DoW Traumatic Brain Injury and Psychological Health, Translational Research Award

The Traumatic Brain Injury and Psychological Health Research Program Translational Research Award (HT942526TBIPHRPTRA) is an assistance agreement administered by the Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity to accelerate the conversion of scientific findings into impactful clinical applications. The program prioritizes innovative research over iterative modifications to existing standards, specifically targeting the prevention, assessment, and treatment of psychological health conditions and traumatic brain injuries. While basic research and clinical trials are prohibited, preliminary data are required. The award offers two funding levels: Research Level 1 for refining mature concepts with a cost cap of 1.0M dollars, and Research Level 2 for rigorous evaluation in preparation for first-in-human studies with a cost cap of 2.0M dollars. An Early-Career Investigator Partnering Option is available for both levels, allowing for two Principal Investigators to receive separate awards within the specified cost caps. The maximum period of performance is four years, with a total available funding pool of approximately 9.0M dollars. Applications are evaluated through a two-tier process consisting of a peer review for technical merit and a programmatic review for military health relevance. Key evaluation factors include impact, research strategy, feasibility, and the appropriateness of the research sharing plan. Applicants must maintain active registrations in SAM.gov, eBRAP.org, and Grants.gov. Strict prohibitions are in place regarding classified research, including topics such as Havana Syndrome and directed energy. Additionally, research involving human or animal subjects requires approval from the DHA R&D Office of Research and Regulatory Compliance in addition to local institutional reviews. The application deadline is October 15, 2026, following a pre-application deadline of July 13, 2026.