DoD Neurofibromatosis Synergistic Idea Award | HT9425 23 NFRP SIA

Opportunity Information: Apply for HT9425 23 NFRP SIA

The DoD Neurofibromatosis Research Program (NFRP) Synergistic Idea Award is a Department of Defense funding opportunity meant to spark new, collaborative research directions in neurofibromatosis (NF). The core purpose is to support a single, unified research project that is jointly designed and carried out by a small team of two or three Principal Investigators (PIs) who bring clearly complementary expertise to the same central NF problem or question. The program is explicitly looking for synergy, meaning the collaboration should create a combined approach that moves the field faster or in a different way than the investigators could accomplish by working separately.

A key feature of this award is how the team structure is set up. Even though the investigators are working on one shared project, each PI is treated as a full PI on the effort, and each PI must submit a separate application package (this is required even if the PIs are at the same institution). If selected for funding, each PI receives an individual award within their home organization. One PI is designated as the Initiating PI, who handles most of the administrative coordination for the submission process, while the other one or two investigators serve as Partnering PIs. Importantly, the scientific workload is expected to be balanced: the opportunity stresses comparable levels of intellectual contribution, with all PIs meaningfully involved in developing the Project Narrative, Statement of Work, and other required parts of the application.

The award encourages both brand-new collaborations and pre-existing partnerships, and it specifically welcomes investigators who are not traditionally in the NF space if their skills can add something distinctive. The NFRP signals broad interest in cross-cutting, multidisciplinary work, spanning areas such as basic science, engineering, bioinformatics, population science, translational research, and clinical research. Multi-institutional teams are allowed, and multidisciplinary designs are encouraged, as long as the application makes a convincing case that the investigators unique capabilities are essential and truly integrated rather than just parallel efforts.

Applications must be grounded in evidence, not purely conceptual. Teams are required to include preliminary and/or published data relevant to NF and to the proposed research plan, demonstrating that the idea has a credible foundation and that the collaborators are positioned to execute the work. Beyond the science itself, the program also places strong emphasis on how collaborators will work together in practice. Each application must spell out clear interaction plans among the PIs and any participating organizations, including how communication will be handled, how progress and results will be coordinated, and how data will be shared across the team.

Data sharing expectations are a major element of the opportunity. Awardees are expected to share data in line with the FAIR Data Principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable), reflecting the program focus on reproducible science and broad usability of research outputs. Applicants must include a Data and Research Resources Sharing Plan (referenced as Attachment 7 in the full announcement) and must describe concrete milestones for when and how data or research resources will be made available. They also have to address what happens after the award period ends, including how the resulting data or resources will remain accessible beyond the period of performance.

For projects involving multiple institutions, there is an additional compliance layer: the application must include an intellectual property plan. The intent is to anticipate and resolve potential intellectual and material property issues early and to remove institutional barriers that could undermine cooperation. In other words, teams need to show they have thought through ownership, sharing, and usage rights in a way that supports smooth collaboration and follow-on accessibility of what they build or discover.

Administratively, the opportunity is offered by the Department of Defense, Department of the Army (USAMRAA), under Funding Opportunity Number HT9425 23 NFRP SIA. It is listed as a discretionary opportunity and may be made through a grant or cooperative agreement mechanism under CFDA 12.420. Eligibility is described as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), subject to any clarifications in the official eligibility language. The notice lists an original closing date of August 25, 2023, and indicates an expected number of awards of 1, emphasizing that this is a highly competitive program aimed at a small number of tightly integrated, high-impact collaborative projects.

• 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 Synergistic Idea 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 1 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.

Apply for HT9425 23 NFRP SIA

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