Opportunity Information: Apply for HT942526MSRPEHDA
The FY26 DoD Multiple Sclerosis Research Program (MSRP) Exploration - Hypothesis Development Award (EHDA) is a discretionary grant opportunity run by the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA) under CFDA 12.420. Its purpose is to fund early-stage, idea-driven multiple sclerosis research that is intentionally ambitious and exploratory. The program is looking for proposals that take on innovative, high-risk, high-gain concepts with the potential to shift thinking in the MS field, rather than incremental extensions of existing work. The expectation is that projects supported through this mechanism will generate a foundation for future studies and open up new scientific directions, even if the work is still at a relatively early proof-of-concept or hypothesis-forming stage.
A central requirement is that every application must address at least one of the FY26 MSRP EHDA focus areas. While the focus areas themselves are not listed in the provided text, the takeaway is that proposals must be clearly aligned to at least one officially designated topic area for this fiscal year, and applicants should make that alignment explicit in the narrative. Beyond topical alignment, the proposed project must be built around a well-formulated, testable hypothesis supported by a strong scientific rationale and a sound study design. Importantly, the EHDA does not require preliminary results or prior published data. That feature is designed to make room for bold concepts that may not yet have the early datasets typically expected for more mature funding mechanisms, as long as the logic and experimental plan are convincing and the hypothesis is genuinely testable.
This award mechanism is offered in two tracks: an Established Investigator option and a New Investigator option. The New Investigator option is specifically meant to support applicants who are early in their faculty appointments, which signals that the program is not only funding ideas but also helping to build the next wave of MS researchers. The funding instrument type is a grant, and eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning a broad range of applicant organizations may be able to apply (though standard federal and DoD grant rules and any solicitation-specific limitations would still apply).
From an administrative and planning standpoint, the opportunity number is HT942526MSRPEHDA, and the original application closing date is August 13, 2026. The program anticipates making about eight awards. The award ceiling is not stated in the provided source text, so prospective applicants would need to consult the full solicitation package for budget limits, performance period details, allowable costs, and any submission requirements (such as pre-application steps, formatting rules, or required attachments). Overall, the EHDA is aimed at carefully designed, hypothesis-driven MS projects that are willing to take calculated risks, with the goal of sparking new research trajectories and positioning teams for larger follow-on studies.Apply for HT942526MSRPEHDA
- The Dept. of the Army -- USAMRAA in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "DoW Multiple Sclerosis Exploration-Hypothesis Development Award" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.420.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-05-05.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-08-13. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 8 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.
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FAQs: FY26 DoD Multiple Sclerosis Research Program (MSRP) Exploration - Hypothesis Development Award (EHDA)
What is the FY26 DoD MSRP Exploration - Hypothesis Development Award (EHDA)?
The EHDA is a discretionary DoD grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA) under CFDA 12.420. It supports early-stage, idea-driven multiple sclerosis (MS) research that is ambitious, exploratory, and intended to help generate new scientific directions.
What is the main purpose of this award?
The purpose is to fund innovative, high-risk, high-gain MS research that can shift thinking in the MS field. The program emphasizes projects that create a foundation for future studies rather than incremental extensions of existing work.
What kind of research is the EHDA designed to support?
The EHDA is aimed at early proof-of-concept or hypothesis-forming work that is intentionally exploratory. Projects should be designed to open new research trajectories and produce a credible foundation for follow-on studies.
Does the program prefer innovative projects over incremental work?
Yes. The opportunity specifically highlights interest in innovative, high-risk, high-gain concepts with the potential to shift MS research thinking, rather than incremental extensions of prior work.
Is a hypothesis required?
Yes. The proposed project must be built around a well-formulated, testable hypothesis with a strong scientific rationale and a sound study design.
Does the hypothesis need to be supported by preliminary data?
No. Preliminary results or prior published data are not required for this mechanism, as long as the hypothesis is genuinely testable and the rationale and study design are convincing.
Are applicants required to address specific topic areas?
Yes. Every application must address at least one of the FY26 MSRP EHDA focus areas. While the focus areas are not listed in the information provided here, proposals must clearly align to at least one officially designated FY26 focus area and make that alignment explicit in the application narrative.
What are the two funding tracks available under this award?
The EHDA offers two tracks: an Established Investigator option and a New Investigator option.
Who is the New Investigator option intended for?
The New Investigator option is intended to support applicants who are early in their faculty appointments, helping develop the next wave of MS researchers.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument type is a grant.
Which agency runs and administers this opportunity?
This opportunity is run by the DoD Multiple Sclerosis Research Program and administered by the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA).
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number is 12.420.
What is the opportunity number?
The opportunity number is HT942526MSRPEHDA.
When is the application due?
The original application closing date is August 13, 2026.
How many awards does the program expect to make?
The program anticipates making about eight awards.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is not stated in the information provided. Applicants would need to consult the full solicitation package for budget limits.
Where can applicants find budget limits, performance period details, and allowable costs?
Those details are not included in the provided summary. Applicants should consult the full solicitation package for budget limits, the performance period, allowable costs, and other administrative requirements.
Is eligibility restricted?
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, suggesting a broad range of applicant organizations may be able to apply. Standard federal and DoD grant rules and any solicitation-specific limitations would still apply.
Does the program expect projects to lead to follow-on funding or larger studies?
Yes. A stated expectation is that EHDA-supported projects will generate a foundation for future studies and position teams for larger follow-on research efforts.
What is the overall emphasis of the EHDA mechanism?
The emphasis is on carefully designed, hypothesis-driven MS projects that take calculated scientific risks, with the goal of sparking new research trajectories even at an early stage.
Are there additional submission requirements such as pre-application steps or required attachments?
The provided information does not specify submission steps, formatting rules, or required attachments. Applicants should review the full solicitation package for any required pre-application steps and submission requirements.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (HT942526MSRPEHDA) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| DoW Multiple Sclerosis Investigator-Initiated Research Award Apply for HT942526MSRPIIRA Funding Number: HT942526MSRPIIRA Agency: Dept. of the Army -- USAMRAA Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| DoW Multiple Sclerosis Early Investigator Research Award Apply for HT942526MSRPEIRA Funding Number: HT942526MSRPEIRA Agency: Dept. of the Army -- USAMRAA Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| DoW Spinal Cord Injury, Clinical Translation Research Award Apply for HT942526SCIRPCTRA Funding Number: HT942526SCIRPCTRA Agency: Dept. of the Army -- USAMRAA Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| DoW Spinal Cord Injury, Clinical Trial Award Apply for HT942526SCIRPCTA Funding Number: HT942526SCIRPCTA Agency: Dept. of the Army -- USAMRAA Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| DoW Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Trial Award Apply for HT942526MSRPCTA Funding Number: HT942526MSRPCTA Agency: Dept. of the Army -- USAMRAA Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| DoW Spinal Cord Injury, Investigator-Initiated Research Award Apply for HT942526SCIRPIIRA Funding Number: HT942526SCIRPIIRA Agency: Dept. of the Army -- USAMRAA Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| DoW Lupus, Transformative Vision Award Apply for HT942526LRPTVA Funding Number: HT942526LRPTVA Agency: Dept. of the Army -- USAMRAA Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| DoW Lupus, Idea Award Apply for HT942526LRPIA Funding Number: HT942526LRPIA Agency: Dept. of the Army -- USAMRAA Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| DoW Lupus, Transformative Vision Development Award Apply for HT942526LRPTVDA Funding Number: HT942526LRPTVDA Agency: Dept. of the Army -- USAMRAA Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| DoW Lupus, Impact Award Apply for HT942526LRPIPA Funding Number: HT942526LRPIPA Agency: Dept. of the Army -- USAMRAA Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| DoW Lung Cancer Patient-Centered Outcomes and Survivorship Award Apply for HT942526LCRPPCOSA Funding Number: HT942526LCRPPCOSA Agency: Dept. of the Army -- USAMRAA Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| DoW Lung Cancer Idea Development Award Apply for HT942526LCRPIDA Funding Number: HT942526LCRPIDA Agency: Dept. of the Army -- USAMRAA Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| DoW Tuberous Sclerosis Complex, Idea Development Award Apply for HT942526TSCRPIDA Funding Number: HT942526TSCRPIDA Agency: Dept. of the Army -- USAMRAA Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| DoW Tuberous Sclerosis Complex, Clinical Translational Research Award Apply for HT942526TSCRPCTRA Funding Number: HT942526TSCRPCTRA Agency: Dept. of the Army -- USAMRAA Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| DoW Tuberous Sclerosis Complex, Exploration-Hypothesis Development Award Apply for HT942526TSCRPEHDA Funding Number: HT942526TSCRPEHDA Agency: Dept. of the Army -- USAMRAA Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| DoW Lung Cancer Translational Research Award Apply for HT942526LCRPTRA Funding Number: HT942526LCRPTRA Agency: Dept. of the Army -- USAMRAA Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| DoW Peer Reviewed Cancer, Clinical Trial Award Apply for HT942526PRCRPCTA Funding Number: HT942526PRCRPCTA Agency: Dept. of the Army -- USAMRAA Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| DoW Peer Reviewed Cancer, Idea Award Apply for HT942526PRCRPIA Funding Number: HT942526PRCRPIA Agency: Dept. of the Army -- USAMRAA Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| DoW, Peer Reviewed Cancer, Impact Award Apply for HT942526PRCRPIPA Funding Number: HT942526PRCRPIPA Agency: Dept. of the Army -- USAMRAA Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Ecological Parameters in the Forested Wetlands of Southern Florida Apply for W9126G262SOI9383 Funding Number: W9126G262SOI9383 Agency: Fort Worth District Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $3,177,238 |
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