Opportunity Information: Apply for W81XWH 18 DMDRP CDA
The DoD Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Research Program (DMDRP) Career Development Award is designed to help launch the next generation of Duchenne muscular dystrophy researchers by giving early-career investigators a structured, mentored pathway to independence. The program emphasizes both the science and the person: applicants are expected to propose a meaningful Duchenne-focused research project while also showing that the award will directly strengthen their long-term ability to lead a productive research career in this field. A core expectation is that the proposed work has a strong chance of producing major advances or enabling breakthroughs in Duchenne research, rather than incremental progress.
This opportunity is specifically aimed at independent, early-career research scientists or physician-scientists who are at least two years past completion of a terminal degree (PhD, MD, or equivalent). Time spent in clinical residency or on family medical leave does not count toward that two-year requirement. Reviewers evaluate the Principal Investigator (PI) not only on the proposed research, but also on the PI's track record and demonstrated potential to become a significant contributor to Duchenne research. Unlike some career awards that allow very exploratory concepts, this mechanism requires preliminary data, signaling that applicants should already have a credible foundation supporting the feasibility of their approach.
A defining feature of the award is formal mentorship. Each PI must work under the guidance of a Mentor who is already an established muscular dystrophy researcher, demonstrated through a strong history of relevant peer-reviewed publications and external research funding. The Mentor must hold a rank of Associate Professor or higher (or the equivalent at the applicant's institution) and must show a clear commitment to developing the PI's career in Duchenne research. In practice, that means the mentorship is not treated as a letter of support in name only; it is a central component of how the award is structured and evaluated.
Career development is not optional in this program; it is a required, heavily emphasized deliverable. Applicants must submit a Career Development Plan created with the Mentor's guidance. This plan should lay out a realistic strategy for building the skills, expertise, and professional trajectory needed to lead a Duchenne research program independently. It should also explain how the PI will gain deeper experience specifically in Duchenne, not just general biomedical research growth. Because the award is meant to buy time and focus, the PI's institution must commit to providing at least 30 percent protected time for Duchenne research, with more protected time viewed as preferable. This institutional commitment is meant to ensure the PI can genuinely pursue the research and training objectives rather than being pulled primarily into other duties.
Impact is a key review lens. The proposed research should be positioned to meaningfully improve function and quality of life for people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and, ultimately, to help extend lifespan. The work also must be relevant to active duty Service members, Veterans, military beneficiaries, and/or the American public, reflecting the Department of Defense's public-serving mission and its focus on readiness and long-term health outcomes.
From a funding and administrative standpoint, this FY18 opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number W81XWH-18-DMDRP-CDA) is offered by the Department of Defense through the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA). Awards may be made as grants or cooperative agreements, and eligibility is listed as unrestricted (open to any entity type, subject to any additional requirements described in the full announcement). For FY18, the total anticipated direct costs for the full project period are capped at $275,000. The program anticipated making about two awards under this announcement. The original posting date was June 11, 2018, with an original closing date of December 5, 2018, and the CFDA number associated with the program is 12.420.Apply for W81XWH 18 DMDRP CDA
- 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 Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Career Development 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 Jun 11, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 05, 2018. (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 2 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.
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DMDRP Career Development Award (FY18) FAQs
What is the DoD DMDRP Career Development Award?
The Department of Defense Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Research Program (DMDRP) Career Development Award is intended to launch the next generation of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) researchers. It supports early-career investigators through a structured, mentored pathway designed to build independence while advancing impactful Duchenne-focused research.
What is the main goal of this award?
The award aims to strengthen an early-career investigator's long-term ability to lead a productive research career in Duchenne muscular dystrophy, while funding a meaningful Duchenne-focused research project with strong potential to enable major advances or breakthroughs (not incremental progress).
Who is this opportunity designed for?
This opportunity is specifically aimed at independent, early-career research scientists or physician-scientists.
How long after my terminal degree do I need to be to apply?
Applicants must be at least two years past completion of a terminal degree (PhD, MD, or equivalent).
Does clinical residency count toward the two-year requirement?
No. Time spent in clinical residency does not count toward the two-year requirement.
Does family medical leave count toward the two-year requirement?
No. Time spent on family medical leave does not count toward the two-year requirement.
Do I need to be independent to apply?
Yes. The opportunity is aimed at independent early-career investigators (research scientists or physician-scientists).
Is preliminary data required?
Yes. This mechanism requires preliminary data, indicating reviewers expect a credible foundation supporting feasibility of the proposed approach.
How will reviewers evaluate the Principal Investigator (PI)?
Reviewers evaluate the PI based on the proposed research, the PI's track record, and demonstrated potential to become a significant contributor to Duchenne research.
What kind of research project is expected?
Applicants are expected to propose a meaningful Duchenne-focused research project that has a strong chance of producing major advances or enabling breakthroughs in Duchenne research.
What type of impact should the research aim for?
The proposed research should be positioned to meaningfully improve function and quality of life for people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and, ultimately, help extend lifespan.
Does the project need to align with Department of Defense priorities?
Yes. The work must be relevant to active duty Service members, Veterans, military beneficiaries, and/or the American public, reflecting the Department of Defense mission and focus on readiness and long-term health outcomes.
Is mentorship required?
Yes. Formal mentorship is a defining feature of this award and is a central component of how the application is structured and evaluated.
Who can serve as the Mentor?
The Mentor must be an established muscular dystrophy researcher with a strong history of relevant peer-reviewed publications and external research funding.
What rank must the Mentor hold?
The Mentor must hold a rank of Associate Professor or higher (or the institutional equivalent).
What does the program expect from the mentorship arrangement?
The Mentor must show a clear commitment to developing the PI's career in Duchenne research, and mentorship is not treated as a support letter alone; it is a required, substantive element of the award.
Is a Career Development Plan required?
Yes. Applicants must submit a Career Development Plan developed with guidance from the Mentor.
What should the Career Development Plan include?
The plan should present a realistic strategy for building the skills, expertise, and professional trajectory needed to lead an independent Duchenne research program. It should also explain how the PI will gain deeper experience specifically in Duchenne, not just general biomedical research development.
Does the institution have to commit protected time for the PI?
Yes. The PI's institution must commit to providing at least 30 percent protected time for Duchenne research; more protected time is viewed as preferable.
Why is protected time required?
The protected time requirement is intended to ensure the PI can genuinely pursue the proposed research and career development objectives, rather than being pulled primarily into other duties.
Who is the sponsoring agency for this FY18 opportunity?
This FY18 opportunity is offered by the Department of Defense through the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this announcement?
The Funding Opportunity Number is W81XWH-18-DMDRP-CDA.
What is the CFDA number associated with this program?
The CFDA number is 12.420.
What type of award instrument will be used?
Awards may be made as grants or cooperative agreements.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted (open to any entity type), subject to any additional requirements described in the full announcement.
How much funding is available?
For FY18, the total anticipated direct costs for the full project period are capped at $275,000.
How many awards were anticipated?
The program anticipated making about two awards under this announcement.
When was the opportunity posted?
The original posting date was June 11, 2018.
What was the original closing date?
The original closing date was December 5, 2018.
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