Opportunity Information: Apply for W81XWH 19 ERP RPA
The FY19 DoD Epilepsy Research Program (ERP) Research Partnership Award (RPA) is a competitive Department of Defense funding opportunity designed to push epilepsy research forward through true collaboration, especially where a single lab or institution could not realistically accomplish the work alone. The core idea is that at least two investigators jointly build and run one integrated project, with clear evidence that each partner contributed equally to the scientific concept, study design, and overall direction. While multi-institutional teams are encouraged, they are not mandatory; what matters most is that the partnership brings genuinely complementary expertise and that the project is structured to benefit from those distinct contributions. The program is explicitly oriented toward outcomes and impact, with applicants expected to explain both the near-term deliverables from the proposed work and the longer-term scientific and clinical gains that could follow.
This award offers two funding levels that map to different stages of translation. Funding Level I supports preclinical or pre-validation efforts, essentially work that is not yet dependent on recruiting and following a prospective patient cohort. Level I projects can include foundational studies aimed at identifying or refining targets, measures, or approaches that would later support human research or clinical application. Funding Level II supports research that requires access to a patient cohort for a prospective study, making it more clinically grounded. In Level II, the program encourages feasibility assessments that combine multiple kinds of measurements, such as neuropsychological testing, imaging, and genomics, reflecting a preference for integrated, multimodal approaches that could improve understanding, prediction, or stratification in epilepsy-related outcomes.
A major emphasis, particularly for Level II projects, is the connection between traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE). Level II applications are expected to clearly describe how the study will assess or characterize the relationship between TBI exposures and later PTE, including a concrete description of what kinds of TBIs exist in the cohort and how those injuries will be defined and captured. Importantly, the opportunity calls for the TBI characterization to be incorporated into the statistical plan, meaning applicants should spell out how TBI variables will be analyzed (for example, how injury severity, mechanism, timing, or repetitive injuries will be handled analytically) rather than treating TBI history as a vague background factor. The announcement also clarifies a key boundary: Level II is not meant to support animal research, underscoring that Level II funds are intended for human cohort based prospective work.
Eligibility is broad at the institutional level (open to many entity types), but the named Principal Investigator must be at least an Assistant Professor (or equivalent). Teams can come from any discipline, but the application must demonstrate that the study team has relevant experience in both TBI and epilepsy research, aligning with the program mission and the TBI-PTE focus. Structurally, one partner can submit as the PI and the other(s) can be designated as Co-PI(s), but the application must make it obvious that the intellectual ownership is shared and that the work plan truly depends on the partners working as a unified unit rather than running parallel, loosely connected subprojects.
Collaboration requirements are formal and detailed. Every application must include a Collaboration Statement, and the project plan must spell out how the partners will interact throughout the period of performance. That includes practical elements like communication routines, decision-making processes, how resources will be allocated, how progress and results will be coordinated, and how data will be shared across investigators and organizations. If the project involves multiple institutions, an intellectual property plan is required to address potential IP or material transfer issues up front and to prevent institutional barriers from undermining cooperation. Across both funding levels, preliminary data is required to support feasibility of the hypothesis and approaches. The solicitation is flexible about the source of that preliminary evidence, allowing it to come from laboratory discoveries, clinical observations, or population based studies.
The research must be relevant to active duty Service members, Veterans, military beneficiaries, and also have broader relevance to the American public. Within that scope, the FY19 RPA highlights focus areas that applicants should consider: markers and mechanisms, epidemiology, and longitudinal studies. Proposals outside these areas can still be submitted, but they need a strong justification for why the alternative topic is important and aligned with the program goals. Overall, the opportunity is meant to accelerate work toward clinical application, so even early-stage projects are expected to articulate a credible line of sight to downstream clinical relevance.
In terms of budget and timing, Level I awards can request up to $1.3 million in total costs over a maximum of 3 years, while Level II awards can request up to $2.0 million in total costs over a maximum of 4 years. Budgets are expected to match the scope and complexity of the proposed work rather than simply aiming for the cap. The program anticipated making about two awards total: roughly one Level I award at around $1.3 million and one Level II award at around $2.0 million, though actual funding depends on federal fund availability, the volume of applications, and how proposals score in scientific and programmatic review. The opportunity was issued by the Department of Defense (USAMRAA) under Funding Opportunity Number W81XWH-19-ERP-RPA, with an original closing date of July 17, 2019, and awards anticipated no later than September 30, 2020; funds were expected to be FY19 funds with an availability window that expires September 30, 2025.Apply for W81XWH 19 ERP RPA
- The Department of Defense, Dept. of the Army -- USAMRAA in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "DoD Epilepsy, Research Partnership Award" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.420.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 16, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 17, 2019. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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FAQs: FY19 DoD Epilepsy Research Program (ERP) Research Partnership Award (RPA)
What is the FY19 DoD Epilepsy Research Program Research Partnership Award (RPA)?
The FY19 DoD ERP Research Partnership Award (RPA) is a competitive Department of Defense funding opportunity intended to accelerate epilepsy research through true collaboration. It is designed for projects where a single lab or institution could not realistically achieve the work alone, and where at least two investigators jointly develop and run one integrated project.
What is the main purpose or emphasis of this award?
The award emphasizes outcomes and impact. Applicants are expected to describe near-term deliverables from the proposed work and the longer-term scientific and clinical gains that could result, with a clear line of sight toward clinical relevance.
How many investigators are required, and what does "partnership" mean here?
At least two investigators are required. The partnership must be genuine, with clear evidence that each partner contributed equally to the scientific concept, study design, and overall direction. The work should depend on the partners operating as a unified team rather than running separate, loosely connected subprojects.
Are multi-institutional teams required?
No. Multi-institutional teams are encouraged but not mandatory. The key requirement is complementary expertise and an integrated project structure that benefits from distinct contributions.
Can one investigator be the PI while others are Co-PIs?
Yes. One partner may submit as the Principal Investigator (PI) and the other partner(s) may be designated as Co-PI(s), as long as the application clearly demonstrates shared intellectual ownership and joint project leadership.
What are the two funding levels and how do they differ?
The award offers two funding levels aligned to different stages of translation:
- Funding Level I: Supports preclinical or pre-validation work that is not dependent on recruiting and following a prospective patient cohort. This can include foundational studies aimed at identifying or refining targets, measures, or approaches that could later support human research or clinical application.
- Funding Level II: Supports research that requires access to a patient cohort for a prospective study. It is more clinically grounded and encourages integrated, multimodal approaches (for example, combining neuropsychological testing, imaging, and genomics).
Does Funding Level II allow animal research?
No. The announcement specifies that Level II is not intended to support animal research. Level II funds are intended for human cohort-based prospective work.
What types of approaches are encouraged in Funding Level II?
Level II encourages feasibility assessments that integrate multiple kinds of measurements, such as neuropsychological testing, imaging, and genomics, reflecting a preference for multimodal, integrated study designs.
Is there a special focus on traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE)?
Yes, particularly for Level II projects. Level II applications are expected to clearly describe how the study will assess or characterize the relationship between TBI exposures and later PTE.
What does the opportunity require regarding TBI characterization in Level II studies?
Level II applications are expected to provide a concrete description of the TBIs represented in the cohort and explain how those injuries will be defined and captured. The solicitation also expects TBI characterization to be incorporated into the statistical plan, including how TBI variables will be analyzed (for example, severity, mechanism, timing, or repetitive injuries).
Does the application need to show team experience in both TBI and epilepsy?
Yes. While teams can come from any discipline, the application must demonstrate relevant experience in both TBI and epilepsy research, consistent with the program mission and the TBI-PTE focus.
Who is eligible to serve as the Principal Investigator (PI)?
The named PI must be at least an Assistant Professor (or equivalent). Institutional eligibility is described as broad and open to many entity types.
What documentation is required to demonstrate collaboration?
Every application must include a Collaboration Statement. In addition, the project plan must explain how partners will interact throughout the period of performance, including communication routines, decision-making processes, resource allocation, coordination of progress and results, and cross-investigator/organization data sharing.
Is an intellectual property (IP) plan required?
If the project involves multiple institutions, an intellectual property plan is required to address potential IP or material transfer issues up front and reduce the risk that institutional barriers could undermine cooperation.
Is preliminary data required?
Yes. Preliminary data is required across both funding levels to support feasibility of the hypothesis and approaches. The solicitation allows preliminary evidence from laboratory discoveries, clinical observations, or population-based studies.
What populations must the research be relevant to?
The research must be relevant to active duty Service members, Veterans, and military beneficiaries, and it must also have broader relevance to the American public.
What research areas are highlighted as focus areas?
The FY19 RPA highlights the following focus areas for consideration: markers and mechanisms, epidemiology, and longitudinal studies.
Can proposals be submitted outside the highlighted focus areas?
Yes. Proposals outside those areas may still be submitted, but they need a strong justification explaining why the alternative topic is important and aligned with program goals.
What are the maximum budgets and performance periods for each funding level?
- Level I: Up to $1.3 million in total costs, with a maximum period of performance of 3 years.
- Level II: Up to $2.0 million in total costs, with a maximum period of performance of 4 years.
Should applicants request the maximum budget?
Budgets are expected to match the scope and complexity of the proposed work rather than aiming for the cap.
How many awards were anticipated under this opportunity?
The program anticipated making about two awards total: roughly one Level I award at around $1.3 million and one Level II award at around $2.0 million. Actual funding depends on federal fund availability, the volume of applications, and scientific and programmatic review outcomes.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this solicitation?
The Funding Opportunity Number is W81XWH-19-ERP-RPA.
Which DoD organization issued this opportunity?
The opportunity was issued by the Department of Defense through USAMRAA.
What was the closing date for applications?
The original closing date was July 17, 2019.
When were awards anticipated to be made?
Awards were anticipated no later than September 30, 2020.
How long were the funds expected to remain available?
The solicitation indicates the funds were expected to be FY19 funds with an availability window expiring on September 30, 2025.
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