DoW Vision, Translational Research Award
Supports translational vision research that advances promising discoveries toward drugs, devices, or clinical practice guidelines ready for definitive testing, using preclinical studies, clinical research, or pilot clinical trials, for eligible applicants aligned to FY26 VRP focus areas.
⚑ Pilot clinical trials allowed; full-scale clinical trials not allowed. · If developing new drugs or devices, team must include regulatory approval expertise. · Partnering Principal Investigator option allows two-PIs (Initiating PI and Partnering PI). · Must align with at least one FY26 VRP Focus Area; programmatic relevance to military health is reviewed.
Unit fits — one characterization, each unit's own rules
| Physical Sciences & Engineering (demo) | 70 strong | technical depth: substantial; funds applied research |
| IPPRA | 58 good | peripheral portfolio topic: public_health; social/behavioral work is minor; funds applied research; biomedical core — IPPRA health lane is communication/crisis/policy (capped); clinical-trial/biomedical core — IPPRA angle is policy/community (capped) |
| Tom Love Innovation Hub | 30 weak | funds applied research; deep-tech content |
Description
Summary: The fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Vision Research Program (VRP) Translational Research Award (TRA) supports translational research that transforms a promising discovery into new drugs, devices or clinical practice guidelines that are ready for definitive testing in clinical trials during or by the end of the period of performance. The TRA may be used to support preclinical studies, clinical research or a pilot clinical trial , but not a full-scale clinical trial . Research must align with at least one of the FY26 VRP Focus Areas .
Distinctive Features:
· If developing new drugs or device(s), the research team must include expertise in the regulatory approval process.
· The TRA 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, Personnel and Post-Award Transition Plan.
· Programmatic review criteria include adherence to the intent of the TRA, contribution to the VRP portfolio, relative impact and relevance to military health.
· The VRP may share FY26 TRA applications and reviews with the National Eye Institute (NEI) for independent funding consideration.
https://cdmrp.health.mil/pubs/press/2026/vrppreann
Apply
View on Grants.gov → CONTACT: Teresa M Parker-Reeser Grants Officer <help@eBRAP.org>
Proposal brief SEE AN EXAMPLE →
A one-page internal memo: fit assessment, submission requirements, document scaffold, and next steps dated back from the deadline — tailored to your project idea if you add one.
Proposal shell · Department of Defense (BAA-style) conventions SEE A DOD EXAMPLE →
Funder-faithful document skeletons — Department of Defense (BAA-style)'s document set with section headings, page limits, reviewer guidance, and writing prompts; add a project idea to get [DRAFT] starter bullets. Download as .md for Word or Overleaf.