DoW Traumatic Brain Injury and Psychological Health, Clinical Trial Award

The fiscal year 2026 Traumatic Brain Injury and Psychological Health Research Program Clinical Trial Award, solicitation number HT942526TBIPHRP, is a funding opportunity from the Defense Health Agency designed to support clinical trials that improve outcomes for psychological health conditions and traumatic brain injury. The program focuses on two primary areas: Prevent and Assess, which emphasizes the identification and validation of biomarkers for real-time monitoring and diagnosis, and Treat, which focuses on novel and repurposed interventions for functional recovery and postvention strategies. All applications must include preliminary data and utilize community-based participatory research approaches. Funding is available across two research levels: Research Level 1 supports proof-of-principle pilot studies and phase 1 and 2 trials with a cost cap of 2.1 million dollars, while Research Level 2 supports larger-scale advanced trials with a cost cap of 4.1 million dollars. The maximum period of performance is four years. An Early-Career Investigator Partnering Option is available for both levels, allowing for two Principal Investigators, provided one is an early-career investigator within ten years of completing their terminal degree. The application process involves a pre-application deadline of July 13, 2026, and a full application deadline of October 15, 2026. Evaluation is based on a two-tier process consisting of a peer review for technical merit and a programmatic review for relevance to military health. Key evaluation factors include research strategy, feasibility, and clinical impact. Applicants must maintain active registration in SAM.gov, eBRAP, and Grants.gov, and must disclose all foreign affiliations of key personnel.