximum; applicants generally need to consult the full program announcement for the actual budget caps, performance period, and cost rules. The original closing date shown for that cycle was August 25, 2023, with a creation date of May 22, 2023.

• 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 Neurofibromatosis New Investigator 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 May 22, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 25, 2023. (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 2 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 HT9425 23 NFRP NIA

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