Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs -- Reconstructive Transplant Research Program -- Investigator-Initiated Research Award

Funding Agency:
Department of Defense

The FY22 RTRP Investigator-Initiated Research Award (IIRA) is intended to support studies that have the potential to make an important contribution to reconstructive transplant research, patient care, and/or quality of life. Though the RTRP IIRA mechanism supports groundbreaking research, all projects must demonstrate solid scientific rationale with military-relevant utility. Important aspects of this award mechanism include:

  • Study Design and Feasibility: The proposed study design should be clearly described, rigorous, and support maximal reproducibility and translational feasibility. A statistical plan with appropriate power analysis should be included, as applicable.
  • Impact: The short- and long-term impact of the proposed research should be clearly articulated. Projects must address at least one of the FY22 RTRP Investigator-Initiated Research Award Focus Areas.
  • Military Relevance: All projects must be responsive to the healthcare needs of military Service Members and/or Veterans recovering from traumatic injury, and/or their family members, caregivers or clinicians, as well as the general public. Collaboration with military researchers and clinicians is encouraged, but not required.
  • Preliminary Data: Observations that drive a research idea may be derived from laboratory discovery, population-based studies, a clinician’s first-hand knowledge of patients, or anecdotal data. Preliminary and/or published data that are relevant to reconstructive transplantation and that support the rationale for the proposed research must be included.

Investigator-Initiated Research Award applications may focus on any phase of research from basic through translational, including preclinical studies in animal models, human subjects, human anatomical substances, as well as correlative studies associated with an existing clinical trial.

Deadlines:

• Required Pre-Application Deadline:  July 27, 2022

• Invitation to Submit an Application: Aug 2022

• Application Submission Deadline:  Oct. 19, 2022

Agency Website

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=341133

Areas of Interest

To meet the intent of the FY22 RTRP Investigator-Initiated Research Award mechanism, applicants must address at least one of the FY22 RTRP Investigator-Initiated Research Award Focus Areas listed below (select both a bolded Focus Area and the appropriate subtopic):

Reduce the risks of VCA-associated immunosuppression

  • Define the unique manifestations and/or mechanisms of VCA immunogenicity
  • Develop novel approaches for achieving VCA immune tolerance
  • Develop less-toxic and/or personalized regimens for maintenance immunosuppression 
  • Identify unique immunosuppression requirements for VCA compared to other solid organ transplants

Identify reliable non-invasive prognostic/diagnostic biomarkers, methods, or tools for monitoring VCA graft rejection, including applications that would be suitable for point-ofcare testing or home monitoring

  • Identify new peripheral biomarkers for acute and chronic VCA graft rejection in human subjects or banked human specimens and medical records suitable for use in the clinic or at home
  • Develop assays or devices for clinical implementation of graft monitoring utilizing validated biomarkers

Develop VCA-specific outcome measures 

  • Measures of clinical outcomes, including but not limited to, graft health and survival, frequency and/or severity of graft rejections, immunosuppression-related toxicity
  • Measures of functional outcomes, including but not limited to, neuromusculoskeletal function, range of motion, resolution of phantom limb pain
  • Measures of social outcomes, including but not limited to, activities of daily living, return to work, community integration, VCA-specific quality of life measures

Eligibility Requirements

Independent investigators at all academic levels (or equivalent) are eligible to be named as a PI (or Initiating or Partnering PI(s) for the Multiple PI Option).

There are no limitations on the number of applications for which an investigator may be named as a PI (or Initiating or Partnering PI(s) for the Multiple PI Option); however, the RTRP strongly encourages PIs to focus on the quality of their applications rather than quantity.

Amount Description

The anticipated total costs budgeted for the entire period of performance for an FY22 RTRP Investigator-Initiated Research Award will not exceed $1M for Single PI applications and $1.5M for applications submitted under the Multiple PI Option. Refer to Section II.D.5, Funding Restrictions, for detailed funding information.

Funding Type

Grant

Eligibility

Faculty
Junior Faculty

Category

Engineering and Physical Sciences
Medical
Medical - Basic Science
Medical - Clinical Science
Medical - Translational

External Deadline

July 27, 2022