DoW Vision, Investigator-Initiated Research Award
Updated
Grant from the Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA, open to any type of applicant. Closes Nov 12, 2026, 23 days left.
| Opportunity number | HT942526VRPIIRA |
|---|---|
| Agency | Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA |
| Funding type | Grant |
| Field | Science, technology and other research and development |
| Expected number of awards | 5 |
| Total program funding | $4.4 million |
| Cost sharing or matching | Not required |
| Assistance listing | 12.420 |
| Posted | May 5, 2026 |
| Closes | Nov 12, 2026 (23 days left) |
| Add the deadline to | Google Calendar |
Who can apply
- Unrestricted: any type of applicant
Description
Summary: The fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Vision Research Program (VRP) Investigator-Initiated Research Award (IIRA) supports basic through early translational research that will yield highly impactful discoveries or major advancements in the research and/or patient care of eye injury and/or visual dysfunction related to military exposure. The IIRA may be used to support preclinical studies and/or clinical research.
Research must align with at least one of the FY26 VRP Focus Areas. The IIRA cannot be used to support clinical trials. Distinctive Features: · The IIRA offers two Funding Levels to support research at different stages and the exploration/development of ideas of different maturity levels. · Funding Level 2 includes a Partnering Principal Investigator (PI) Option (PPIO) for two PIs, an Initiating PI and a Partnering PI. · Scored peer review criteria include Research Idea/Rationale, Research Strategy and Feasibility, Impact, and Personnel. · Programmatic review criteria include adherence to the intent of the IIRA, contribution to the VRP portfolio, relative impact, and relevance to military health. · The VRP may share FY26 IIRA applications and reviews with the National Eye Institute (NEI) for independent funding consideration. cdmrp.health.mil/pubs/press/202...
Full announcement and how to apply on Grants.gov
Science, technology and other research and development grants right now
There are 99 open federal grants in science, technology and other research and development that small businesses may apply for; 46 close within 30 days. The median award ceiling is $1.2 million. The agencies offering the most are Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA, U.S. National Science Foundation and National Institute of Justice. Grants in this field stay open a median of 154 days; this one is open for 191 days.
Who has won this program before
- The Henry M. Jackson Foundation For The Advancement Of Military Medicine, Inc. $800.5 million · from Sep 30, 2018
- Kenya Medical Research Institute $77.6 million · from Aug 22, 2013
- Makerere University Walter Reed Program Limited $55.9 million · from Sep 30, 2021
- Virginia Commonwealth University $24.8 million · from Sep 30, 2019
- University Of Miami $13.7 million · from May 1, 2020
The largest grants and cooperative agreements under assistance listing 12.420 with funding activity since Oct 1, 2025, from USAspending.gov. Amounts are each award's total.
Other open grants in the same program
Under assistance listing 12.420, the federal program this grant is paid from.
More open grants from the Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA
38 open grants from this agency accept small businesses, with $183.2 million in total program funding listed.