DoW Neurofibromatosis Research Academy – Scholar Award

The Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity is soliciting applications for the FY26 Neurofibromatosis Research Academy – Scholar Award, a grant opportunity aimed at supporting early-career independent investigators pursuing innovative research in neurofibromatosis disorders. Eligible Scholars must have completed their terminal degree within the past ten years, excluding periods of residency, clinical training, or family medical leave, and must designate a Career Guide to provide mentorship; if the primary Career Guide is from a different institution, a secondary guide at the Scholar’s home institution is required. Proposals must align with the FY26 NFRP Areas of Emphasis and be submitted through either Grants.gov or eBRAP, depending on the applicant’s affiliation, with a strict deadline of September 22, 2026. Applications require a comprehensive set of attachments, including a 10-page Project Narrative, a one-page Technical and Impact Statement, a Career Development and Sustainment Plan, a Statement of Eligibility, a three-page Career Guide’s Letter, and an Animal Research Plan if applicable, all in specified PDF formats with exact filenames. The total allowable budget for each award is capped at $1,200,000 over a maximum period of performance of four years. Applicants must be registered in SAM.gov with an active Unique Entity Identifier, disclose any foreign affiliations of key personnel, and commit at least 50% of their time to the project. Proposals undergo a two-tier review process combining peer evaluation of scientific merit and programmatic assessment for alignment with strategic goals, with no formal weighting among the three equally weighted criteria: Scholar qualifications, Research Strategy and Feasibility, and Impact. Compliance with research reporting standards such as ARRIVE 2.0, CONSORT, and SPIRIT is mandatory, and all funded research must include a Plan for Research Resource Sharing, adherence to sex as a biological variable, and statistical rigor. Award recipients are required to attend biennial NFRA workshops and at least one Interim Progress Review per cycle, submit annual and final RPPRs, and ensure continued SAM registration throughout the award period. Applications that fail to disclose foreign ties or are delinquent on prior federal reporting obligations will be disqualified. No physical delivery, packaging, or invoicing requirements apply, as this is a research grant instrument under 31 USC 6304, not a traditional procurement contract.