DoW Traumatic Brain Injury and Psychological Health, Health Services Research Award
Can you apply?
This grant is for research institutions and eligible organizations studying traumatic brain injury and psychological health. Applicants must conduct health services research that includes clinical research or clinical trials with human subjects. Basic, preclinical, and animal research are prohibited.
Research must bridge the gap between research, practice, and policy. Preliminary data are required before submission. For prospective human enrollment, community-based participatory research approaches are required.
The Early-Career Investigator Partnering Option allows two PIs, one of whom must be an early-career investigator. Each PI receives a separate award if funded.
Key dates
- May 6, 2026 Applications open
- Oct 15, 2026 Application deadline in 136 days
- Sep 30, 2027 Award announced
- Sep 30, 2027 Project start
This grant is for research institutions and eligible organizations studying traumatic brain injury and psychological health. Applicants must conduct health services research that includes clinical research or clinical trials with human subjects. Basic, preclinical, and animal research are prohibited.
Research must bridge the gap between research, practice, and policy. Preliminary data are required before submission. For prospective human enrollment, community-based participatory research approaches are required.
The Early-Career Investigator Partnering Option allows two PIs, one of whom must be an early-career investigator. Each PI receives a separate award if funded.
Program description
Summary: The fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Traumatic Brain Injury and Psychological Health Research Program (TBIPHRP) Health Services Research Award (HSRA) intends to fund high-impact research that bridges the gap between research, practice and policy by building real-world evidence on how interventions, clinical practices/guidelines, or policies can be deployed to targeted populations at the appropriate time. In order to meet this intent, the mechanism supports health services research approaches.
Distinctive Features:
· The HSRA will support health services research approaches that include comparative effectiveness research; implementation of interventions, diagnostics and clinical practices/guidelines; and validation of data science insights.
· Applications must include clinical research or clinical trials. Prospective or retrospective clinical research or clinical trials involving human subjects, human subject data/records, and human anatomical substances are allowed.
· Preliminary data are required.
· Basic, preclinical and animal research are prohibited.
· For research prospectively enrolling human subjects, inclusion of community-based participatory research (CBPR) approaches is required.
· Early-Career Investigator Partnering Option: This option accommodates two Principal Investigators (PIs), one of which is an Early-Career Investigator. If recommended for funding, each PI will receive a separate award.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
Details
This grant is for research institutions and eligible organizations studying traumatic brain injury and psychological health. Applicants must conduct health services research that includes clinical research or clinical trials with human subjects. Basic, preclinical, and animal research are prohibited.
Research must bridge the gap between research, practice, and policy. Preliminary data are required before submission. For prospective human enrollment, community-based participatory research approaches are required.
The Early-Career Investigator Partnering Option allows two PIs, one of whom must be an early-career investigator. Each PI receives a separate award if funded.
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 or equivalent federal forms
- Research proposal/project narrative
- Preliminary data and feasibility documentation
- Budget and budget justification
- Letters of support (if partnering organizations involved)
- Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval or approval plan
- Curriculum vitae (CVs) for all PIs and key personnel
Program contact
- 👤 eBRAP Help Desk Phone: 301-682-5507 Email: help@eBRAP.org
- 📧 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
What types of research does this grant fund?
Health services research with clinical research or clinical trials involving human subjects. Comparative effectiveness research, implementation studies, and data science validation are supported.
Are preliminary data required?
Yes. Preliminary data demonstrating feasibility are required in all applications.
Can I do basic science or animal research?
No. Basic, preclinical, and animal research are prohibited for this award.
What is the Early-Career Investigator Partnering Option?
You can submit with two PIs if one is an early-career investigator. Each PI receives a separate award if selected for funding.
Is community-based participatory research required?
Only if your research prospectively enrolls human subjects. Retrospective studies may not require CBPR approaches.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Build your application around health services research methodology, not basic science. Show how your work translates to real-world practice or policy.
- Attach robust preliminary data that demonstrates feasibility. Reviewers expect strong evidence of concept before funding.
- If enrolling human subjects prospectively, integrate CBPR from the start. Community engagement strengthens competitiveness and meets program requirements.
- Consider the Early-Career Investigator Partnering Option if you have an early-career PI. This creates mentorship opportunities and may strengthen your team.
- Use the USAMRAA eBRAP portal to access detailed guidance on clinical research definitions and submission requirements. Clarity on these definitions prevents rejection.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Submitting basic science or preclinical research instead of clinical health services research. Applications without preliminary data or with weak feasibility evidence. Failing to include CBPR elements for prospectively enrolled human subjects.
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