Opportunity Information: Apply for HT9425 23 VRP IIRA

The DoD Vision Investigator-Initiated Research Award (FY23 VRP IIRA; opportunity number HT9425 23 VRP IIRA) is a Department of Defense funding opportunity managed through the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA). It supports science and technology research and development projects aimed at producing high-impact discoveries or major advances in research and/or patient care for eye injury and visual dysfunction tied to military exposures. The program is designed to move the field forward in meaningful ways, with an emphasis on outcomes that could ultimately improve understanding, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, or overall care for affected service members and veterans.

A central feature of this opportunity is its encouragement of multidisciplinary and cross-sector collaboration. Proposals that bring together teams from academia, industry, military services, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and other federal agencies are explicitly welcomed. The idea is to promote projects that benefit from combined expertise, access to specialized populations or data, translational pathways, and real-world operational perspectives relevant to military-related vision issues.

The award is offered under two distinct funding levels to accommodate projects at different stages of development, and applicants must choose the level at the pre-application stage based on the maturity of the science rather than the size of the budget. Funding Level 1 is geared toward early-stage, exploratory work that is innovative and intentionally high-risk/high-reward. It is meant for new concepts that could open up fresh lines of inquiry, such as novel approaches, tools, methods, or even new paradigms in the vision and eye injury space. Preliminary data are not required at this level, but applicants are expected to provide a strong, well-supported rationale grounded in existing literature, and to demonstrate that the team has the expertise needed to realistically test the idea.

Funding Level 2 is intended for more mature projects that are ready to advance toward clinical translation. The proposed solution should still be innovative, either by introducing something new or by making major refinements, improvements, or new applications of an existing concept. Projects can span basic through translational research, but unlike Level 1, this track requires preliminary data that show feasibility and readiness, essentially demonstrating that the work is sufficiently developed to support meaningful progress toward practical or clinical impact.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is listed as a discretionary program and uses either grants or cooperative agreements as the funding instrument. The CFDA number is 12.420, and eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning a broad range of entity types may apply unless further limitations are specified elsewhere in the full announcement. The posting indicates an expected two awards, and the original closing date for submissions was November 8, 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 Vision Investigator-Initiated Research 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 11, 2023.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 08, 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.
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FAQs - DoD Vision Investigator-Initiated Research Award (FY23 VRP IIRA)

What is the DoD Vision Investigator-Initiated Research Award (FY23 VRP IIRA)?

The FY23 VRP Investigator-Initiated Research Award (opportunity number HT9425 23 VRP IIRA) is a U.S. Department of Defense funding opportunity that supports science and technology research and development projects focused on eye injury and visual dysfunction related to military exposures. The emphasis is on producing high-impact discoveries or major advances in research and/or patient care that could ultimately improve outcomes for affected service members and veterans.

Which agency manages this funding opportunity?

The opportunity is a Department of Defense program managed through the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA).

What kinds of problems or needs is this award intended to address?

The award targets eye injury and visual dysfunction tied to military exposures, with a goal of moving the field forward in meaningful ways. Supported work is intended to contribute to improved understanding, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, or overall care for impacted service members and veterans.

What types of projects are a fit for this program?

Projects must be science and technology research and development efforts aimed at high-impact discoveries or major advances. The program supports work spanning basic through translational research, particularly where the outcome could lead to practical or clinical impact for military-related vision issues.

Does the program encourage collaboration across different sectors?

Yes. A central feature of the opportunity is its encouragement of multidisciplinary and cross-sector collaboration. Teams that include partners from academia, industry, military services, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and other federal agencies are explicitly welcomed.

Why does the program emphasize multidisciplinary and cross-sector teams?

The stated intent is to promote projects that benefit from combined expertise, access to specialized populations or data, translational pathways, and real-world operational perspectives relevant to military-related vision issues.

How many funding levels are available under this award?

The opportunity is offered under two distinct funding levels designed to accommodate projects at different stages of development.

When do applicants choose their funding level?

Applicants must choose the funding level at the pre-application stage.

How should an applicant decide between Funding Level 1 and Funding Level 2?

The choice is expected to be based on the maturity of the science rather than the size of the budget.

What is Funding Level 1 intended for?

Funding Level 1 is geared toward early-stage, exploratory work that is innovative and intentionally high-risk/high-reward. It is intended for new concepts that could open new lines of inquiry in the vision and eye injury space, including novel approaches, tools, methods, or new paradigms.

Is preliminary data required for Funding Level 1?

No. Preliminary data are not required for Funding Level 1.

If preliminary data are not required for Level 1, what is expected instead?

Applicants are expected to provide a strong, well-supported rationale grounded in existing literature and to demonstrate that the team has the expertise needed to realistically test the idea.

What is Funding Level 2 intended for?

Funding Level 2 is intended for more mature projects that are ready to advance toward clinical translation. The proposed solution should still be innovative, either by introducing something new or by making major refinements, improvements, or new applications of an existing concept.

Does Funding Level 2 allow basic research, or is it only clinical work?

Funding Level 2 projects can span basic through translational research, with the key expectation that the work is sufficiently mature to support meaningful progress toward practical or clinical impact.

Is preliminary data required for Funding Level 2?

Yes. Funding Level 2 requires preliminary data that demonstrate feasibility and readiness.

What does the program mean by "clinical translation" in the context provided?

Based on the description, clinical translation refers to advancing a sufficiently mature concept toward practical or clinical impact, supported by preliminary data demonstrating feasibility and readiness to progress.

What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?

The opportunity uses either grants or cooperative agreements as the funding instrument.

Is this a discretionary grant program?

Yes. The opportunity is listed as a discretionary program.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA number is 12.420.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning a broad range of entity types may apply unless additional limitations are specified elsewhere in the full announcement.

How many awards were expected to be made?

The posting indicates an expectation of two awards.

What was the closing date for submissions?

The original closing date for submissions was November 8, 2023.

What is the official opportunity number for this announcement?

The opportunity number is HT9425 23 VRP IIRA.

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