Military Medical Research and Development

CFDA 12.420 Active Grant

Open Opportunities (37)

Live Grants.gov opportunities funded under this program — you can apply now.

Program Funding

Annual program obligations reported to SAM.gov.

Latest annual funding
$1.2B FY2025
$1.48B
FY24
$1.2B
FY25

Who has received this funding

Organizations awarded under CFDA 12.420 (USAspending.gov).

Funded Projects

Examples of what this program has supported.

FY2025 Since the first program appropriation in 1992, research funded by the Congressional Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP) within the Defense Health Program (DHP), significantly advanced knowledge, technologies, and products that are saving and improving lives. Examples include: • FDA-approved drugs and therapeutic strategies • Diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers/tests • Novel approaches to prevention and treatment • Imaging technologies for clinical use • New standards of care and clinical practice • Biorepositories with clinical samples and data In 2025, the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP, a major component of the DHP) managed administered dozens of Congressional Special Interest programs from funds appropriated in previous years 12 of which received FY25 funding. The CDMRP also provided program and award management support to other core Department of Defense (DOD) medical research programs. The CDRMP invests in groundbreaking research across the full spectrum of research and development, including basic, translational, and clinical research. By strategically funding high-risk, high-reward research projects that other agencies may not be willing to fund, the CDMRP addresses critical research gaps. CDMRP-funded research benefits not only military members, military retirees, and family members, but the civilian population as well. The CDMRP underwent a comprehensive review by the Comptroller General, as directed in the FY21 Defense Appropriations Act (HR 133). The GAO favorably assessed the CDMRP and provided entirely positive findings, listing no deficiencies and providing no recommendations for change.
FY2026 Since the first program appropriation in 1992, research funded by the Congressional Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP) within the Defense Health Program (DHP), significantly advanced knowledge, technologies, and products that are saving and improving lives. Examples include: • FDA-approved drugs and therapeutic strategies • Diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers/tests • Novel approaches to prevention and treatment • Imaging technologies for clinical use • New standards of care and clinical practice • Biorepositories with clinical samples and data In 2025, the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP, a major component of the DHP) managed administered dozens of Congressional Special Interest programs from funds appropriated in previous years 12 of which received FY25 funding. The CDMRP also provided program and award management support to other core Department of Defense (DOD) medical research programs. The CDRMP invests in groundbreaking research across the full spectrum of research and development, including basic, translational, and clinical research. By strategically funding high-risk, high-reward research projects that other agencies may not be willing to fund, the CDMRP addresses critical research gaps. CDMRP-funded research benefits not only military members, military retirees, and family members, but the civilian population as well. The CDMRP underwent a comprehensive review by the Comptroller General, as directed in the FY21 Defense Appropriations Act (HR 133). The GAO favorably assessed the CDMRP and provided entirely positive findings, listing no deficiencies and providing no recommendations for change.

Program Objective

Through the support of basic, applied, and advanced biomedical research: (1) to transform health care for Service Members and the American public through innovative and impactful research; (2) to investigate medical solutions for the battlefield with a focus on various areas of biomedical research, including military infectious diseases, combat casualty care, military orthopedic medicine, toxic exposures, clinical and rehabilitative medicine, respiratory health, neuroscience, blast injury and regenerative medicine; and (3) to fund novel approaches to biomedical research in response to the expressed needs of Congress.

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants

  • U.S. Federal Government
  • U.S. State Government
  • Department/Agency of U.S. State
  • Department/Agency of U.S. Territorial Gov
  • Local
  • State
  • Territorial
  • Tribal
  • Foreign Government
  • Foreign Nonprofit Organization
  • Foreign Not-for-Profit Organization
  • Foreign For-Profit Organization
  • Nonprofit Organization
  • Not-for-Profit Organization
  • For-Profit Organization

See each NOFO for requirements specific to that announcement.

How to Apply

Award Procedure

All invited applications are evaluated by DHA scientists, other Federal agency representatives, outside scientists with diverse expertise, clinicians, consumers, or combinations thereof, using a two-tier review process. The first tier is a peer review of applications against criteria stated in each notice of funding opportunity to determine technical merit. The second tier is a programmatic review that makes recommendations for funding based on technical merit, military relevance, the specific intent of the funding opportunity, and any other criteria specified in the notice of funding opportunity. The best-scoring applications from the first tier of review are not automatically recommended for funding. Award amount will be negotiated for those applications recommended for funding. Awards depend upon the availability of funding and priorities which DHA determines to exist at the time of award. Only the Grants Officer has the authority to issue awards and obligate funds on behalf of the Federal government.

Decision Timeline

  • Approval: > 180 Days

Pre-applications are normally reviewed within 30 to 60 days from submission deadline or, if no deadline, within 120 days from date of receipt. Full applications are usually reviewed and notifications whether or not applications have been recommended for funding issued within 180 days from submission deadline or, if no deadline, from date of receipt. Awards are normally made within 9-12 months from funding notification.

Program details & compliance

Description

This Assistance Listing supports a varying number of R&D assistance sub-programs within the Defense Health Program, including congressionally-directed medical research, each year. Overall, awards are expected to range from $100,000 to $20M (consortium) depending on the funding priorities, anticipated number of awards, and project activity/scope within each sub-program for an award period, on average, of 3 to 4 years. The maximum award amount, if any, is specified in each Notice of Funding Opportunity or Broad Agency Announcement.

Mission Categories

Primary: Research and Development

Use of Funds

Allowed Uses

Grant and cooperative agreement awards provide funds to develop science and technology capabilities in specific areas of interest identified in each funding opportunity announcement. Notices of funding opportunity may be called Broad Agency Announcements or Program Announcements. Recipients must strictly conform to all applicable Federal, Department of War (DoD) and War Health Agency (DHA) requirements for conducting research, including regulatory requirements involving human subjects, human anatomical substances, human cadavers, and animals.

Required Documentation

Recipient eligibility is contingent upon submission of certifications and representations required by Federal statutes and executive orders. Applicants must have a current registration in the System for Award Management (www.sam.gov) and furnish evidence of financial stability and managerial capability. Specific notices of funding opportunity require additional research-related and administrative documentation, and may also require safety, environmental, and other regulatory documentation prior to the award of any grant or cooperative agreement.
Health/Medical
Grant and cooperative agreement awards provide funds to develop science and technology capabilities in specific areas of interest identified in each funding opportunity announcement. Notices of funding opportunity may be called Broad Agency Announcements or Program Announcements. Recipients must strictly conform to all applicable Federal, Department of Defense (DoD) and Defense Health Agency (DHA) requirements for conducting research, including regulatory requirements involving human subjects, human anatomical substances, human cadavers, and animals.

Reporting & Compliance

Records Retention
3 years

Applicable 2 CFR 200 Subparts

  • Subpart B — General Provisions
  • Subpart C — Pre-Federal Award Requirements
  • Subpart D — Post-Federal Award Requirements
  • Subpart E — Cost Principles
  • Subpart F — Audit Requirements

Contacts

Mr. Anthony Corio — Director
(301) 619-2604
Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity R&D Policy and Oversight 808 Schreider Street Fort Detrick, Fort Detrick, MD 21702-5014
Data from SAM.gov Federal Assistance Listings. Source published: 2026-01-23. Spec v2.0. Last synced: 2026-05-29 05:41:52.

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