DoW Toxic Exposures Clinical Trial Award
Can you apply?
This grant is for researchers conducting clinical trials related to military-connected toxic exposures. Eligible applicants must be research institutions, universities, or medical centers capable of conducting clinical trials. The grant supports projects from small proof-of-concept trials through large-scale efficacy studies. A Partnering Principal Investigator option allows two PIs to collaborate on a single project, with each receiving a separate award if funded.
The program prioritizes clinical research addressing prevention, treatment, or symptom management of diseases linked to military toxic exposures. Both pilot and advanced trial designs are eligible. Collaborations between clinicians and research scientists are particularly encouraged.
Key dates
- May 7, 2026 Applications open
- Nov 19, 2026 Application deadline in 159 days
- Sep 30, 2027 Award announced
- Sep 30, 2027 Project start
Program description
Summary: The fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Toxic Exposures Research Program (TERP) Clinical Trial Award (CTA) mechanism supports the advancement, execution, and analysis of clinical trials with the potential to have a significant impact on the prevention, treatment, or management of symptoms, diseases or conditions associated with or resulting from military-related toxic exposures. Proposed projects may range from small proof-of-concept clinical trials (e.g., pilot, first-in-human, phase 0) designed to demonstrate the feasibility or inform the design of more advanced trials, through large-scale trials (including pragmatic clinical trials) to determine efficacy in relevant patient populations.
Distinctive Features: To encourage applications that include meaningful and productive collaborations, the FY26 TERP CTA includes a Partnering Principal Investigator Option (PPIO). One Principal Investigator (PI) is identified as the initiating PI, and an additional PI may be identified as a Partnering PI. If recommended for funding, each PI will be named on separate awards. The intent is to support interdisciplinary partnerships, such as those between clinicians and research scientists, that will accelerate the movement of promising interventions/knowledge products into clinical applications. Partnering should significantly advance the research beyond what would be possible through independent efforts.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project Narrative/Research Plan
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Biographical Sketches (all PIs)
- Letters of Support (for partnering arrangements)
Program contact
- 👤 eBRAP Help Desk
- 📧 help@ebrap.org
- 📞 301-682-5507
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
Who can apply for this award?
Research institutions, universities, and medical centers with capacity to conduct clinical trials. Two collaborating Principal Investigators can apply through the Partnering Principal Investigator Option.
What types of clinical trials are supported?
Proof-of-concept trials (pilot, first-in-human, phase 0) through large-scale trials, including pragmatic clinical trials. Focus must be on military-related toxic exposures.
Is there a deadline?
Yes, the deadline is November 19, 2026. This is a fixed deadline, not rolling.
What makes a competitive application?
Strong clinical design, clear relevance to military toxic exposures, meaningful collaborations between disciplines, and feasible timelines. Partnering applications that leverage complementary expertise are favored.
Is cost-sharing required?
No, cost-sharing is not required for this award.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Design your trial to address a specific toxic exposure-related health outcome relevant to military populations. Be explicit about the connection to military service.
- If using the Partnering PI option, demonstrate how each PI's expertise significantly strengthens the project. Collaboration should advance the research beyond what either could do independently.
- Consider proposing a pilot or proof-of-concept trial if you lack preliminary data. These are legitimate starting points under this mechanism.
- Emphasize clinical relevance and translational potential. Show how results will improve prevention, treatment, or symptom management for affected populations.
- Build realistic budgets and timelines. Clinical trials require careful cost planning for patient recruitment, data collection, and analysis.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Failing to clearly link the proposed research to military-connected toxic exposures. Applications without strong clinical design or feasibility justification often score poorly. Weak or unsupported partnering rationales undermine collaborative proposals.
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