DoD Toxic Exposures Investigator-Initiated Research Award

The FY25 Toxic Exposures Research Program (TERP) Investigator-Initiated Research Award (IIRA) is a grant opportunity issued by the Department of Defense (DOD), specifically through the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP), and administered by the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC). This program aims to fund impactful studies that contribute to the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and mechanistic understanding of diseases or conditions related to military-related toxic exposures. It supports a broad range of research, from basic laboratory studies to translational research, including preclinical work and correlative studies associated with clinical trials, though clinical trials themselves are not permitted under this award. The funding opportunity is open to a wide variety of organizations, including domestic and international entities, both public and private, as well as for-profit and nonprofit organizations. Eligible applicants include both extramural and intramural organizations, with intramural defined as DOD-affiliated entities such as military treatment facilities or DOD laboratories. The Principal Investigator (PI) must be an independent investigator; mentored or trainee positions are not eligible. Awards are made to organizations, not individuals, and cost-sharing or matching funds are not required. The IIRA award mechanism provides up to $770,000 in total costs for a maximum performance period of three years. The total expected funding for this opportunity is approximately $3.85 million, with up to five awards anticipated. Funding must be obligated by September 30, 2026, with a final use deadline of September 30, 2031. Funding may be used for travel supporting multi-institutional collaborations, attendance at one technical meeting annually, and participant compensation, but may not be used for clinical trial costs or travel beyond the stated limits. Applications must be submitted through a two-step process. First, a pre-application must be submitted via the eBRAP portal by July 29, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. ET. Following an invitation, full applications are due by October 16, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Application verification ends October 21, 2025. Applicants must submit through Grants.gov (extramural) or eBRAP (intramural), and all applicants must have active registrations with SAM.gov, eBRAP, and Grants.gov. Extensive application components include technical and lay abstracts, a project narrative, a detailed budget, and a Statement of Work, among others. The review process is two-tiered, involving peer and programmatic evaluations. Evaluation criteria for both the pre-application and full application include scientific merit, alignment with at least one FY25 TERP program goal and topic area, and relevance to military and public health. The proposal should aim to produce intellectual knowledge or tangible materials beneficial to Service Members, Veterans, their families, and potentially the general public. Topics of focus include neurotoxin exposure, Gulf War Illness, airborne hazards, and other toxic exposures related to military service. Proposals must not involve classified research or focus on prohibited topics such as fourth-generation chemical agents or acute care settings. For support, applicants may contact the eBRAP Help Desk at help@eBRAP.org or 301-682-5507 for technical and submission-related assistance. Grants.gov support is also available at support@grants.gov or 1-800-518-4726. Peer review is scheduled for December 2025, and programmatic review will occur in February 2026, with awards finalized no later than September 30, 2026.

Include relevant preliminary data Address at least one program goal and topic area Clearly distinguish between clinical research and clinical trials (trials not allowed)