DoW Multiple Sclerosis Exploration-Hypothesis Development Award
This grant funds early-stage, high-risk research projects with testable hypotheses in multiple sclerosis, supporting both established and new investigators without requiring preliminary data.
Funder: Dept. of the Army -- USAMRAA
Due Dates: July 30, 2026 (Pre-Application/LOI) | August 13, 2026 (Full Application) | August 20, 2026 (End of Verification Period)
Funding Amounts: $2,000,000 total; up to $250,000 total costs per award over 2 years; ~8 awards expected
Summary: Supports innovative, high-risk, high-reward research to advance understanding and treatment of multiple sclerosis, with options for both established and new investigators.
Key Information: Preliminary data not required; applications must address at least one specified MS research focus area.
Description
This opportunity, administered by the Dept. of the Army's USAMRAA through the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP), seeks to fund initial exploration of innovative, high-risk, and potentially groundbreaking concepts in multiple sclerosis (MS) research. The award is intended to lay the groundwork for future scientific investigation and is open to both established and new investigators. Projects must address at least one of the FY26 MSRP Exploration–Hypothesis Development Award (EHDA) focus areas, which include central nervous system repair, disease activity/progression correlates, MS symptom biology/measurement, and mechanisms underlying MS etiology and disease course. The program encourages both domestic and foreign organizations to apply and supports both for-profit and nonprofit entities.
