DOD Toxic Exposures, Translational Research Award | HT9425 23 TERP TRA

FAQs: DOD Toxic Exposures, Translational Research Award (FY23 TERP TRA)

What is the DOD Toxic Exposures, Translational Research Award (FY23 TERP TRA)?

The FY23 TERP Translational Research Award is a Department of Defense funding opportunity intended to move military-related toxic exposure research beyond early discovery and closer to real-world clinical use. It emphasizes translational research that links basic science with clinical observations so that promising ideas progress toward practical clinical applications.

What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?

The main goal is to accelerate exposure-related research toward tangible clinical outputs that can benefit active-duty Service Members, Veterans, other military beneficiaries, and potentially the broader American public. The program is designed to bridge the gap between scientific findings and steps that improve clinical prevention, diagnosis, monitoring, or treatment.

What does "translational research" mean in the context of this award?

In this program, translational research means deliberately connecting basic science findings (for example, lab-based or mechanistic work) with clinical observations (for example, patient data, symptoms, outcomes, or practical care needs). The expectation is that projects do more than generate knowledge; they should map a clear pathway toward clinical application.

What types of research approaches are encouraged?

Approaches are encouraged when they explicitly connect basic and clinical science and show how insights can move toward clinical use. The program also allows the use of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs), described as newer or alternative research approaches intended to improve relevance, efficiency, or predictive value for studying health effects and translating findings into practice.

What are "New Approach Methodologies" (NAMs) in this opportunity?

NAMs refer to newer or alternative research approaches that can improve how researchers study health effects and translate findings into practice. In the context provided, NAMs are allowed as part of the research strategy, particularly when they support more relevant, efficient, or predictive translational work.

What is meant by a "two-way flow" between basic and clinical science?

The award expects a reciprocal exchange of information between basic and clinical science. Examples described include clinical observations informing experimental design, laboratory findings shaping clinical validation strategies, or iterative cycles where early clinical feedback refines the scientific approach. The linkage should be explicit rather than treating basic and clinical components as separate tracks.

What kinds of outputs is the program trying to produce?

Projects are expected to accelerate the development of tangible clinical outputs. The opportunity description lists examples such as health care products, interventions, technologies, and/or clinical practice guidelines.

How should a competitive project describe its path to impact?

Based on the description, a competitive project would typically show how a scientific insight related to toxic exposures can be shaped into something clinicians can use, test, or implement, or how clinical patterns and unmet needs can guide and refine the underlying science to produce actionable solutions. A clear path toward clinical applications is a central expectation.

Who is expected to benefit from the funded research?

The intended beneficiaries include active-duty Service Members, Veterans, other military beneficiaries, and potentially the broader American public.

Which agency manages this opportunity?

The program is managed by the Department of Defense, Department of the Army, through USAMRAA.

Is this considered discretionary funding?

Yes. The opportunity is listed as discretionary funding.

What award mechanisms may be used (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?

The summary indicates the opportunity can be supported through either a grant or a cooperative agreement. This signals that government involvement may vary depending on the mechanism selected.

What does it mean that a cooperative agreement may involve varying levels of government involvement?

The listing notes that the government may have varying levels of involvement depending on whether funding is provided as a grant or a cooperative agreement. The summary does not specify the exact level of involvement, only that it can vary by mechanism.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning it is broadly open to many types of applicant organizations, subject to any additional eligibility details that may be specified in the full announcement.

What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number is HT9425 23 TERP TRA.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The listing references CFDA 12.420.

When was this opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on July 7, 2023.

What was the original application closing date?

The original application closing date was October 4, 2023.

How many awards were anticipated?

The opportunity anticipated making about five awards.

What is the award ceiling for this opportunity?

The listed award ceiling is shown as 0. The summary indicates this typically signals that applicants should consult the full solicitation for budget limits, expectations, and constraints not captured in the listing.

Does the summary provide the full budget limits or constraints?

No. The summary notes that a ceiling of 0 typically means budget limits and constraints should be confirmed in the full solicitation, because the listing may not capture all requirements.

Is the intent of the program primarily basic discovery research?

No. While basic science can be part of a project, the intent is to push research beyond early discovery and closer to clinical use by explicitly linking basic findings with clinical observations and moving along a path toward clinical application.

How explicit does the basic-to-clinical linkage need to be in an application?

The opportunity description emphasizes that the research plan should make the linkage explicit rather than treating basic and clinical work as separate tracks. It also highlights reciprocal exchange (two-way flow) as a central expectation.

What kinds of clinical connections are mentioned in the description?

Clinical connections mentioned include patient data, symptoms, outcomes, and practical care needs. The description also references clinical validation strategies and iterative feedback between early clinical findings and scientific refinement.

What is the overall emphasis of the award in one sentence?

The overall emphasis is on translational toxic exposure research that intentionally links basic and clinical science to accelerate tangible outputs that can be used in clinical settings.