DoW Vision, Investigator-Initiated Research Award

General Information Document Type: Grants Notice Funding Opportunity Number: HT942526VRPIIRA Funding Opportunity Title: DoW Vision, Investigator-Initiated Research Award Opportunity Category: Discretionary Opportunity Category Explanation: Funding Instrument Type: Grant Category of Funding Activity: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Category Explanation: Expected Number of Awards: 5 Assistance Listings: 12.420 -- Military Medical Research and Development Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: No Version: Synopsis 1 Posted Date: May 05, 2026 Last Updated Date: May 05, 2026 Original Closing Date for Applications: Nov 12, 2026 Current Closing Date for Applications: Nov 12, 2026 Archive Date: Dec 12, 2026 Estimated Total Program Funding: $ 4,400,000 Award Ceiling: $ Award Floor: $ Eligibility Eligible Applicants: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" Additional Information on Eligibility: Additional Information Agency Name: Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA Description: Summary: The fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Vision Research Program (VRP) Investigator-Initiated Research Award (IIRA) supports basic through early translational research that will yield highly impactful discoveries or major advancements in the research and/or patient care of eye injury and/or visual dysfunction related to military exposure. The IIRA may be used to support preclinical studies and/or clinical research. Research must align with at least one of the FY26 VRP Focus Areas. The IIRA cannot be used to support clinical trials. Distinctive Features The IIRA offers two Funding Levels to support research at different stages and the exploration/development of ideas of different maturity levels. Funding Level 2 includes a Partnering Principal Investigator (PI) Option (PPIO) for two PIs, an Initiating PI and a Partnering PI. 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 IIRA, contribution to the VRP portfolio, relative impact, and relevance to military health. The VRP may share FY26 IIRA applications and reviews with the National Eye Institute (NEI) for independent funding consideration. https://cdmrp.health.mil/pubs/press/2026/vrppreann Link to Additional Information: Grantor Contact Information: If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact: eBRAP Help Desk Phone: 301-682-5507 Email: help@eBRAP.org eBRAP Help Desk