DOD Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Idea Development Award

The Department of Defense (DoD) Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Research Program (DMDRP) is offering the FY25 Idea Development Award (IDA) to support innovative, high-risk/high-reward research in the early stages of development that has the potential to lead to impactful findings and transformative advancements in treating Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Managed by the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) under the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC), the DMDRP seeks to improve quality of life and extend lifespan for individuals affected by DMD, benefiting both military families and the broader public. The award is structured to encourage a broad applicant pool, with specific categories for New Investigators. These include Early Stage (within 10 years of their first faculty appointment and no prior DMDRP IDA award) and Transitioning (established researchers entering DMD research). Established Investigators, defined as those at or above the Assistant Professor level, are also eligible. All applicants must propose projects grounded in strong scientific rationale and preliminary data supporting feasibility. Research must focus on the primary pathology of DMD and avoid clinical trials, although clinical research using human data is permitted. Proposed studies may include, but are not limited to, preclinical testing of combination therapies, novel delivery mechanisms, immune modulation strategies, and non-genomic or regenerative therapies. The funding will provide up to $500,000 in total costs over a two-year period. Approximately $2.5 million is available to fund around five awards in FY25. Funding is contingent on merit, programmatic relevance, and availability of federal funds. Applications must be submitted in a two-step process, beginning with a Letter of Intent via the eBRAP system by July 25, 2025, followed by a full application through Grants.gov (for extramural organizations) or eBRAP (for intramural DoD organizations) by August 8, 2025. Verification of full applications in eBRAP must occur by August 13, 2025. Eligible applicants include both domestic and international extramural and intramural organizations, including academic institutions, biotechnology companies, foundations, and other public or private entities. Cost sharing is not required. Proposals must not include clinical trials or the use of commonly used vectors unless strong justification is provided. Applicants are encouraged to include collaborations with DMD-experienced researchers to strengthen submissions. Review criteria include innovation, impact, research strategy, and feasibility. Applications will be evaluated through a two-tier review system involving peer and programmatic review panels. Specific emphasis will be placed on the potential for meaningful advancements in DMD research, relevance to military health, and contribution to therapeutic development. Applications must include a comprehensive package including technical and lay abstracts, a project narrative, impact and innovation statements, and a data sharing plan. Contact for technical support includes the eBRAP Help Desk (help@eBRAP.org, 301-682-5507) and the Grants.gov Contact Center (support@grants.gov, 800-518-4726).