DoW Reconstructive Transplant, Concept Award

The fiscal year 2026 Reconstructive Transplant Research Program Concept Award is a research grant opportunity funded by the Department of the Army through USAMRAA with a total program budget of $12 million, designed to support high-risk, high-reward innovative research in reconstructive transplantation that addresses critical military and veteran healthcare needs. Each award carries a maximum cost cap of $200,000 for an 18-month period of performance, with funding obligated no later than September 30, 2027, and available for expenditure through September 30, 2032. The program explicitly excludes clinical trials, preliminary data, and incremental advances on published work, instead requiring propositions that challenge existing paradigms or introduce novel concepts with clear rationale and potential for transformative impact in the field. Applicants must demonstrate relevance to one or more of the FY26 RTRP focus areas and are required to submit comprehensive documentation including a two-page project narrative, a three-page statement of work, an innovation statement with no page limit, a post-award transition plan, supporting documentation, representations, and biographical sketches for key personnel. All submissions must be in PDF format with strict naming conventions and are evaluated through a two-tier review process combining peer assessment of scientific merit and programmatic alignment with strategic priorities. Early-career investigators are strongly encouraged to apply, provided they are at or above the postdoctoral fellow level, and all applicants must have an active Unique Entity Identifier registered in SAM.gov. The application process involves a two-phase submission: a one-page letter of intent via eBRAP by September 2, 2026, followed by a full application submitted via Grants.gov for extramural applicants or eBRAP for intramural Department of Defense researchers by September 16, 2026, with a verification window closing September 21, 2026. No contract line items, CLINs, or traditional procurement elements apply, as this is a grant mechanism under 31 USC 6304; instead, funding is administered through military interdepartmental purchase requests and funding authorization documents. Research must comply with regulatory standards for human subjects, animal care, and data sharing, and any affiliation with foreign entities must be fully disclosed, as failure to do so may result in disqualification. The place of performance is applicant-defined, though awardees are expected to present findings at the Military Health System Research Symposium, typically held in Central Florida.