DoW Neurofibromatosis Research Academy – Scholar Award
🏛 Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA (DOD-AMRAA)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 16, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for early-career independent researchers pursuing neurofibromatosis research. Applicants must be within 10 years of completing their terminal degree (excluding residency, clinical training, or family medical leave). The Scholar serves as Principal Investigator and must designate a Career Guide for mentoring, who may be at a different institution. Research may be basic, translational, or clinical in focus and must align with FY26 Areas of Emphasis. Researchers from institutions eligible for federal funding may apply.
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Program description
Summary: The fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Neurofibromatosis Research Program (NFRP) Neurofibromatosis Research Academy – Scholar Award (NFRA-SA) supports early-career independent investigators (Scholars) joining the Neurofibromatosis Research Academy to pursue a neurofibromatosis project that may include basic, translational, and/or clinical research. The proposed research should address at least one of the FY26 NFRP Areas of Emphasis, under the leadership of the NFRA Director and Deputy Director. The overarching goal of the NFRA is to conduct innovative and impactful research in the field of neurofibromatosis disorders while developing successful, highly productive NF researchers in a collaborative research and career development environment.
Distinctive Features:
• Scholar: The Scholar, named as the Principal Investigator, must be less than 10 years of completion of their terminal degree by the time of the application deadline (excluding time spent in residency, clinical training, or on family medical leave).
• Career Guide: This award mechanism requires each Scholar to designate a Career Guide for guidance. The Career Guide is not required to be at the same institution as the Scholar; however, if the (primary) Career Guide is from a different institution, the application must identify a secondary Career Guide at the Scholar’s institution.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project Narrative/Research Proposal
- Budget Narrative and Budget Justification
- Biographical Sketch (Scholar and Career Guide)
- Letters of Support from Career Guide(s)
- Institutional Commitment/Support Letters
- Additional materials per program guidelines (check solicitation for full list)
Program contact
- 👤 Ebony S Simmons Grantor
- 📧 help@eBRAP.org
- 📞 301-619-2105
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 12.420 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
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$2,265,729,366
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$800,631,761
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$74,531,880
-
$67,205,571
-
$55,443,120
-
$34,191,124
-
$24,907,742
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$21,394,379
-
$19,100,256
-
$19,002,641
Top States by Funding
- MD 10 awards $3,150.1M
- NC 11 awards $132.3M
- CA 12 awards $107.3M
- FL 8 awards $99.8M
- TX 8 awards $76.5M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 12.420). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $1,483,968,520 | |
| 2025 | $1,201,153,417 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply as a Scholar?
Early-career independent investigators within 10 years of completing their terminal degree. Time in residency, clinical training, or family medical leave does not count toward this limit.
Must the Career Guide be at my institution?
No. If your Career Guide is at a different institution, you must name a secondary Career Guide at your home institution.
What types of research are supported?
Basic, translational, and clinical neurofibromatosis research. Projects must address at least one FY26 Areas of Emphasis.
What is the application deadline?
September 22, 2026 is the fixed deadline. Plan submissions well in advance.
How competitive is this award?
With $3.6M in total funding and a focus on early-career scholars, competition is typically moderate to strong. Strong track records and clear research goals improve competitiveness.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Identify a strong Career Guide early—they guide your research direction and mentor your career development throughout the award period.
- Align your proposed research explicitly with the FY26 Areas of Emphasis to show fit with program priorities.
- Clearly articulate how your work advances neurofibromatosis research and why the NFRA environment supports your goals.
- Document all time excluded from the 10-year early-career window (residency, clinical training, family medical leave) with supporting letters if needed.
- Engage your secondary Career Guide (if applicable) in the application to ensure institutional commitment and support.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Misunderstanding the 10-year window—residency and clinical training time does NOT count. Selecting a Career Guide without considering mentoring quality or research alignment. Proposing research that does not clearly address one of the FY26 Areas of Emphasis.
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