DoW Epilepsy Idea Development Award

The Epilepsy Research Program Idea Development Award is administered by the Defense Health Agency Research and Development office under the Department of Defense through the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs. The program is part of a broader federal effort to advance scientific understanding and treatment of post-traumatic epilepsy, particularly as it affects Service Members, Veterans, and their families. Since its inception, the Epilepsy Research Program has received substantial congressional appropriations to support innovative research addressing traumatic brain injury-related epilepsy and its associated comorbidities. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to support highly innovative, exploratory research that can significantly advance knowledge of post-traumatic epilepsy. The award specifically seeks projects that challenge existing paradigms or introduce entirely new research directions rather than extending established lines of work. Proposed studies must focus on areas such as epileptogenesis mechanisms, prevention strategies, epidemiological patterns, or the development of novel diagnostic tools and technologies. The expected outcome is the generation of strong preliminary data that can support future, more advanced research initiatives. Funding under this opportunity is structured as a grant mechanism with a maximum total cost of 1000000 dollars per award over a performance period of up to three years. The program expects to fund approximately two awards with a total allocation of about 2000000 dollars. Allowable costs include research-related expenses such as collaboration travel, data sharing, and participation in program-related events. However, clinical trials are explicitly prohibited, and certain cost restrictions apply, particularly regarding travel beyond specified limits. Cost sharing is not required for eligibility. Eligibility is broadly inclusive, allowing applications from domestic and international organizations across public, private, nonprofit, and for-profit sectors. Principal Investigators may be at any career stage and of any nationality, provided they are affiliated with an eligible organization. However, each investigator may serve as Principal Investigator on only one application for this funding cycle. Awards are made to institutions rather than individuals, and applicants must ensure compliance with federal registration requirements, including active accounts in SAM.gov, eBRAP, and Grants.gov. The application process consists of two required steps. First, applicants must submit a pre-application in the form of a Letter of Intent through the eBRAP system. This is followed by a full application submission via Grants.gov for extramural applicants or eBRAP for intramural applicants. The full application includes multiple required components such as a project narrative, technical and lay abstracts, statement of work, innovation and impact statements, and various supporting documents. Each component must adhere to strict formatting and submission guidelines outlined in the program announcement. Applications undergo a rigorous two-tier evaluation process. The first tier is peer review, which assesses scientific and technical merit based on criteria such as research strategy, innovation, impact, and team qualifications. The second tier is programmatic review, which considers factors such as alignment with program priorities, portfolio balance, and relevance to military health needs. Final funding decisions are contingent upon these evaluations as well as the availability of federal funds. The timeline for this funding opportunity includes a pre-application deadline of August 3, 2026, followed by a full application deadline of August 17, 2026. Peer review is scheduled for October 2026, with programmatic review in December 2026. Awards are expected to be issued no later than September 30, 2027. Applicants can expect notification of funding recommendations approximately six weeks after programmatic review. Support for applicants is available through designated help desks for both eBRAP and Grants.gov to assist with technical and submission-related questions.

Focus on highly innovative ideas that challenge existing paradigms; clearly demonstrate feasibility and strong study design; align research with PTE focus areas and military relevance