Opportunity Information: Apply for W81XWH 19 MBRP IDA
The DOD Military Burn - Idea Development Award (MBRP IDA) is a Department of Defense funding opportunity run through the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) and administered by the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA). Introduced for the first time in FY19, this award is designed to back highly impactful, military-relevant work focused specifically on burn wound care. The program is aimed at practical progress, meaning it supports applied research and preclinical research rather than early, curiosity-driven science. Projects are expected to address real-world challenges faced by Service members and Veterans, with results that can also translate to broader civilian benefit.
A central driver behind the opportunity is the reality that burns have consistently made up a meaningful share of combat casualties across modern conflicts (roughly 5 to 20 percent, as cited in the announcement). The DoD is planning for future scenarios where burn injuries could increase, especially in austere or rural combat environments and mass-casualty situations where evacuation and definitive care may be delayed. Because of that, the call emphasizes solutions that can be used closer to the point of injury, including pre-hospital care and settings where medical teams may have to manage patients for extended periods with limited resources.
The announcement highlights prolonged field care (PFC) as a major operational need. NATO defines PFC as trauma care that extends beyond normal doctrinal timelines until evacuation to a higher level of care becomes possible. The program notes that PFC is considered a capability gap across the Army and other military services. While applicants are encouraged to align proposals with prolonged field care realities, addressing PFC is not strictly required. What is required is clear relevance to active duty personnel and/or Veterans, along with a credible pathway to outcomes that matter in military medicine.
Competitiveness expectations are spelled out clearly. Applicants must include preliminary and/or published data that directly supports the proposed work. The application should present a strong scientific rationale, logical reasoning, and a well-formed, testable hypothesis. In other words, the program is not looking for purely speculative ideas; it is looking for concepts that are already grounded in evidence and ready to be developed into something usable through applied or preclinical investigation.
Funding is capped at a total cost budget of up to $500,000 for the full period of performance per award. The DoD anticipated allocating about $2 million from FY19 funds to support around four awards, with the possibility of up to another $2 million from FY20 funds to support up to four additional awards if funding was appropriated. Altogether, the notice projected up to eight awards. As with most federal programs, actual awards depend on available appropriations, the number of submissions, and how applications score in both scientific peer review and programmatic review. The timeline in the announcement indicates that awards were expected to be made no later than September 30, 2021, and it explains that FY19 and FY20 funds carried obligation deadlines tied to those fiscal years.
Awards under this opportunity are issued as assistance agreements, meaning either grants or cooperative agreements. The difference is based on how involved the DoD expects to be during the project. If substantial DoD involvement is anticipated (such as collaboration, participation, or intervention in the work), the award may be a cooperative agreement; if not, it is more likely to be a standard grant. The final instrument type and start date are typically settled during award negotiations.
There are important scope restrictions. The IDA cannot be used to support fundamental basic research, which the announcement defines as work intended mainly to increase knowledge of underlying phenomena without a specific application in mind. Clinical trials are explicitly not allowed under this mechanism, using a definition that includes prospective assignment of human subjects to interventions to measure biomedical or behavioral outcomes. Applicants interested in clinical research are directed instead to the program's Clinical Translational Research Award mechanism.
The opportunity also lays out compliance requirements for studies involving animals or human-derived materials. Any animal research funded by DoD must be reviewed not only by the institution's IACUC but also by the USAMRMC Office of Research Protections Animal Care and Use Review Office (ACURO). IACUC approval is not required at the time of application submission, but ACURO approval is required before work begins, and investigators are warned to plan for roughly two to three months for that regulatory review. Similarly, research involving human anatomical substances, human subjects, or human cadavers requires review by the USAMRMC Human Research Protection Office (HRPO) in addition to local IRB or ethics review. Local approval is not required at submission, but HRPO review is mandatory before implementation, and investigators are advised to plan for at least two to three months (potentially longer for international work). The announcement also cautions that protocols should ideally be written as stand-alone efforts specific to the DoD-supported scope, because HRPO may require review of the entire protocol if it includes broader non-DoD work, which can complicate timelines and compliance.
If a project depends on access to DoD or VA patient populations, databases, or other resources, the application must describe how that access will be obtained and maintained. The program expects documentation such as letters of support signed by an appropriate approving authority. For VA-related access, letters typically need to come from the VA Facility Director or a delegated official (for example, the Associate Chief of Staff for Research and Development). The announcement notes that certain DoD and VA resources may be restricted, meaning outside investigators may need a substantive collaboration with a DoD or VA investigator to gain access. If access is not adequately documented, the government reserves the right to delay, withdraw, or revoke funding until access is demonstrated.
Finally, the program strongly encourages collaboration and alignment with DoD and/or VA laboratories and research programs, emphasizing that military relevance is a defining feature of the award. The announcement provides a long list of potential defense and veterans research organizations as starting points for identifying partners or aligning with existing efforts. Eligibility is described as unrestricted (open to many entity types) unless otherwise clarified in the full opportunity details, and the opportunity was listed under CFDA 12.420 with a funding opportunity number W81XWH-19-MBRP-IDA.Apply for W81XWH 19 MBRP IDA
- 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 Military Burn - Idea Development 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 Mar 01, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 10, 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 8 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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the DOD Military Burn - Idea Development Award (MBRP IDA)?
The MBRP Idea Development Award (IDA) is a Department of Defense (DoD) funding opportunity focused on military-relevant burn wound care. It is run through the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) and administered by the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA).
What is the main purpose of this award?
The award is intended to support highly impactful work that can meaningfully advance burn wound care for Service members and Veterans. The emphasis is on practical progress through applied research and preclinical research, rather than early, curiosity-driven science.
When was this award first introduced?
This award mechanism was introduced for the first time in FY19.
What research areas does the MBRP IDA support?
The opportunity supports applied research and preclinical research focused specifically on burn wound care, with clear military relevance and a credible pathway to outcomes that matter in military medicine.
Does the program require a focus on prolonged field care (PFC)?
No. The announcement encourages applicants to align proposals with prolonged field care realities, but addressing PFC is not strictly required.
What is prolonged field care (PFC) in this context?
The announcement cites the NATO definition of PFC as trauma care that extends beyond normal doctrinal timelines until evacuation to a higher level of care becomes possible. The program describes PFC as a capability gap across the Army and other services and highlights it as a major operational need.
Why does the DoD emphasize burn care in austere or delayed-evacuation settings?
The opportunity points to burns representing a meaningful portion of combat casualties across modern conflicts (roughly 5 to 20 percent, as cited). It also notes planning assumptions for future scenarios where burn injuries could increase, including austere or rural combat environments and mass-casualty situations where evacuation and definitive care may be delayed.
What level of evidence is expected in an application?
Applicants are expected to include preliminary and/or published data directly supporting the proposed work. The application should provide strong scientific rationale, logical reasoning, and a well-formed, testable hypothesis. The mechanism is not intended for purely speculative concepts without evidence.
How much funding is available per award?
Funding is capped at a total cost budget of up to $500,000 for the full period of performance per award.
How many awards did the DoD expect to make under this announcement?
The announcement anticipated about $2 million from FY19 funds to support around four awards, with the possibility of up to another $2 million from FY20 funds to support up to four additional awards if funding was appropriated. In total, the notice projected up to eight awards.
Are awards guaranteed if an application is highly rated?
No. The announcement indicates awards depend on available appropriations, the number of submissions, and performance in both scientific peer review and programmatic review.
What was the expected award timeline?
The announcement indicated awards were expected to be made no later than September 30, 2021, and noted that FY19 and FY20 funds carried obligation deadlines tied to those fiscal years.
Is this award a grant or a cooperative agreement?
Awards are issued as assistance agreements, meaning they may be either grants or cooperative agreements. The decision depends on the expected level of DoD involvement during the project.
How does the program decide between a grant and a cooperative agreement?
If substantial DoD involvement is anticipated (for example, collaboration, participation, or intervention in the work), the award may be a cooperative agreement. If substantial involvement is not anticipated, it is more likely to be a standard grant. The final instrument type is typically determined during award negotiations.
Can the MBRP IDA be used to fund fundamental basic research?
No. The announcement states the IDA cannot be used for fundamental basic research, defined as work intended mainly to increase knowledge of underlying phenomena without a specific application in mind.
Are clinical trials allowed under this mechanism?
No. Clinical trials are explicitly not allowed under this mechanism, using a definition that includes prospective assignment of human subjects to interventions to measure biomedical or behavioral outcomes.
If clinical trials are not allowed, where should clinical research proposals go?
The announcement directs applicants interested in clinical research to the program's Clinical Translational Research Award mechanism.
Do I need IACUC approval at the time of application submission for animal work?
No. The announcement states IACUC approval is not required at the time of application submission.
What additional animal research approvals are required for DoD-funded studies?
Animal research must be reviewed by the institution's IACUC and also by the USAMRMC Office of Research Protections Animal Care and Use Review Office (ACURO). ACURO approval is required before the animal work begins.
How long should applicants plan for ACURO review?
The announcement advises investigators to plan roughly two to three months for ACURO regulatory review.
Do I need local IRB approval at the time of application submission for human-related work?
No. The announcement states local IRB or ethics approval is not required at submission, but required before implementation along with DoD human research protections review.
What DoD review applies to research involving human subjects or human-derived materials?
Research involving human anatomical substances, human subjects, or human cadavers requires review by the USAMRMC Human Research Protection Office (HRPO) in addition to local IRB or ethics review. HRPO review is mandatory before implementation.
How long should applicants plan for HRPO review?
The announcement advises planning for at least two to three months for HRPO review, and potentially longer for international work.
Why does the announcement recommend stand-alone protocols for DoD-supported scope?
The announcement cautions that HRPO may require review of an entire protocol if it includes broader non-DoD work, which can complicate timelines and compliance. Writing a stand-alone protocol specific to the DoD-supported scope can help avoid delays.
What if my project depends on access to DoD or VA patient populations, databases, or resources?
The application must describe how access will be obtained and maintained. The program expects documentation such as letters of support signed by an appropriate approving authority.
What kind of documentation is expected for VA-related access?
The announcement notes that letters typically need to come from the VA Facility Director or a delegated official (for example, the Associate Chief of Staff for Research and Development).
Do some DoD/VA resources require collaboration with internal investigators?
Yes. The announcement notes certain DoD and VA resources may be restricted, meaning outside investigators may need a substantive collaboration with a DoD or VA investigator to gain access.
What happens if access to required DoD or VA resources is not adequately documented?
The announcement states the government reserves the right to delay, withdraw, or revoke funding until access is demonstrated.
How important is military relevance for this award?
Military relevance is described as a defining feature of the award. Proposals must show clear relevance to active duty personnel and/or Veterans, and include a credible pathway to outcomes that matter in military medicine.
Is collaboration encouraged?
Yes. The program strongly encourages collaboration and alignment with DoD and/or VA laboratories and research programs, and provides a list of potential defense and veterans research organizations as starting points for partnership or alignment.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as unrestricted (open to many entity types) unless otherwise clarified in the full opportunity details.
What is the CFDA number and funding opportunity number for this award?
The opportunity was listed under CFDA 12.420, with funding opportunity number W81XWH-19-MBRP-IDA.
Who administers this funding opportunity?
It is administered by the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA) under CDMRP.
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