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US Department of Defense – Epilepsy Research Program – Research Partnership 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:

• 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 Research Partnership Award (RPA) is to create an avenue for collaborative research partnerships between/among investigators to address a research problem or question in a manner that would be unachievable through separate efforts. The success of the project must be supported by the unique skills and contributions of each partner. The proposed studies must demonstrate how they will accelerate research that addresses the ERP’s mission toward clinical applications, and all applications must include a Collaboration Statement.

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 preclinical or pre-validation research
• Level II is intended to support research requiring access to a patient cohort for a prospective study
• Applications must include clearly stated plans for interactions between the partners. The plans must include communication, coordination of research progress and results, and data sharing between all investigators and organisations participating in the project
• The following Focus Areas are open to both Funding Levels I and II:
-Markers and Mechanisms
-Epidemiology
-Longitudinal Studies
• Research focusing on interventional clinical trials (e.g. pharmacological interventions) is strongly discouraged. Preliminary data are required.

Eligibility
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 $1.3M for total 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 $2.0M total costs
• Maximum period of performance is 4 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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