NAVREF will hold a conference call for staff of those NPCs that are submitting or anticipate submitting proposals for the DOD TBI/PTSD funds. We encourage executive directors and staff of NPCs experienced in federal funds management to participate as well as those new to federal grants. This will be an unstructured call in order to allow for questions and an open exchange of information about administration of the TBI/PTSD funds. Also, this will be an opportunity to identify administrative issues that may be in need of clarification by DOD.

Date: Wednesday, August 15
Time: 1:00 p.m. East Coast time
Dial Up: 973-935-2013
Passcode: 586-668 followed by the # sign.

Depending on participant interests and questions, topics may include:

• Grants.gov registration

• Duns and Bradstreet number

• Cooperative agreements

• Intramural vs. extramural applicants vs. VA institutions vs. NPCs

• Federal Entity Financial Plan

• Certificate of Environmental Compliance

• PI Safety Assurance Plan

• Budget – direct costs

• Indirect costs

• Salary issues

• Equipment

• Grants management training

Some of the DOD TBI/PTSD Program Announcements specify that they are for “Intramural: DOD and VA” applicants. These require that the PI must have a DOD or VA appointment. We are waiting for DOD to clarify that NPCs may submit proposals on behalf of VA PIs for those Program Announcements designated as “intramural.” Indications so far are yes, but we do not have official confirmation from DOD yet.

Please do not rely on NAVREF for timely updates on the TBI/PTSD funds. Requests for e-mail notification of release of Program Announcements and Supplements to the USAMRMC BAA may be sent to prequest@constellagroup.com. For more information about CDMRP-sponsored programs, please visit the CDMRP website.

1. The TBI and the PTSD Concept Awards will have an extended deadline for submission of LOI’s to Thursday, August 9, 2007, 5:00 p.m. Eastern time. The LOI is to be submitted electronically to the https://cdmrp.org website.

2. Additional Program Announcements/Broad Agency Announcements have been released through Grants.Gov describing new funding opportunities in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury research, including the Clinical Consortium Awards and “DoD and VA Intramural” funding opportunities. These additional offerings complete the external funding opportunities for the PTSD/TBI Research Program. See the synopsis table located on the submission website: https://cdmrp.org/files/2007/ptsd-tbi/ptsd-tbi_reftable.pdf.

• The PTSD/TBI Clinical Consortium - Coordinating Center Awards: Grants.Gov # W81XWH07-CC-CCA

• The PTSD/TBI Clinical Consortium – Study-Site Awards. Grants.Gov # W81XWH07-CC-CSS

3. Release of the DoD/VA Intramural funding opportunities. The intent of the Intramural Awards is to accelerate ongoing DOD and VA research on TBI therapeutics and devices for prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment of TBI. The strict definition of “Intramural” has been expanded for these offerings and those submitting from either a DOD or VA facility may be eligible as “Intramural.” Details for eligibility are located in the Program Announcement. See the synopsis table located on the submission website https://cdmrp.org/files/2007/ptsd-tbi/ptsd-tbi_reftable_intramural.pdf.

• o The PTSD Advanced Technology – Therapeutic Development Awards (Intramural DOD and VA) have a required Letter of Intent deadline of August 22, 2007, 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

• o The PTSD Investigator Initiated Research Awards (Intramural DOD and VA) have a required Letter of Intent deadline of August 22, 2007, 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

• o The TBI Advanced Technology – Therapeutic Development Awards (Intramural DOD and VA) have a required Letter of Intent deadline of August 22, 2007, 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

• The PTSD Investigator Initiated Research Award (Intramural DOD and VA) have a required Letter of Intent deadline of August 22, 2007, 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Fiscal Year 2007 (FY07) Supplemental DOD Funding provided $150 million for PTSD research and an additional $150 million for TBI research. A key priority of the PTSD/TBI Research Program is to compliment ongoing DOD efforts to ensure the health and readiness of our military forces. This program is administered by the US Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC), through the Office of the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP).

Over the years the Veterans Affairs Office of Research and Development has developed methods for informing your investigators about our funding. These new medical research areas may prompt you to thoughtfully consider the how the Veterans Affairs Office of Research and Development might assist us in bringing innovative research efforts to focus on PTSD and TBI. Besides those investigators already involved, please consider how new investigators might contribute by applying their skills and technology in these two medical conditions.

All Program Announcements and Supplements to the USAMRMC Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for the FY07 PTSD/TBI Research Program are released: Review the synopsis table available on website: https://cdmrp.org/files/2007/ptsd-tbi/ptsd-tbi_reftable.pdf.

• Concept Award

• Investigator Initiated Research Award

• New Investigator Award

• Advanced Technology – Therapeutic Development Research Award

• Research Consortium Award

• Clinical Consortium- Coordinating Center Awards

• Clinical Consortium-Study Site Awards

Detailed descriptions of each of these mechanisms, evaluation criteria, submission requirements, and deadlines are provided in the FY07 Program Announcements for the FY07 PTSD/TBI Research Program. Each Program Announcement is available electronically for downloading from the Grants.gov website (http://www.grants.gov) upon its release. Each Program Announcement will also be available on the CDMRP website (http://cdmrp.army.mil) shortly after posting on Grants.Gov. Investigator requests for e-mail notification of release of Program Announcements and Supplements to the USAMRMC BAA may be sent to prequest@constellagroup.com. For more information about CDMRP-sponsored programs, please visit the CDMRP website.

Full proposals requesting funding from the CDMRP through the Extramural Process will be submitted through the Federal Government's single entry portal, Grants.gov, in compliance with Public Law 106-107. Individual Program Announcements and required forms will also be found on the CDMRP eReceipt website: (https://cdmrp.org ). A Pre-Application will be required of all proposals, to be submitted through the CDMRP eReceipt website (https://cdmrp.org).

Quick tips:

1) Researchers, at your first interest in submitting a proposal, please contact your research administration office, or office of research and development, and identify the research administrator that will be assisting you in submission of your proposal. They are your partner for success.

2) Please check our “Frequently Asked Questions” on https://cdmrp.org/FAQ/ if issues arise.

3) Questions related to CDMRP electronic submission of required pre-applications (LOI or preproposals):

• Hours: The technical support help desk is available Monday through Friday (except Holidays). Standard hours are 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Eastern time.

• E-mail: help@cdmrp.org

• Phone: 301-682-5507

4) Questions related to the program, proposal format or required documentation:

• E-mail: cdmrp.pa@amedd.army.mil

• Phone: 301-619-7079

5) You may submit your Pre-application, Letter of Intent or Preproposal, to the CDMRP e-receipt website soon to be ready for your submission this week until the deadline date /https://cdmrp.org/. For my friends to the West, please remember that we turn off the submission site for receipt of Pre-Applications, at 5:00 p.m. EASTERN Time. For each receipt, we have had disappointed mid-western or western investigators who did not adjust their submission deadline time for EASTERN time.

$60 million to fund 1 PTSD/TBI Clinical Consortium Award, depending on the quality of proposals received. Of the $60M, $37M will be allocated for infrastructure and research resources costs at the Clinical Consortium Coordinating Center and Clinical Study Sites and $23M will be allocated for clinical studies. The Clinical Consortium will be funded through the Coordinating Center Award, which will provide support for the selected Clinical Study Sites based on the budgets submitted by the Clinical Study Site applicants. Costs associated with supporting clinical studies will be projected at a Consortium pre-award meeting.

$25 million to fund approximately 1 Multidisciplinary Research Consortium Award proposal, depending on the quality and number of proposals received.

$25 million to fund approximately 1 Multidisciplinary Research Consortium Award proposal, depending on the quality and number of proposals received.

$37M to fund fast-track intramural (VA or DOD investigators) TBI proposals, depending on the quality of the proposals received. Funding for a TBI Intramural Advanced Technology – Therapeutic Development Award can be requested for up to $4M for direct costs for up to a 4-year performance period. The remainder of the resources will go towards TBI Intramural Investigator-Initiated Research Awards.

$37M to fund fast-track intramural (VA or DOD investigators) PTSD proposals, depending on the quality of the proposals received. Funding for a PTSD Intramural Advanced Technology – Therapeutic Development Award can be requested for up to $4M for direct costs for up to a 4-year performance period The remainder of the PTSD resources will go towards TBI Intramural Investigator-Initiated Research Awards.

$8 million to fund approximately 2 Advanced Technology - Therapeutic Development Award proposals, depending on the quality and number of proposals received.

$3 million to fund approximately 10 New Investigator Award proposals, depending on the quality and number of proposals received.

$4.5 million to fund approximately 30 Concept Award proposals, depending on the quality and number of proposals received.

$5 million to fund approximately 8 Investigator-Initiated Research Award proposals, depending on the quality and number of proposals received.

$8 million to fund approximately 2 Advanced Technology - Therapeutic Development Award proposals, depending on the quality and number of proposals received.

$3 million to fund approximately 10 New Investigator Award proposals, depending on the quality and number of proposals received.

$4.5 million to fund approximately 30 Concept Award proposals, depending on the quality and number of proposals received.

$5 million to fund approximately 8 Investigator-Initiated Research Award proposals, depending on the quality and number of proposals received.

Announcements are available at the following link – http://cdmrp.army.mil/funding/ptsdtbirp.htm