Orthopaedic injuries have a profound impact on military readiness and return to work/activity/duty. In the military, extremity battle wounds comprise approximately 50% of injuries reported in the Department of Defense Trauma Registry. Additionally, orthopaedic injuries and conditions that occur outside of combat (e.g., during training, leisure activities, resultant from old injuries, etc.) present one of the greatest threats to the readiness of our Service Members and military. Early stabilization, treatment, and rehabilitation of orthopaedic injuries in both civilian and military populations have led to better outcomes, particularly in the prevention of secondary complications and in minimizing morbidity. Availability of orthopaedic care and treatment as early as possible, or as close to the point of injury as possible, also minimizes limb loss and affects military readiness.
Although the PRORP is interested in supporting military-focused research, research supported by the PRORP is expected to also apply to all individuals who have sustained a major orthopaedic injury.
With the initiation of the Arthritis Research Program, the FY24 PRORP may not fund arthritis research; however, research that addresses conditions or health abnormalities related to arthritis is permitted provided the proposed research addresses the selected Focus Area.
The FY24 PRORP ARA seeks applied research applications focused on advancing optimal treatment and restoration of function for individuals with orthopaedic injuries sustained during combat and service-related activities. Applicants are encouraged to address how the proposed research will support patient care and allow patients to more quickly return to duty/work. It is expected that any research findings would also provide benefit to the general population. To meet the intent of the award mechanism, applications must specifically address an FY24 PRORP ARA Focus Area.
The FY24 PRORP ARA is focused on applied research, defined as work that refines concepts and ideas into potential solutions with a view toward evaluating technical feasibility of promising new knowledge products, pharmacologic agents, behavioral and rehabilitation interventions, diagnostic and therapeutic techniques, clinical guidance, and/or emerging approaches and technologies.
Deadlines:
• Required Pre-Application Deadline: June 18, 2024
• Application Submission Deadline: September 17, 2024
To meet the intent of the funding opportunity, applications submitted to this program announcement must address one of the following FY24 PRORP Applied Research Award (ARA) Focus Areas.
Selection of the appropriate Focus Area is the responsibility of the applicant.
1. Limb Stabilization and Protection: Development of rapid limb stabilization and novel wound protectants for severely or critically wounded limbs to enable prolonged care and eventual transport to the point of definitive treatment.
2. Retention Strategies: Development and/or optimization of battlefield-feasible diagnostic capabilities, decision support tools, interventions, and/or rehabilitation strategies that can facilitate retention on duty or avoid reinjury for common combat-related musculoskeletal injuries. Biomarker studies are excluded. The current standard of care must be noted. The rehabilitation strategy to be used in the proposed study must be specified, as applicable. Capabilities for diagnosis of underlying pathology and efficacy of interventions measurements are encouraged.
- 2a. Battlefield Care: Strategies that can be utilized at or near the point of injury to allow an injured Service Member to remain on the battlefield or on mission without the need for evacuation. Treatment strategies that allow return to mission effectiveness within 30 days will be considered.
3. Osseointegration: Identification of best practices to address infection, rejection, and/or failure of percutaneous osseointegrated prosthetic limbs.
4. Composite Tissue Regeneration: Advanced tissue regeneration therapeutics in composite tissue for the restoration of traumatically injured extremities. Isolated bone, cartilage, muscle, or nerve tissue engineering studies are excluded. Techniques aimed at improving outcomes following high-energy extremity trauma, with a focus on improving wound healing, neuromuscular recovery following composite tissue loss and segmental bone loss are encouraged.
Independent investigators at all academic levels (or equivalent) may be named by the organization as the PI on the application.
There is no limitation on the number of applications for which an investigator may be named as a PI.
The anticipated total costs budgeted for the entire period of performance for an FY24 PRORP Applied Research Award should not exceed $750,000. Refer to Section II.D.5, Funding Restrictions, for detailed funding information.