DoW Vision, Mentored Clinical Research Award
🏛 Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA (DOD-AMRAA)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 15, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for military and civilian clinicians in training pursuing patient-oriented vision injury research. The PI must be an established clinician or Ph.D. clinical scientist. A clinician in training (fellow, resident, or junior clinician) must conduct the research under mentorship. Research must align with FY26 VRP Focus Areas and cannot be preclinical or clinical trial work. IRB/Ethics Committee approval documentation is required by January 1, 2027.
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Program description
Summary: The fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Vision Research Program (VRP) Mentored Clinical Research Award (MCRA) supports patient-oriented vision injury research conducted by highly motivated military or civilian clinicians in training. The MCRA may be used to support a standalone study of high impact to vision injury care or the generation of clinical research data in preparation for a more expansive study. Research must align with at least one of the FY26 VRP Focus Areas. The MCRA may not be used to support preclinical research or clinical trials.
Distinctive Features:
· Key personnel must include an established clinician or Ph.D. clinical scientist, who will serve as Principal Investigator (PI) and a clinician in training (e.g., a fellow, resident, junior clinician, clinician in a Ph.D. program), who will conduct the proposed research under mentorship of the PI, with support from supporting personnel as appropriate.
· The clinician in training should have sufficient time remaining in their training program to complete the research proposed under the MCRA.
· 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 MCRA, contribution to program portfolio, relative impact and relevance to military health.
· Applicants must submit documentation of Institutional Review Board (IRB)/Ethics Committee (EC) approval or exemption by January 1, 2027, in order for the MCRA application to be considered for funding.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (federal form)
- Research Narrative/Project Description
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Curriculum Vitae (PI and trainee)
- IRB/Ethics Committee approval or exemption documentation
Program contact
- 👤 Teresa M Parker-Reeser Grants Officer
- 📧 help@eBRAP.org
- 📞 3016192171
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
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$800,631,761
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$74,531,880
-
$67,205,571
-
$55,443,120
-
$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
- 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 can apply for this grant?
Clinicians in training (fellows, residents, junior clinicians) with an established clinician or Ph.D. scientist as PI. The trainee must conduct the research under mentorship.
What types of research are supported?
Patient-oriented vision injury research aligned with FY26 VRP Focus Areas. Preclinical research and clinical trials are not supported.
When is the deadline?
September 10, 2026. IRB/Ethics Committee approval must be submitted by January 1, 2027 for consideration.
What are the scoring criteria?
Peer review evaluates Research Idea/Rationale, Research Strategy and Feasibility, Impact, and Personnel. Programmatic review considers military health relevance and portfolio fit.
What is the funding range?
Award amounts are not specified in the announcement. Total program pool is $150,000.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Secure your established clinician PI early. Their credentials and mentorship capacity are critical to competitiveness.
- Ensure your trainee has sufficient time remaining in their program to complete all proposed work.
- Obtain IRB/Ethics Committee approval or exemption documentation well before the January 1, 2027 deadline.
- Align your research directly with the FY26 VRP Focus Areas. Misalignment is a common reason for rejection.
- Emphasize the clinical impact and feasibility of your research strategy in the narrative.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Failing to demonstrate alignment with FY26 VRP Focus Areas or proposing preclinical research instead of patient-oriented work. Insufficient time remaining in trainee's training program to complete the research. Missing or late IRB/Ethics Committee approval documentation by January 1, 2027 deadline.
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