DoD Peer Reviewed Orthopaedic Research, Applied Research Award | W81XWH 18 PRORP ARA

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the PRORP Applied Research Award (ARA) (FY18)?

The Peer Reviewed Orthopaedic Research Program (PRORP) Applied Research Award (ARA) for FY18 is a competitive Department of Defense (DoD) funding opportunity focused on improving treatment and functional recovery for people who suffer musculoskeletal injuries in combat or in combat-related circumstances. The emphasis is on practical, real-world impact on care for wounded service members.

What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?

The central goal is to generate practical outcomes that can directly improve clinical care and recovery. The notice emphasizes that projects should go beyond general scientific curiosity and instead produce results that can inform clinical decision-making, improve outcomes, and support faster return to duty or work.

What kinds of research does the program consider a strong fit?

Based on the opportunity description, strong-fit projects are those that develop, refine, or evaluate approaches with a clear path to improving care for combat-related musculoskeletal injuries. Examples include work that helps clinicians deliver effective care closer to the point of injury (including forward or austere settings) and/or improves recovery and return-to-function timelines.

Is this award intended for basic research or applied research?

This award is specifically intended for applied research, not fundamental basic research. The program is not looking to primarily fund studies aimed at understanding underlying biological mechanisms without a clear pathway to a practical medical application.

What does "applied research" mean in the context of this award?

In this context, applied research means translating existing concepts into potential solutions and assessing their technical feasibility and usefulness in ways that can realistically inform or improve clinical practice. The focus is on practical outputs that could shape treatment, diagnostics, rehabilitation, or care delivery for combat-related orthopaedic and musculoskeletal injuries.

What types of outputs or deliverables are aligned with the applied emphasis?

The opportunity description lists examples that fit the applied emphasis, including promising knowledge products, pharmacologic agents, behavioral and rehabilitation interventions, diagnostic or therapeutic techniques, clinical guidance, and emerging approaches or technologies. In general, the program is oriented toward outputs that could influence care pathways, protocols, or validated methods in relevant settings.

Does the proposed work need to be tied to clinical decision-making?

Yes. The notice highlights that a strong application clearly connects the proposed work to real-world clinical decision-making and outcomes, such as enabling effective care in forward settings and helping injured personnel return to duty or work more quickly.

Does the program prioritize research relevant to austere or forward environments?

Yes. The description explicitly notes the value of work that helps clinicians deliver effective care closer to the point of injury, including in forward or austere settings, indicating that deployable or operationally relevant solutions are a key theme.

Is it required to address a PRORP FY18 ARA Focus Area?

Yes. Every application must directly address a primary FY18 PRORP ARA Focus Area (referenced as listed in Section II.A.2 of the full announcement). Applications are screened for fit, and proposals that do not align with a designated focus area would not meet the program intent.

What happens if a proposal is scientifically strong but does not match a required focus area?

Based on the notice language, it would be considered a poor fit for the program intent because alignment with a primary FY18 PRORP ARA Focus Area is a key responsiveness requirement.

Are sports injury studies allowed under this opportunity?

Sports injury research is specifically flagged as nonresponsive and will not be funded unless the sports injuries being studied are tied to a combat injury. The intent is to keep the program focused on combat-relevant orthopaedic and musculoskeletal injury needs rather than general athletics-related injury questions.

Who administers this funding opportunity?

This is a discretionary federal funding opportunity administered by the Department of Defense, Department of the Army, through the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA).

What is the funding opportunity number for this announcement?

The funding opportunity number is W81XWH 18 PRORP ARA.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The associated CFDA number is 12.420, and it is categorized within science and technology and other research and development activities.

What types of awards may be used (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?

The announcement allows for funding via either grants or cooperative agreements. This means awards may range from more investigator-driven projects (typical of grants) to projects where the government anticipates a higher level of involvement or coordination (more common in cooperative agreements).

What does it mean that awards can be grants or cooperative agreements?

It means the funding mechanism may vary depending on the nature of the project and the level of anticipated government involvement. Under a cooperative agreement, the government generally expects more coordination or involvement than under a traditional grant.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, which generally implies a wide range of organizations may apply (such as academic institutions, nonprofits, for-profits, and other entities), subject to any additional eligibility details that may be included in the full announcement text.

How many awards were anticipated?

The opportunity anticipated making approximately six awards.

When was the opportunity originally posted?

The original posting date listed is June 18, 2018.

What was the original closing date?

The original closing date listed is October 24, 2018.

Is there a maximum award amount (ceiling) listed?

The award ceiling is shown as zero in the listing. This typically indicates that a maximum dollar amount was not captured in the summary field or that the ceiling was specified elsewhere in the full announcement rather than as a single fixed cap.

Is the program limited only to military benefits, or can civilians benefit too?

The program is designed to address combat-related orthopaedic and musculoskeletal injury needs, with the expectation that resulting knowledge and tools can also translate to benefits for civilian patients.

What is the overall intent of the PRORP ARA (FY18) opportunity?

Overall, the intent is to fund orthopaedic and musculoskeletal injury research that is clearly geared toward deployable, clinically relevant solutions for combat-related injuries, with practical outputs that could improve treatment, rehabilitation, diagnostics, and functional recovery.