DoD Epilepsy, Quality of Life Research Award | W81XWH 20 ERP QOL

Opportunity Information: Apply for W81XWH 20 ERP QOL

The DoD Epilepsy, Quality of Life Research Award (FY20 ERP QOL; Funding Opportunity Number W81XWH-20-ERP-QOL) is a Department of Defense research funding opportunity administered through the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA) under the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP). Its purpose is to fund patient-centered research that measurably improves quality of life and care for people living with post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE), a form of epilepsy that can develop after traumatic brain injury (TBI). The program is explicitly intended to benefit not only individuals experiencing PTE symptoms, but also the families and caregivers who support them, with relevance across military, Veteran, and civilian populations.

A central theme of this award is innovation with real-world impact. Proposed projects are expected to creatively challenge existing research approaches or introduce highly original ideas that fit the Epilepsy Research Program (ERP) mission and vision. The research emphasis is on practical improvements in daily functioning and well-being, such as reducing symptoms and complications (for example, cognitive, behavioral, functional, or mood-related problems), strengthening resiliency factors, helping individuals maintain or increase independence, and developing or evaluating supports for families and caregivers. Because the award is framed as patient-centered quality-of-life research, animal studies are not allowed; projects must be grounded in human-focused methods, interventions, assessments, or care-delivery approaches.

Applicants must directly address the FY20 focus area: “Quality of Life,” defined broadly as improving quality of life for individuals with PTE as well as their families and caregivers. The announcement highlights specific topics of interest that applicants may incorporate, including psychosocial factors; neuropsychological dysfunction such as cognition and memory; behavioral health concerns like anxiety, depression, PTSD, and impulsivity; wellness and lifestyle factors; stigma reduction; activities of daily living (ADLs); care gaps such as adjunct programs, support groups, and access-to-care barriers; sleep disorders; and medication side effects. Projects that tie these issues to meaningful, measurable quality-of-life gains for the PTE community are aligned with the award’s intent.

The opportunity offers two funding levels designed for different stages of investigator and project maturity. Funding Level I is geared toward investigators who benefit from structured mentorship while developing toward independence. Applicants can come from any discipline, but they must include at least one mentor with strong qualifications and experience specifically in PTE research. The application needs to spell out how the mentor(s) will support the PI during the performance period, including the expected frequency and types of interactions, and must describe the mentor’s track record mentoring early-career investigators in TBI and PTE research. The PI is still expected to show an appropriate level of experience to carry out the proposed work, with mentorship serving as a formal development and success component rather than a substitute for basic capability.

Funding Level II is intended for more established, hypothesis-driven or objective-driven projects that are ready to move forward with fewer developmental supports. While applicants can still be from any field or discipline, the expectation is that the study team demonstrates relevant expertise in both TBI and epilepsy, reflecting the clinical reality that PTE sits at the intersection of these domains. This level is meant to support more mature projects that are positioned to deliver impactful outcomes.

Preliminary data are encouraged for both levels but not strictly required. Where available, preliminary data may come from the PI’s prior publications, pilot work, or peer-reviewed literature; for Funding Level I, preliminary data may also be drawn from the mentor’s published work. This flexibility is meant to enable innovative proposals while still supporting the program’s impact-based review expectations.

Awards are issued as “assistance agreements,” meaning the federal government is providing support to help recipients carry out a public-purpose research effort rather than purchasing a service for direct government use. Depending on the anticipated level of DoD involvement during the project, the mechanism may be a grant (when substantial involvement is not expected) or a cooperative agreement (when substantial involvement is expected, such as collaboration, participation, or intervention by the funding agency in the research effort). The final mechanism and start details are determined during award negotiation.

In terms of budget, the direct cost cap is up to $300,000 total for Funding Level I and up to $500,000 total for Funding Level II, across the full project period (with additional details governed by the program’s funding restrictions section). The program projected about four total awards, with an estimated allocation of roughly $0.96 million for about two Funding Level I awards and about $1.6 million for about two Funding Level II awards, contingent on federal fund availability and application quality. The original application closing date was July 21, 2020, and awards were expected to be made no later than September 30, 2021. Funding obligated under this FY20 opportunity was expected to use FY20 funds, available for use through September 30, 2026.

Eligibility is described as broadly open (unrestricted by entity type), although applicants still need to follow any specific clarifications in the full announcement. Overall, the award is best understood as a targeted DoD investment in human-centered, high-impact research that can reduce the real-life burdens of PTE and improve everyday outcomes for patients and the people who care for them, with a strong preference for creative approaches that can translate into tangible quality-of-life improvements.

• 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, Quality of Life Research 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 19, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 21, 2020. (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 4 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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