DoW Epilepsy Research Partnership Award

The Epilepsy Research Program Research Partnership Award is administered by the Defense Health Agency through the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs. This federal funding opportunity is designed to advance research into post-traumatic epilepsy, a condition that can develop following traumatic brain injury. Established as part of a broader congressional initiative to improve understanding and care for neurological conditions affecting service members and the public, the program emphasizes collaboration, innovation, and translational impact. The Epilepsy Research Program itself has received substantial appropriations since its inception and continues to prioritize research that improves outcomes for individuals living with epilepsy and related conditions. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to support collaborative research partnerships that address critical scientific questions related to post-traumatic epilepsy. The program requires at least two principal investigators to work together on a unified research project, combining complementary expertise to achieve outcomes that would not be possible independently. Projects must align with at least one of the program’s focus areas, including understanding disease mechanisms, prevention strategies, epidemiological patterns, or the development of innovative tools and technologies. The emphasis is on meaningful collaboration, where each investigator contributes substantively to the research design and execution. Funding for this opportunity is limited, with approximately two million dollars expected to support a single award. The total cost cap for the combined project is also two million dollars, and the maximum period of performance is three years. Each principal investigator’s institution receives a separate award, and funding must be allocated in a way that reflects the collaborative nature of the work. Allowable costs include travel for collaboration, data sharing, and participation in scientific meetings, while clinical trials are explicitly excluded. There is no requirement for cost sharing or matching funds. Eligibility for the program is broad and inclusive, allowing applications from domestic and international organizations across sectors, including academic institutions, government entities, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit companies. Principal investigators may be at any career stage and are not restricted by citizenship status, although they must be affiliated with an eligible organization. A key limitation is that each investigator may serve as a principal investigator on only one application under this funding opportunity. The application process is structured as a two-step submission. First, the initiating principal investigator must submit a pre-application in the form of a letter of intent through the Electronic Biomedical Research Application Portal. Following this, full applications are submitted either through Grants.gov or eBRAP, depending on the organization type. The full application includes extensive documentation such as a detailed project narrative, technical and lay abstracts, a statement of work, impact and transition plans, and various supporting materials. Partnering investigators submit abbreviated application packages focused on their specific contributions. Applications are evaluated through a rigorous two-tier review process. The first stage is peer review, which assesses scientific merit, feasibility, partnership strength, and potential impact. The second stage is programmatic review, which considers alignment with program priorities, portfolio balance, and relevance to military health needs. Additional considerations include data sharing plans, transition strategies, and the overall research environment. The program places strong emphasis on rigorous study design, collaboration, and the potential to improve patient outcomes. Key deadlines for this funding opportunity include a pre-application submission due in early August 2026, followed by the full application deadline later in the same month. Peer review is expected to occur in October 2026, with programmatic review in December 2026. Awards are anticipated to be finalized by September 2027. Applicants are encouraged to prepare materials early due to the complexity of the submission process and the requirement for multiple institutional registrations. For assistance, applicants may contact the eBRAP Help Desk or the Grants.gov Support Center as listed in the program announcement.

Ensure strong collaboration between PIs with clearly distinct contributions; align proposal with ERP focus areas; demonstrate feasibility with preliminary data; emphasize impact on patient outcomes and military relevance