DoW Epilepsy Idea Development Award
This grant funds innovative, early-stage research on post-traumatic epilepsy and related conditions to improve quality of life, especially for military personnel, veterans, and their caregivers.
Funder: Dept. of the Army -- USAMRAA
Due Dates: August 3, 2026 (Pre-Application/LOI) | August 17, 2026 (Full Application) | August 20, 2026 (End of Application Verification)
Funding Amounts: Approx. $2,000,000 total; up to $1,000,000 per award, max 3 years; ~2 awards expected.
Summary: Supports innovative research to advance understanding of post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE) and comorbidities, with emphasis on novel approaches and impact for Service Members, Veterans, and their care partners.
Key Information: PI may be named on only one FY26 ERP IDA application; clinical trials are not allowed.
Description
The FY26 Epilepsy Research Program (ERP) Idea Development Award (IDA) is a Department of Defense initiative managed by the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP). This award seeks to fund innovative research that increases understanding of post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE) and its comorbidities, aiming to improve quality of life, particularly for Service Members, Veterans, and their care partners. The award is designed to support new research directions that challenge existing paradigms and foster creativity. Projects should not be extensions of previously published work or ongoing research lines in the PI's laboratory.
Research may address any phase from basic to clinical (excluding clinical trials), and must be aligned with one or more of the program's focus areas: markers and mechanisms of PTE, epidemiological characterization, longitudinal studies of PTE progression, or innovative research tools and technologies. Collaboration with the lived-experience community and between academia, industry, and military/VA partners is encouraged but not required.
