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.Apply for W81XWH 20 ERP QOL
- 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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FAQs: DoD Epilepsy, Quality of Life Research Award (FY20 ERP QOL)
What is the DoD Epilepsy, Quality of Life Research Award (FY20 ERP QOL)?
It is a Department of Defense (DoD) research funding opportunity under the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP), administered by the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA). The program is designed to support patient-centered research that measurably improves quality of life and care for people living with post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE), including benefits for families and caregivers.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this award?
The Funding Opportunity Number is W81XWH-20-ERP-QOL.
What condition and population is this award focused on?
The award focuses on post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE), which can develop after traumatic brain injury (TBI). The opportunity is intended to be relevant across military, Veteran, and civilian populations.
What is the main purpose of the program?
The purpose is to fund human-focused, patient-centered research that produces meaningful, measurable improvements in quality of life and care for individuals with PTE, and also supports the families and caregivers who help them.
What is the required FY20 focus area?
Applicants must directly address the FY20 focus area, "Quality of Life," broadly defined as improving quality of life for individuals with PTE and their families and caregivers.
What kinds of research approaches does the program want to fund?
The program emphasizes innovation with real-world impact. Projects are expected to challenge existing approaches or introduce highly original ideas aligned with the Epilepsy Research Program (ERP) mission and vision, while staying grounded in practical improvements in daily functioning and well-being.
Are animal studies allowed under this award?
No. 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.
What types of outcomes or impacts are projects expected to deliver?
Projects are expected to deliver tangible improvements tied to daily functioning and well-being, such as reducing symptoms and complications (including 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.
What topics of interest are highlighted in the announcement?
Examples of topics of interest include psychosocial factors; neuropsychological dysfunction (such as cognition and memory); behavioral health concerns (including 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, when tied to meaningful, measurable quality-of-life gains for the PTE community.
What funding levels are available?
There are two funding levels: Funding Level I (with structured mentorship, oriented toward investigators developing toward independence) and Funding Level II (for more established, hypothesis-driven or objective-driven projects with relevant expertise across TBI and epilepsy).
Who is Funding Level I intended for?
Funding Level I is geared toward investigators who benefit from structured mentorship while progressing toward independence. Applicants may come from any discipline, but they must include at least one mentor with strong qualifications and experience specifically in PTE research.
What mentorship requirements apply to Funding Level I?
Funding Level I applications must include at least one qualified PTE research mentor and describe how the mentor(s) will support the PI during the performance period, including expected frequency and types of interactions. The application must also describe the mentor's track record mentoring early-career investigators in TBI and PTE research.
Does Funding Level I allow the PI to rely on the mentor instead of having their own experience?
No. The PI is still expected to show an appropriate level of experience to carry out the proposed work. Mentorship is presented as a formal development and success component, not as a substitute for basic capability.
Who is Funding Level II intended for?
Funding Level II is intended for more established projects that are hypothesis-driven or objective-driven and ready to move forward with fewer developmental supports. The expectation is that the study team demonstrates relevant expertise in both TBI and epilepsy, reflecting that PTE sits at the intersection of these domains.
Is preliminary data required?
No. Preliminary data are encouraged for both funding levels but are not strictly required.
What sources of preliminary data are acceptable?
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.
What is the award mechanism (grant vs cooperative agreement), and why does it matter?
Awards are issued as "assistance agreements." Depending on the anticipated level of DoD involvement, 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 is determined during award negotiation.
What are the direct cost caps for each funding level?
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 (subject to the program's funding restrictions section).
How many awards were expected to be funded?
The program projected about four total awards, contingent on federal fund availability and application quality.
What was the estimated funding allocation across the two levels?
The announcement estimated 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 fund availability and application quality.
When was the application closing date?
The original application closing date was July 21, 2020.
By when were awards expected to be made?
Awards were expected to be made no later than September 30, 2021.
How long were FY20 funds expected to be available for this opportunity?
Funding obligated under this FY20 opportunity was expected to use FY20 funds, available for use through September 30, 2026.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as broadly open (unrestricted by entity type), while applicants are still expected to follow any specific clarifications included in the full announcement.
Is this program only intended for military or Veteran populations?
No. While the program has clear relevance to military and Veteran communities, it is intended to be relevant across military, Veteran, and civilian populations.
What does "patient-centered" mean in the context of this opportunity?
Based on the description provided, "patient-centered" emphasizes human-focused research designed to produce measurable improvements in real-life quality of life and care, including practical everyday outcomes for individuals living with PTE and supports for families and caregivers.
What kinds of caregiver or family impacts are considered aligned with this award?
The opportunity explicitly intends to benefit families and caregivers and encourages projects that develop or evaluate supports for them, or otherwise reduce the real-life burdens associated with PTE in ways that translate into measurable quality-of-life gains.
What is the overall takeaway about what a competitive project should look like?
A competitive project should be innovative, human-focused, and clearly tied to measurable quality-of-life improvements for people with PTE (and/or their families and caregivers), with the appropriate level of maturity and team expertise for the chosen funding level, and with mentorship structured as required for Funding Level I.
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