DoD Neurofibromatosis Early Investigator Research Award | HT9425 23 NFRP EIRA

Opportunity Information: Apply for HT9425 23 NFRP EIRA

The DoD Neurofibromatosis Early Investigator Research Award (EIRA) is a funding opportunity from the Department of Defense (USAMRAA) designed to help launch the careers of promising early-stage researchers who want to build a long-term focus in neurofibromatosis (NF) research. The program is structured to give a postdoctoral or similarly early-career investigator the chance to lead a defined NF research project while receiving close guidance from an experienced NF mentor. A key point of this mechanism is that the early investigator, not the mentor, is treated as the Principal Investigator (PI) on the application, emphasizing that the award is meant to develop the PI into an independent NF researcher. Prior NF-specific experience is not required, but the applicant is expected to show clear potential and a serious commitment to staying in the NF field and contributing at a high level over time.

Mentorship is a central requirement. Each application must include at least one Designated Mentor with demonstrated NF research and mentoring experience, typically evidenced through active funding, recent publications, and a track record of successfully mentoring trainees. The opportunity allows the Designated Mentor to be a junior faculty member, but in that situation the PI is encouraged to add a co-mentor with a stronger or more established record in NF research and mentorship. The mentor team is expected to do more than provide general supervision; they must show a concrete, credible commitment to helping the PI progress toward research independence in NF, including guidance in scientific direction, professional development, and career planning.

The application must include an individualized NF-focused Researcher Development Plan, which is a required attachment. This plan needs to spell out how the PI will gain the specific technical skills, scientific expertise, and broader professional competencies required to complete the proposed project and mature into an independent NF investigator. In practice, this means the PI should identify any gaps in knowledge or capability and lay out a realistic strategy to address them through training, mentoring activities, collaborations, and research milestones tied to the project. The research and mentoring environment also needs to be described clearly. If the PI’s home institution lacks certain resources or expertise, the program recognizes that these shortcomings can be addressed through collaborations with other institutions. When the project depends heavily on resources at a collaborating site, the PI is strongly encouraged to name a co-mentor at that partner institution to ensure the PI has meaningful day-to-day support and access.

The award also sets expectations around data stewardship and sharing. Funded participants are expected to share data according to the FAIR Data Principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable), aligning the work with reproducible science practices. Applicants are directed to address this through a Data and Research Resources Sharing Plan (referenced as an attachment in the opportunity materials). This signals that the program values not only discovery, but also generating usable, well-managed outputs that can accelerate progress across the broader NF research community.

On the scientific side, the program is aimed at projects that respond to the most urgent needs of the NF community, as reflected in the FY23 Neurofibromatosis Research Program (NFRP) Areas of Emphasis. Applicants are expected to align the project with those priorities whenever possible. If a proposed study falls outside the listed Areas of Emphasis, the PI must make a clear case that the work still targets an important NF research or patient-care problem. The application should also distinguish between short-term outcomes and long-term impact. Short-term gains might include new datasets, proof-of-concept evidence, validation of a target, or development of a method or model system. Applicants must explain how these near-term deliverables will position the PI for subsequent, larger studies. Long-term gains should connect the work to advancing fundamental understanding, improving clinical management, or ultimately contributing to better outcomes for people affected by NF.

The mechanism can support projects that use pre-existing specimens and/or previously collected data, as long as the cohorts are well characterized, adequately controlled, and sufficiently powered. This makes the award flexible for early investigators who can generate strong, impactful findings by leveraging established resources, biobanks, or curated datasets rather than building everything from scratch. Administratively, the opportunity is listed under Funding Opportunity Number HT9425-23-NFRP-EIRA, offers support through a grant or cooperative agreement, is categorized under Science and Technology/Research and Development (CFDA 12.420), and was expected to make a small number of awards (two were anticipated in the posting). Although the public listing shows an award ceiling of 0, that typically indicates the ceiling was not specified in that particular summary record rather than implying no funds are available. The original posting listed a creation date of May 22, 2023, with an original closing date of August 25, 2023, and eligibility was broadly described as unrestricted, subject to any additional eligibility notes in the full announcement.

• The Department of Defense, Dept. of the Army -- USAMRAA in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "DoD Neurofibromatosis Early Investigator Research Award" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.420.
• This funding opportunity was created on May 22, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 25, 2023. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.

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