DoW Tuberous Sclerosis Complex, Exploration-Hypothesis Development Award
Can you apply?
This grant is for early-stage research on Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC). Eligible applicants include nonprofit research institutions, universities, and companies with strong scientific capabilities. Researchers at academic institutions, national laboratories, and private research organizations can apply. The DoD AMRAA program supports domestic U.S. applicants advancing TSC research through exploratory and hypothesis-development work.
Applicants must have institutional affiliation and access to research facilities. Most awards support single principal investigators or small research teams. International collaboration is possible, but the applicant institution must be U.S.-based.
Eligible research activities include laboratory investigation, preliminary data generation, and high-risk hypothesis testing. This award focuses on early-stage ideas not yet ready for large-scale funding. Budget and project duration align with exploratory research scope, typically 1-2 years.
Program description
Summary: The fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Research Program (TSCRP) Exploration-Hypothesis Development Award (EHDA) supports the initial exploration of innovative, high-risk, high-gain and potentially groundbreaking concepts in the tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) research field.
Distinctive Features: Preliminary Data is not required. Applications should demonstrate the ability to achieve interpretable results in the absence of preliminary data supporting the hypothesis.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- Application form (SF-424 equivalent or DoD-specific form)
- Project narrative/research proposal
- Biosketch for principal investigator(s)
- Budget and budget justification
- Letters of institutional commitment
- Preliminary data or feasibility documentation
- Conflict of interest disclosures
Program contact
- 👤 JoAnn Martin Grantor
- 📧 help@eBRAP.org
- 📞 301-619-2594
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
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$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?
University researchers, nonprofit institutions, and eligible private companies with institutional affiliation. Applicants must be U.S.-based organizations with demonstrated research capacity.
What is the deadline and application timeline?
Applications open May 5, 2026, with a fixed deadline of August 6, 2026. This provides approximately 3 months to prepare and submit your application.
What types of research activities are supported?
The award supports early-stage, exploratory TSC research, hypothesis development, and preliminary data generation. High-risk, innovative ideas are encouraged over established research areas.
How competitive is this funding?
DoD AMRAA awards are moderately to highly competitive. Strong preliminary data, clear scientific rationale, and alignment with TSC research priorities improve competitiveness.
What is the typical funding range?
Exploration-Hypothesis Development awards typically fund projects in the $150,000–$300,000 range. Actual amounts vary based on scientific scope and justified budget needs.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Focus on innovation and testable hypotheses specific to TSC biology or therapeutics. Reviewers favor high-risk, exploratory work over incremental science.
- Clearly articulate preliminary data supporting your approach. Even small, preliminary studies strengthen early-stage proposals significantly.
- Align your research with current TSC research priorities and unmet clinical needs. Review recent TSC literature and DoD focus areas before writing.
- Build a realistic budget for 1–2 years of focused research. Include institutional infrastructure and personnel costs clearly justified by project scope.
- Engage your institution's grants office early regarding DoD compliance, cost-share requirements, and timeline for institutional approvals and signatures.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Submitting overly broad or incremental research ideas without clear preliminary data or TSC-specific focus. Underestimating DoD reporting and compliance requirements in the budget or timeline. Failing to demonstrate institutional support and research infrastructure capability for TSC-related investigation.
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