science_technology_and_other_research_and_development · DOD-AMRAA

DoW Vision, Investigator-Initiated Research Award

Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA · HT942526VRPIIRA

80 days left

Total Program Funding

$4.4M

Expected Awards

Deadline

November 12, 2026

GRANTQUICK SUMMARYPlain-English Overview

DoW Vision, Investigator-Initiated Research Award. Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA. 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... $4,400,000 total program funding; ~5 awards expected.

Who Should Apply

Unrestricted (any eligible entity)

Who Should NOT Apply

Few restrictions — most eligible entities can apply

Key Requirements (Plain English)

•Deadline: 2026-11-12

💡 GrantQuick Tip

High-value award — invest significantly in proposal quality. Consider hiring a grant writer.

Competitiveness: Very high — extremely limited awards available

What This Grant Funds

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.

https://cdmrp.health.mil/pubs/press/2026/vrppreann