Applications to the Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20) Neurotoxin Exposure Treatment Parkinson’s (NETP) Program are being solicited by the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA) using delegated authority provided by United States Code, Title 10, Section 2358 (10 USC 2358). The execution management agent for this Program Announcement is the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP). The NETP Program was initiated in FY97 to provide support for research of exceptional scientific merit leading to an understanding of the cause, prevention, and treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD) in the context of neurotoxin exposure. Appropriations for the NETP Program from FY97 through FY18 totaled $452.75 million (M). The FY20 appropriation is $16M.
The vision of the NETP Program is to eliminate Parkinson’s disease through neurotoxin exposure and treatment-related research in partnership with scientists and consumers.
The NETP Program Synergistic Idea Award supports new ideas that represent synergistic approaches to neurotoxin exposure and treatment-related Parkinson’s disease research involving two to four Principal Investigators (PIs) at the Assistant Professor (or equivalent) level or above. These investigators should utilize their complementary and synergistic perspectives to address a central problem or question in neurotoxin exposure and treatment-related Parkinson’s research. This award is designed to support both new and pre-existing partnerships and encourages participation of PIs from other research fields. The NETP Program seeks applications from investigators working in a wide spectrum of disciplines including, but not limited to, basic science, engineering, bioinformatics, population science, translational research, and clinical research.
The NETP Program Synergistic Idea Award, if successful, should impact an area of paramount importance in Parkinson’s disease, in the context of neurotoxin exposure and treatment. In the context that neurotoxin exposure increases the risk for Parkinson’s disease, the application must propose neurotoxin exposure and treatment-related Parkinson’s disease research. The application must clearly and explicitly describe the potential impact of the proposed study on neurotoxin exposure-related Parkinson’s disease and convey its level of significance. The research should benefit individuals with Parkinson’s disease, by improving the understanding, prevention, diagnosis, and/or treatment of neurotoxin exposure-related Parkinson’s disease.
The Synergistic Idea Award requires that multiple investigators jointly design a single project, with comparable levels of intellectual input from each PI. However, each partner will be recognized as a PI, submit a separate application (even if the partners are at the same organization), and serve as the PI on an individual award. The research project must be supported by the unique expertise, experience, and abilities of each PI, and it must clearly define the synergistic components that will facilitate and accelerate progress in a way that could not be accomplished through independent efforts. Multidisciplinary projects are encouraged, and multiinstitutional projects are allowed. Each proposed study must include clearly stated plans for interactions among all PIs and organizations involved. The plans must include communication, coordination of research progress and results, and data transfer. Additionally, multi-institutional applications must provide an intellectual property plan to resolve potential intellectual and material property issues and to remove institutional barriers that might interfere with achieving high levels of cooperation to ensure the successful completion of this award.
Deadlines:
• Required Pre-Application Submission Deadline: August 18, 2020
• Application Submission Deadline: September 16, 2020
All applications to the FY20 NETP Program Synergistic Idea Award (SIA) Program Announcement MUST address at least one of the following FY20 NETP Focus Areas:
• Quantifiable gene - environment interactions and the risk for or progression of Parkinson’s disease following neurotoxin exposure. Though not limited to this list, the following are some examples of areas that are encouraged: ○ Genomewide genotyping/sequencing of existing cohorts (must include data sharing plan) ○ Environmental factors (toxins, medications, dietary, caffeine, among others) ○ Unbiased screens with biological validation
• Basic biology of non-motor symptoms that could lead to the development of new treatments for Parkinson’s disease following neurotoxin exposure. Though not limited to this list, the following are some examples of areas that are encouraged: ○ Sleep ○ Cognition (relevant to PD) ○ Psychiatric dysfunction ○ Autonomic dysregulation
• System-level mechanism of dopamine refractory motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease, including postural instability, freezing of gait, and treatment-associated dystonia, that could lead to development of new treatments in patients with neurotoxin exposure. Though not limited to this list, the following are some examples of approaches that could be used: ○ Circuitry ○ Pathophysiology ○ Neurochemistry
• Clinical and research application of digital health technology leading to development of new treatments for Parkinson’s disease in those individuals exposed to neurotoxins. ○ Early identification ○ Innovative data analytic methods ○ Disease subtyping
To be named as the Initiating or Partnering PI on the application, investigators must be at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent).
Each Initiating PI or Partnering PI may be named on only one NETP Program SIA application as a PI.
The anticipated total costs budgeted for the entire period of performance for an FY20 NETP Program SIA will not exceed $3M. Refer to Section II.D.5, Funding Restrictions, for detailed funding information.
