DoW Epilepsy Idea Development Award
🏛 Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA (DOD-AMRAA)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 15, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for researchers interested in post-traumatic epilepsy and related health outcomes in Service Members, Veterans, and their care partners. Investigators at all career levels may apply. The research must be novel and represent a new direction for the PI—not an extension of previously published work or established research.
Organizations must be able to conduct biomedical research. Academic institutions, research hospitals, and other eligible entities can apply. The work should challenge existing research paradigms with high creativity and innovation.
Cost sharing is not required. Applicants should focus on novel epilepsy research that improves understanding and quality of life for the target population.
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Program description
Summary: The fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Epilepsy Research Program (ERP) Idea Development Award (IDA) solicits novel research that has the potential to increase understanding of post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE) and associated comorbidities to improve quality of life, especially in Service Members, Veterans and/or their care partners. The work should innovatively challenge existing research paradigms, exhibit high levels of creativity and be a new research direction for the investigator. The IDA is NOT intended to expand or extend previously published findings or continue a line of research already well-established in the Principal Investigator’s (PI’s) laboratory.
Distinctive Features:
•The IDA offers funding for investigators at all career levels.
•**NEW for FY26** An investigator may be named on only one FY26 ERP IDA application as a PI.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Federal application form)
- Project Narrative
- Budget and Budget Narrative
- Biographical Sketch (PI and key personnel)
- Current and Pending Support disclosure
- Letters of Commitment/Support (if applicable)
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
-
$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 can apply for this award?
Researchers at all career levels—from early-career to established investigators. You must be a PI proposing novel, independent research in post-traumatic epilepsy.
What research topics are supported?
Novel research on post-traumatic epilepsy and associated comorbidities. The work must be innovative and new for your research group, not a continuation of published findings.
Can I apply if I'm already leading another ERP IDA application?
No. Starting FY26, a researcher can be PI on only one ERP IDA application per year. You may be on other applications as a co-investigator.
What makes a competitive application?
Innovative approaches that challenge existing paradigms. Clearly explain why your research direction is novel and how it addresses gaps in epilepsy understanding.
Is cost sharing required?
No. This program does not require cost sharing from your institution.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Emphasize novelty and innovation. Clearly distinguish your proposed work from your own prior published research and existing paradigms in the field.
- Focus on relevance to Service Members, Veterans, and care partners. Explain how your research will improve their quality of life and outcomes.
- Keep your research idea at the conceptual stage. The IDA is designed for early-stage, high-risk, high-reward work—not mature projects with preliminary data.
- Review the USAMRAA instructions carefully. Meet all formatting, page, and document requirements exactly to avoid administrative rejection.
- Align with program priorities. Post-traumatic epilepsy comorbidities (PTSD, cognitive decline, TBI) are particularly valued. Show how your work addresses these areas.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applicants describe research that extends or expands previously published work instead of proposing truly novel directions. Proposals lack clear connection to Service Members, Veterans, or their caregivers. Budgets and narratives are poorly justified or exceed allowable limits without explanation.
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