Department of Defense Tick-Borne Disease Research Program: Anticipated Funding Opportunities for Fiscal Year 2019 (FY19)

The FY19 Defense Appropriation provides $5 million (M) to the Department of Defense Tick-Borne Disease Research Program (TBDRP) to support innovative, high-impact tick-borne disease research. As directed by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, the Defense Health Agency J9, Research and Development Directorate manages the Defense Health Program (DHP) Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) appropriation. The managing agent for the anticipated Program Announcements/Funding Opportunities is the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) at the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC).

The TBDRP is providing the information in this pre-announcement to allow investigators time to plan and develop applications. FY19 TBDRP Program Announcements and General Application Instructions for the following award mechanisms are anticipated to be posted on the Grants.gov website in April 2019. Pre-application and application deadlines will be available when the Program Announcements are released. This pre-announcement should not be construed as an obligation by the government.

Applications submitted to the FY19 TBDRP must address at least one of the following specific Focus Areas in Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases:

• Diagnosis
  • Accurate diagnostics and biomarkers for Lyme disease and co-infections and/or other tick-borne diseases
  • Diagnostic biomarkers for Lyme disease that distinguish between active infection and previous exposure, and/or monitor response to treatment
• Pathogenesis
  • Pathogenic mechanisms, including immune protection, for Lyme disease, other tick-borne diseases, and/or co-infections
  • Complex biology of Lyme borrelia in the host (beyond in vitro studies), including its survival, evasion of the host immune system, and subversion of the effectiveness of antibiotics
  • Underlying mechanisms of persistent symptoms associated with Lyme disease
• Prevention
  • Safe and effective human vaccines for tick-borne diseases
  • Identification, validation, and/or improvement of tick-targeted prevention and control interventions
  • Ecology of understudied tick-borne disease vectors and reservoirs with emphasis on how it relates to human risk.
• Treatment
  • Antibiotic combinations and/or therapeutic options for treating acute and persistent illness

https://cdmrp.army.mil/pubs/press/2019/19tbdrppreann

Investigator-Initiated Research Award

• Independent investigators at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent)

· To fund highly rigorous, high-impact studies that have the potential to make important contributions to Lyme disease and other tick-borne disease research, patient care, and/or quality of life.

· Applications should articulate both the short- and long-term impact of the proposed research, as well as the public health burden of the disease being addressed.

· Preliminary or published data to support feasibility are required.

· Promotes any phase of research from basic through translational, including preclinical studies in animal models or human subjects, as well as correlative studies associated with an existing clinical trial to establish proof-of-principle for further development in future studies; however, clinical trials are not allowed.

• Preproposal is required; application submission is by invitation only.

· Maximum funding of $650K for direct costs (plus indirect costs)

• Maximum period of performance is 3 years

Idea Award

· Independent investigators at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent)

· To fund conceptually innovative, high-risk/potentially high-reward research in the early stages of development that could lead to critical discoveries or major advancements that will accelerate progress in improving outcomes for individuals affected by Lyme disease and/or other tick-borne illnesses.

· Applications should articulate the qualities that make the research innovative (not merely an incremental advance), as well as the public health burden of the disease being addressed.

· Preliminary data that are relevant to the proposed research project are encouraged, but not required.

· Clinical trials are not allowed.

· Preproposal is required; application submission is by invitation only.

· Maximum funding of $300K for direct costs (plus indirect costs)

· Maximum period of performance is 2 years