DoD Tuberous Sclerosis Complex, Idea Development Award | HT9425 23 TSCRP IDA

Opportunity Information: Apply for HT9425 23 TSCRP IDA

The Department of Defense Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Research Program (TSCRP) Idea Development Award (IDA) is a competitive funding opportunity designed to push the field toward meaningful, high-impact advances in tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) research and, ultimately, improvements in patient care. The core purpose of this mechanism is to back conceptually innovative studies that can open up new directions for investigation rather than simply extending existing work. Projects are expected to be built around a clear, well-formulated, and testable hypothesis, supported by a solid scientific rationale and credible preliminary evidence.

A central feature of the IDA is its emphasis on impact. Applications are expected to clearly explain both the short-term and long-term value of the proposed research, including what the work could change for the TSC research landscape and how it might translate into better clinical understanding, management, or outcomes for patients over time. The program is looking for research that, if successful, would significantly move the needle in TSC science or patient care, not just add another small piece to an already-established pathway.

Innovation is another defining requirement. The opportunity explicitly prioritizes ideas that introduce new frameworks, challenge existing assumptions, approach longstanding problems from a fresh angle, or use creative, potentially high-risk and high-reward strategies. In practical terms, proposals need to show why the concept is genuinely different and why it could lead to new discoveries. Work described as the next incremental step in a predictable research sequence is not considered innovative under this award.

While the IDA supports bold ideas, it is not intended for purely speculative proposals. Preliminary data are required and can include unpublished findings from the Principal Investigator (PI) or named collaborators, as well as relevant evidence from the published literature that directly supports the proposed direction. This requirement signals that the program expects applicants to demonstrate feasibility and grounding, even if the overall approach is ambitious.

The FY23 IDA also includes a specific track for New-to-the-Field Investigators (NFI), reflecting an intentional effort to grow the TSC research community and bring in fresh talent. This NFI option is meant to support promising investigators who are early in their independent faculty careers and/or established researchers who are transitioning into TSC from other scientific fields. Importantly, NFI applications are reviewed in a separate pool from established-investigator IDA submissions, which can improve competitiveness for newer entrants. Applicants using the NFI option are strongly encouraged to collaborate with researchers who have demonstrated TSC expertise or other relevant capabilities, backed by a track record of publications and funding, to strengthen the proposal and ensure appropriate domain depth.

From an administrative standpoint, this opportunity is offered by the Department of Defense, Department of the Army, through the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA). The funding opportunity number is HT9425 23 TSCRP IDA, and it is categorized as a discretionary program supporting science, technology, and other research and development activities (CFDA 12.420). The funding instrument type includes both grants and cooperative agreements, and eligibility is broadly described as unrestricted, meaning it is open to any type of entity unless additional eligibility language in the full announcement narrows it. The posting date was March 14, 2023, with an original closing date of July 7, 2023, and the program anticipated making around three awards. The listed award ceiling is shown as 0 in the source data, which typically indicates applicants should rely on the full announcement for the actual budget limits or that the ceiling is defined elsewhere in the guidance.

• 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 Tuberous Sclerosis Complex, Idea 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 Mar 14, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 07, 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 3 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 TSCRP IDA

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