DoW Peer Reviewed Medical, Lifestyle and Applied Health Research 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 peer-reviewed medical, lifestyle, and applied health research conducted under the Department of Army Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMP). Eligible applicants typically include institutions of higher education, nonprofit research institutions, and other organizations with the capacity to conduct rigorous medical research. The program supports investigator-initiated research proposals that address military health priorities or have potential application to military medicine and soldier health outcomes. Applicants must have appropriate institutional oversight (IRB, IACUC) and research infrastructure in place. Research can be conducted at domestic institutions and must align with Army medical research interests, though specific geographic restrictions may apply to certain funding categories.
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Program description
Summary: The fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP) Lifestyle and Applied Health Research Award supports clinical research and/or clinical trials using a combination of scientific disciplines including occupational science, psychology, psychometrics, biostatistics and epidemiology, surveillance, implementation science, and population health. Applications must address and provide a solution to one of the congressionally directed FY26 PRMRP topic areas and one of the FY26 PRMRP strategic goals.
Distinctive Features: This funding opportunity requires patient advocate participation. The patient advocate will be a person living with, or a family member or caretaker of someone with, a disease or condition addressed in one of the congressionally directed FY26 PRMRP topic areas. Animal research is not allowed.
Funding Details: The Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) expects to allot roughly $16.8M to fund approximately four Lifestyle and Applied Health Research Award applications with total cost caps of $4.2M per award. The maximum period of performance is 4 years. It is anticipated that awards made from this FY26 funding opportunity will be funded with FY26 funds, which will expire for use on September 30, 2032. Awards supported with FY26 funds will be made no later than September 30, 2027.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Federal Application for Grants and Cooperative Agreements)
- Project narrative/scientific proposal with statement of work and military relevance
- Budget narrative and itemized budget (SF-424 A or equivalent)
- Biographical sketches of key personnel (NIH format or agency equivalent)
- Letters of institutional commitment and facility/resource availability
- IRB and IACUC approval letters or evidence of pending review
- References and bibliography
- Current/pending/recent support documentation for all key personnel
- Facilities and administrative cost information
- Military relevance summary (often required as separate section or letter)
- Letters of support from military end-users or stakeholders (if applicable)
Program contact
- 👤 Christopher L Baker Grants Officer
- 📧 help@eBRAP.org
- 📞 3016192332
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
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$67,205,571
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$55,443,120
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$34,191,124
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$24,907,742
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$21,394,379
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$19,100,256
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$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 for this grant?
Eligible organizations typically include accredited domestic universities, medical schools, research institutes, and nonprofit organizations with established research capacity and appropriate institutional compliance infrastructure (IRB/IACUC approval capability).
What is the application deadline and timeline?
The application period opens May 8, 2026, with a fixed deadline of August 6, 2026. Plan to begin preparation at least 2-3 months before the deadline.
What types of research are supported?
The program funds peer-reviewed investigator-initiated medical research, lifestyle research, and applied health studies that address military health priorities, soldier readiness, or have clear application to military medicine.
How competitive is this funding?
USAMRAA peer-reviewed programs are highly competitive. Successful proposals typically demonstrate strong preliminary data, clear military relevance, and a well-established research team with track record in the proposed area.
What is the typical funding range?
Award amounts vary by research category and scope, but USAMRAA medical research awards typically range from $50,000 to several hundred thousand dollars over multiple years. Check the FOA for specific program-level guidelines.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Establish clear military relevance early: Explicitly connect your research outcomes to soldier health, readiness, medical practice, or Army health priorities. Vague connections to "military medicine" will not be competitive.
- Engage your institution's research office well in advance: Ensure compliance infrastructure (IRB/IACUC), institutional commitment letters, and cost-share agreements (if required) are secured 4-6 weeks before submission.
- Provide strong preliminary data: Peer-reviewed Army programs expect robust preliminary results that demonstrate feasibility and scientific rigor. Unfunded or very early-stage ideas are less likely to succeed.
- Build in realistic timelines and budgets: Overambitious timelines or undersized budgets raise red flags during review. Be specific about personnel, equipment, and methodological details.
- Use military-relevant language strategically: Reviewers include military medical personnel and civilian researchers. Use language that resonates with both audiences and avoid assuming reviewers understand your field's jargon.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications often fail because they lack clear military applicability or treat it as an afterthought. Successful proposals weave military relevance throughout the scientific narrative, not just in an "impact" section. Another common pitfall is submitting preliminary data that is insufficient to support the proposed work—peer review is rigorous, and reviewers expect confidence in your approach. Finally, many applicants underestimate institutional requirements; ensure your IRB/IACUC processes and institutional sign-off are finalized well before the submission deadline.
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