DoW Military Burn, Technology/Therapeutic Development Award

The Military Burn Research Program Technology/Therapeutic Development Award is administered by the Defense Health Agency through the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs. The program was established to address the persistent and complex medical challenges associated with burn injuries sustained by military personnel in combat and training environments. Since its inception in 2011, the program has received substantial congressional appropriations to support research aimed at improving outcomes for service members suffering from burn-related trauma. The current funding opportunity focuses specifically on advancing technologies and therapeutics that can be translated from preclinical findings into practical products for use in operational military settings. The primary objective of this award is to support product-driven research that leads to the development of tangible or knowledge-based solutions applicable to burn care. These products may include medical devices, pharmacologic agents, or clinical practice guidelines that enhance treatment capabilities. The program emphasizes innovations that can function effectively in austere, resource-limited, and distributed operational environments, particularly in early or pre-hospital phases of care. Applicants must demonstrate that their proposed product addresses a clearly defined gap in combat burn care and aligns with one or more specified focus areas, such as improving burn assessment, preventing complications, or advancing acute care practices. Funding is structured to support either a single principal investigator or a mentorship model. The maximum total funding is capped at 1.6 million dollars for single investigator projects and 1.8 million dollars for projects incorporating a mentorship component. The period of performance is limited to three years. Funds may be used for a range of development activities, including validation testing, manufacturing processes, regulatory preparation, and product optimization. However, clinical trials and studies involving human subject enrollment are explicitly prohibited under this mechanism. Travel costs for dissemination of results and collaboration are allowable within defined limits, while certain expenses such as tuition and clinical research costs are not permitted. Eligibility for this opportunity is broad and includes both domestic and international organizations across public and private sectors, including academic institutions, research institutes, and commercial entities. Investigators must be affiliated with an eligible organization and demonstrate independence in their research role. The mentorship option requires a senior investigator to guide one or two junior researchers, with structured plans for professional development. Federally Funded Research and Development Centers are not eligible to receive direct awards but may participate through collaborative arrangements. The application process follows a two-step submission model. Applicants must first submit a preproposal through the Electronic Biomedical Research Application Portal. Selected applicants will then be invited to submit a full proposal through either Grants.gov or the same portal, depending on organizational affiliation. The preproposal requires a concise narrative outlining the research concept, strategy, and relevance, while the full application includes detailed project descriptions, supporting documentation, and multiple required attachments such as technical abstracts, statements of work, and transition plans. Strict formatting and submission guidelines must be followed, and failure to comply may result in administrative rejection. Applications are evaluated through a multi-tiered review process. Initial screening of preproposals assesses the potential impact, relevance to military health, and feasibility of the proposed product. Full proposals undergo peer review focusing on scientific merit, research design, and feasibility, followed by programmatic review to ensure alignment with program priorities and portfolio balance. Successful applicants are expected to demonstrate strong preliminary data, a clear path to product development, and a well-defined regulatory and transition strategy. The timeline for this funding opportunity includes a preproposal deadline in early July, followed by invitations to submit full proposals in late August. Final applications are due in October, with peer review conducted in early the following year and programmatic review shortly thereafter. Awards are expected to be issued by late September of the following fiscal year, with funding availability extending several years beyond the award date. Support is available throughout the application process via designated help desks for both technical and submission-related inquiries.

Demonstrate strong preliminary data and TRL 4 readiness; emphasize product-driven outcomes and military relevance; clearly define transition and regulatory strategy