Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs -- Peer Reviewed Alzheimer’s Disease Research Program -- Accelerating Diagnostics Research Award

Funding Agency:
Department of Defense

The intent of the FY22 PRARP ADRA is to support high-impact advancement of robust diagnostic and/or prognostic factors pertaining to AD/ADRD following military service and/or TBI. Applications meeting the intent of this mechanism will accelerate clinically useful factors for rapid transfer to clinical practice to bridge a critical gap between identification of relevant factors and clinical usage. The proposed factors for investigation must correlate with clinical endpoints relevant to AD/ADRD following military service and/or TBI. Inclusion of preliminary data is required.

Applicants should clearly describe the intent, purpose, as well as the clinical and practical utility of the diagnostic and/or prognostic factors being studied. Considerations for how the diagnostic/prognostic factors meaningfully inform care and disease management should be described both at the provider and individual living with AD/ADRD level. As part of the application, the proposed prognostic or diagnostic factors should demonstrate their potential for improved specificity and sensitivity with respect to diagnosis and/or prognosis of AD/ADRD as the study endpoint. Additionally, applications should address the utility of the diagnostic/ prognostic factor(s) in rural or resource-limited environments.

Applications may consider elements of biomarker and risk factor validation as part of the application, particularly if validation is intended to widen the diversity of the population to which the factors/biomarkers will be applicable. Biomarker validation is defined as assessing the biomarker’s measurement performance characteristics in terms of reproducibility, accuracy, precision, and limits of sensitivity. Risk factors may include modifiable and non-modifiable factors that influence a person’s likelihood to develop AD/ADRD. Clinical trials are not allowed; however, the FY22 ADRA may use data and/or human anatomical substances from an existing clinical trial to carry out the research.

The FY22 PRARP ADRA does not support basic discovery of biomarkers or basic epidemiological studies, and animal research is prohibited. Investigators with projects that contain such research should consider applying to the FY22 PRARP Investigator-Initiated Research Award (W81XWH-22-PRARP-IIRA) or Translational Research Award (W81XWH22-PRARP-TRA) funding opportunities, as appropriate.

Deadlines:

  • REQUIRED Pre-application Submission Deadline:  June 17,  2022
  • Full Application Submission Deadline:  July 25, 2022

Agency Website

Areas of Interest

To address the intent of the award mechanism, applications submitted to this program announcement must address the FY22 PRARP ADRA Focus Area listed below.

Diagnostic, environmental, and prognostic factors: Research to better detect, diagnose, support treatment decisions, and predict long-term outcomes and risk factors associated with AD/ADRD following military service and/or TBI. Research of interest may include, but is not limited to, identification and validation of biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis of AD and ADRD, including but not limited to, fluid, tissue, and imaging biomarkers, psychosocial indicators, development and validation of devices/technologies, or a combination thereof. In addition, research could address the contribution and identification of risk and resiliency factors for development of AD/ADRD during and after military service, which may include, but are not limited to, life history, genetic, physiological, and psychosocial factors. Epidemiological studies examining TBI and/or military-service-related factors and AD/ADRD development are also included under this Focus Area.

Eligibility Requirements

The Principal Investigator (PI) named by the organization on the application must be an independent investigator at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent). An eligible PI, regardless of ethnicity, nationality, or citizenship status, must be employed by, or affiliated with, an eligible organization.

Amount

$2,500,000

Amount Description

The anticipated total (direct plus indirect) costs budgeted for the entire period of performance for an FY22 PRARP Accelerated Diagnostics Research Award will not exceed $2.5M. Refer to Section II.D.5, Funding Restrictions, for detailed funding information.

Funding Type

Grant

Eligibility

Faculty
Junior Faculty

Category

Engineering and Physical Sciences
Environmental & Life Sciences
Interdisciplinary
Medical
Medical - Basic Science
Medical - Clinical Science
Medical - Translational

External Deadline

June 17, 2022