DoD Military Burn, Technology/Therapeutic Development Award

The DoW Military Burn, Technology/Therapeutic Development Award is a federal funding opportunity administered by the Department of Defense through the Department of the Army, U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity under the Military Burn Research Program. The opportunity is forecasted for fiscal year 2026 and is intended to support translational burn research that advances promising preclinical findings into practical products or therapeutic interventions suitable for military and civilian burn care applications. The award specifically emphasizes solutions that can function in austere, resource-limited, and distributed operational environments commonly encountered in combat or field medicine. The funding mechanism is designed to accelerate the movement of innovative burn technologies and therapeutics toward clinical application and eventual implementation. The funding opportunity is categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development and is expected to distribute approximately $5,000,000 in total program funding across an anticipated three awards. The opportunity may be issued as either a grant or cooperative agreement depending on the degree of anticipated federal involvement. Eligible projects must focus on product-oriented outcomes such as medical devices, pharmaceutical therapies, clinical practice guidelines, or other therapeutic or technological solutions related to burn care. The solicitation allows both tangible products and knowledge products, provided that the resulting knowledge directly supports the development or implementation of a technology or therapeutic intervention. Knowledge products are defined as non-tangible products arising from research that have the potential to improve public or individual health outcomes. A distinctive feature of the FY26 cycle is the introduction of a Mentorship Option that provides a higher funding level to support collaboration between an experienced burn researcher and one or two junior investigators. This mentorship structure is intended to simultaneously advance a critical military burn research study and develop future leaders in military burn medicine. The mentorship component is specifically intended to create a synergistic relationship that enhances both scientific productivity and workforce development within the military burn research community. Applicants pursuing the mentorship option will likely be expected to demonstrate a clear mentorship framework and explain how mentees will contribute to and benefit from the proposed research activities. The opportunity is open to unrestricted applicants, meaning that a broad range of organizations and entities may be eligible to apply unless additional restrictions are included in the full solicitation once released. The forecast notice does not identify specific exclusions or institutional limitations. Because the opportunity is administered through the Department of Defense and listed on Grants.gov under Assistance Listing 12.420, applicants should anticipate federal registration requirements such as maintaining active registrations in SAM.gov and Grants.gov prior to submission. The current forecast information does not identify any mandatory pre-application requirements such as letters of intent or concept papers. The opportunity also explicitly states that there is no cost sharing or matching requirement associated with this award mechanism. The forecasted opportunity was posted on May 5, 2026, with an estimated full posting date of June 1, 2026. Applications are expected to be due on October 22, 2026. Estimated awards and project start dates are both listed as September 30, 2027, indicating a potentially lengthy scientific and administrative review process. Because the award is identified as a fiscal year program and part of the broader Military Burn Research Program portfolio, the funding mechanism is likely to recur annually subject to congressional appropriations and Department of Defense priorities. Applicants are encouraged to monitor the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs website and Grants.gov for release of the official solicitation package and application instructions. The forecast notice directs interested parties to the Military Burn Research Program pre-announcement webpage for additional context regarding focus areas and program priorities. The available contact information identifies the eBRAP Help Desk as the primary support contact for applicant assistance. The help desk may be reached by telephone at 301-682-5507 or by email at help@eBRAP.org. The current forecast notice does not yet provide a direct PDF solicitation document, detailed evaluation criteria, application component checklist, or specific period of performance limitations. Those details are expected to become available once the full funding opportunity announcement is officially posted by the Department of Defense.

Emphasize translational and product-driven outcomes that can be applied in austere resource-limited distributed operational environments. Align the proposal closely with FY26 Military Burn Research Program focus areas and demonstrate clear clinical application potential for burn care.