DoW Parkinson’s, Investigator-Initiated Research Award | HT942526PRPIIRA

FY26 Parkinson's Research Program (PRP) Investigator-Initiated Research Award (IIRA) FAQs

What is the FY26 PRP Investigator-Initiated Research Award (IIRA)?

The FY26 Parkinson's Research Program (PRP) Investigator-Initiated Research Award (IIRA) is a competitive federal grant opportunity intended to support rigorous, multidisciplinary, and high-impact research that can meaningfully advance the field of Parkinson's disease.

What type of research is this award meant to support?

The award is oriented toward projects that can make a substantial contribution to Parkinson's research. It is positioned for impactful, well-justified studies rather than incremental or narrowly scoped work.

Are projects required to align with specific priority topics?

Yes. Proposals must clearly align with at least one of the four FY26 PRP Focus Areas. Applicants are expected to explicitly position their research within the focus areas established for the FY26 funding year.

Is the research topic fully investigator-driven?

The program is designed for investigator-driven ideas, but applications still need to be responsive to the FY26 PRP Focus Areas. In other words, you can propose your own approach and aims, but they must fit within at least one of the defined focus areas.

Is preliminary data expected for this award?

Yes. A defining feature of this opportunity is its emphasis on scientific rigor and the expectation that the research will be supported by preliminary data. Applications should include evidence that key aspects of the hypothesis, approach, or enabling methods have already been tested.

Are purely speculative or concept-only projects a good fit?

Not typically. This mechanism is described as not intended for projects starting from a purely speculative foundation. The expectation of preliminary data is meant to reduce uncertainty around feasibility and strengthen confidence in the project's ability to deliver interpretable, impactful outcomes during the award period.

Does this opportunity allow clinical trials?

Yes. The IIRA allows clinical trials, enabling eligible projects to range from preclinical and mechanistic research through to interventional studies in human participants, as long as they remain responsive to the PRP focus areas.

If proposing a clinical trial, what level of preparedness is implied?

While the program is open to clinical trials, it still expects high methodological quality. Applicants considering a clinical trial should be prepared to address typical trial readiness elements such as study design, endpoints, recruitment considerations, and safety monitoring, along with relevant ethical and regulatory expectations.

Can an application include multiple Principal Investigators (PIs)?

Yes. The IIRA includes a Partnering Principal Investigator option that permits a multi-PI structure to support genuinely collaborative, cross-disciplinary projects.

How does the Partnering PI structure work?

One PI is designated as the Initiating PI and takes primary responsibility for administrative coordination and submission tasks. Up to two additional investigators may be included as Partnering PIs, allowing formal integration of complementary expertise while maintaining clear responsibilities.

How many Partnering PIs can be included?

Up to two additional investigators can participate as Partnering PIs, in addition to the Initiating PI.

What kinds of collaborations does the Partnering PI option support?

The Partnering PI option is intended to enable cross-disciplinary teams that combine complementary expertise. Examples mentioned include integrating strengths across areas such as neurology, bioengineering, computational biology, biomarkers, or clinical trial leadership.

Which agency issues this grant?

This is a discretionary grant issued under the Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity (DHACA) within the Department of Defense research ecosystem.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this announcement?

The Funding Opportunity Number is HT942526PRPIIRA.

How is this opportunity categorized?

It is categorized as Science and Technology and other Research and Development.

What CFDA number is associated with this funding opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 12.420.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, indicating that a broad range of applicant organizations may apply, subject to standard federal and program-specific requirements.

When did the funding opportunity open?

The listing shows a creation date of June 18, 2026.

What is the application deadline?

The original closing date listed is November 6, 2026.

How many awards are expected to be made?

The agency anticipates making about five awards.

Is there a maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

An award ceiling is referenced, but it is not specified in the provided listing. To confirm the maximum allowable budget, period of performance, and any cost constraints, applicants would need to consult the full funding announcement or related program documents.

What is the main review emphasis suggested by the description?

Based on the description provided, the opportunity places explicit emphasis on scientific rigor, feasibility supported by preliminary data, multidisciplinary collaboration when appropriate, and alignment with the FY26 PRP Focus Areas, with the overarching goal of achieving meaningful advances in Parkinson's disease research.