DoW Vision, Investigator-Initiated Research Award

<p><strong>Summary:</strong> The fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Vision Research Program (VRP) Investigator-Initiated Research Award (IIRA) supports basic through early translational research <span style="color: black;">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</span>. The IIRA may be used to support preclinical studies and/or <a href="https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/gai.htm?version=CD26_01#_Definition_List:~:text=considered%20clinical%20trials.-,Clinical%20Research,-%3A%20For%20the" target="_blank">clinical research</a>. Research must align with at least one of the <a href="https://militaryhealth-my.sharepoint-mil.us/personal/teresa_m_parkerreeser_civ_health_mil/Documents/Documents/FY%202026/VRP/HT942526VRPIIRA_GG.docx#Focus_Areas" target="_blank">FY26 VRP Focus Areas</a>. The IIRA <strong>cannot</strong> be used to support <a href="https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/gai.htm?version=CD26_01#_Definition_List:~:text=or%20hardware%20procurement.-,Clinical%20Trial%3A,-As%20defined%20in" target="_blank">clinical trials</a>.</p> <p><strong>Distinctive Features: </strong></p> <p>·        <strong>The IIRA offers two </strong><a href="https://militaryhealth-my.sharepoint-mil.us/personal/teresa_m_parkerreeser_civ_health_mil/Documents/Documents/FY%202026/VRP/HT942526VRPIIRA_GG.docx#FundingLevels" target="_blank"><strong>Funding Levels</strong></a> to support research at different stages and the exploration/development of ideas of different maturity levels.</p> <p>·        Funding Level 2 includes a<strong> </strong><a href="https://militaryhealth-my.sharepoint-mil.us/personal/teresa_m_parkerreeser_civ_health_mil/Documents/Documents/FY%202026/VRP/HT942526VRPIIRA_GG.docx#PPIO" target="_blank"><strong>Partnering Principal Investigator (PI) Option (PPIO)</strong></a><strong> </strong>for<strong> two PIs, </strong>an Initiating PI and a Partnering PI.</p> <p>·        Scored<strong> </strong><a href="https://militaryhealth-my.sharepoint-mil.us/personal/teresa_m_parkerreeser_civ_health_mil/Documents/Documents/FY%202026/VRP/HT942526VRPIIRA_GG.docx#Peer_Review" target="_blank"><strong>peer review criteria</strong></a> include Research Idea/Rationale, Research Strategy and Feasibility, Impact, and Personnel.</p> <p>·        <a href="https://militaryhealth-my.sharepoint-mil.us/personal/teresa_m_parkerreeser_civ_health_mil/Documents/Documents/FY%202026/VRP/HT942526VRPIIRA_GG.docx#Programmatic_Review" target="_blank"><strong>Programmatic review criteria</strong></a> include adherence to the intent of the IIRA, contribution to the VRP portfolio, relative impact, and relevance to military health.</p> <p>·        The VRP may share FY26 IIRA applications and reviews with the National Eye Institute (NEI) for independent funding consideration.</p> <p><br></p> <p><a href="https://cdmrp.health.mil/pubs/press/2026/vrppreann" target="_blank">https://cdmrp.health.mil/pubs/press/2026/vrppreann</a></p>