DoW Hearing Restoration Focused Research Award
Can you apply?
This grant is for hearing restoration focused research projects funded by the Department of the Army. Universities, research institutions, nonprofits, and other organizations can apply if they conduct eligible research. Federal applicants and some restricted entities may have limitations.
Priority is given to research addressing hearing loss and restoration in military and veteran populations. The scope is national. Applicants must have institutional capacity to conduct biomedical or clinical research.
Fundable activities include basic research, translational research, and clinical trials focused on hearing restoration technologies and therapies. Research may address both auditory and vestibular functions. Non-research administrative activities are typically not eligible.
Program description
Summary: The fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Hearing Restoration Research Program (HRRP) Focused Research Award (FRA) supports promising research that accelerates drug discovery and therapeutic development for hearing restoration after military-relevant auditory system injury. The FRA may be used to support preclinical studies and/or clinical research. Research must align with at least one of the FY26 HRRP Focus Areas. The FRA cannot be used to support clinical trials, tinnitus research or vestibular research.
Distinctive Features:
• The FRA offers two Funding Levels to support research at different stages and the exploration/development of ideas of different maturity levels.
• Funding Level 2 includes a Partnering Principal Investigator (PI) Option (PPIO) for two PIs, an Initiating PI and a Partnering PI.
• Scored peer review criteria include Research Idea/Rationale, Research Strategy and Feasibility, Impact, and Personnel.
• Programmatic review criteria include adherence to the intent of the FRA, contribution to the HRRP portfolio, relative impact, and relevance to military health.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Research proposal/project narrative
- Budget and budget narrative
- Biographical sketches of key personnel
- Institutional commitment letters
- Letters of collaboration (if applicable)
- IRB/IACUC approvals or documentation (if human or animal subjects involved)
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
-
$2,265,729,366
-
$800,631,761
-
$74,531,880
-
$67,205,571
-
$53,718,832
-
$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
- FL 8 awards $99.8M
- CA 11 awards $99.3M
- MA 7 awards $75.2M
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
What types of organizations can apply for this award?
Universities, research institutions, nonprofits with research capacity, and private research organizations are eligible. For-profit entities may also apply for certain project types.
What research topics are eligible?
The grant focuses on hearing restoration technologies, therapies, and interventions. Priority may be given to military and veteran hearing loss applications.
What is the typical funding range?
DoD research awards typically range from $200,000 to $1,000,000+ depending on project scope. Check the current FOA for specific guidance on award amounts.
How competitive is this grant?
This is highly competitive. Applications must demonstrate strong scientific merit, institutional support, and feasibility. Scientific innovation and team experience are critical factors.
Are there application deadlines for different mechanisms?
Yes. Different award mechanisms may have staggered deadlines. Review the full FOA to identify all relevant deadline dates.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Align your research directly with DoD hearing restoration priorities. Review the full FOA and recent program announcements to understand current focus areas.
- Include letters of institutional support demonstrating access to facilities, equipment, and research infrastructure needed for the project.
- Provide detailed preliminary data. Strong pilot results significantly strengthen competitiveness for DoD research awards.
- Build a multidisciplinary team with complementary expertise in audiology, engineering, medicine, or related fields as appropriate to your research.
- Address military and veteran relevance explicitly. Even basic research should connect to hearing health outcomes for these populations.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications lack sufficient preliminary data or feasibility justification. Applicants fail to clearly connect research to DoD hearing restoration priorities or military/veteran populations. Budget narratives don't align with project scope or underestimate resource needs.
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