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US Department of Defense – Epilepsy Research Program – Idea Development Award
Sponsor: US Department of Defense 		Closing Date: 26-Jun-2019
The Epilepsy Research Program (ERP) was initiated to develop an understanding of the magnitude of post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE) within the military and to expand research into the basic mechanisms by which traumatic brain injury (TBI) produces PTE. By understanding PTE and associated comorbidities, the ERP aims to improve quality of life, especially in Service members, veterans, and caregivers.

The FY19 ERP seeks applications for the following Focus Areas:

• Innovative Research: Tools intended to better inform or improve upon how PTE research can be performed:
- Hardware and/or software platforms that will improve seizure detection, characterisation, or diagnosis
- Bioinformatics strategies, to include machine learning, that will improve access, annotation, curation and visualisation of large and novel datasets from single or multiple sources
- Development of new models or better characterisation of existing etiologically relevant models for PTE
- Improved characterisation of the circuits involved in PTE
• Markers and Mechanisms: Identifying markers or mechanisms via preclinical models that address PTE, which may include the following:
- Biomarkers
- Therapeutic targets for epilepsy prevention
- Early detection
- Diagnosis
- Prognosis
- Comorbidity
- Mortality
- Risk stratification
• Epidemiology: Epidemiological characterisation of PTE following TBI, which may include the following:
- Risk factors such as demographics, genetics, anatomy, pathology, or type of injury
- Differentiation of PTE and psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES)
- Outcomes including latency to epilepsy, comorbidities, and mortality
- Pre-existing conditions including psychological and psychiatric risk factors
- Treatment and healthcare outcomes research
• Longitudinal Studies: Studies of the evolution of PTE, which may include the following:
- Seizure frequency and severity
- Demographics, genetics, anatomy, pathology, or type of injury
- Comorbidities (e.g. depression, functional deficits, sleep disorders, major illness)
- Latency between type of injury and PTE
- Mortality
- Treatment and healthcare outcomes research
- Quality of life of individuals with PTE and their caregivers

The intent of the FY19 ERP Idea Development Award (IDA) is to solicit novel, innovative research to understand the magnitude and underlying mechanisms of PTE related to the ERP’s mission. The work should innovatively challenge existing research paradigms or exhibit high levels of creativity within the contexts of the ERP’s mission and vision.

Key Dates
Pre-applications due to UQ R&I: 19 June 2019
Pre-applications (Letter of Intent) close with US Department of Defense: 26 June 2019
Applications due to UQ R&I: 3 July 2019
Applications close with US Department of Defense: 17 July 2019

Overview

Key Mechanism Elements
• Level I is intended to support high-risk or high-gain research from early-career researchers
• Level II is intended to support a more mature, hypothesis-driven research project
• The following Focus Areas are open to both Funding Levels:
- Innovative Research
- Markers and Mechanisms
- Epidemiology
- Longitudinal Studies
• Research focusing on interventional clinical trials (e.g. pharmacological interventions) is strongly discouraged. Preliminary data, while not required, are encouraged for both levels

Eligibility
• Level I: The Principal Investigator must be at or above the level of postdoctoral fellow (or equivalent), but below the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent)
• Level II: The Principal Investigator must be an independent investigator at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent)

Funding
Level I:
• Maximum funding of USD $300,000 for direct costs (plus indirect costs)
• Maximum period of performance is 3 years
• Indirect costs may be proposed in accordance with the institution’s rate agreement
Level II:
• Maximum funding of USD $500,000 for direct costs (plus indirect costs)
• Maximum period of performance is 3 years
• Indirect costs may be proposed in accordance with the institution’s rate agreement

How to Apply
Step 1. Completing the application
Please see the US Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP) website at https://cdmrp.army.mil/funding/erp and https://cdmrp.army.mil/erp/default for further information. Pre-applications are submitted via the CDMRP’s Electronic Biomedical Research Application Portal (EBRAP) and full applications are submitted via Grants.gov. For complete instructions for pre-applications and full applications, you must refer to both the Program Announcement and General Application Instructions documents.

Step 2. UQ R&I internal review and feedback
Ahead of internal review, ensure all online components on EBRAP or Grants.gov are complete. To initiate review, email your completed Funding Application Coversheet to internationalgrants@research.uq.edu.au.

Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to make contact with the UQR&I international team (via internationalgrants@research.uq.edu.au) well in advance of the UQR&I internal deadline to discuss their application.
Website: https://cdmrp.army.mil/funding/erp

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