Opportunity Information: Apply for HT942526TBDRPIDA
The FY26 Tick-Borne Disease Research Program (TBDRP) Idea Development Award (IDA) is a U.S. Department of the Army, U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA) grant opportunity designed to fund bold, conceptually innovative research aimed at reducing the burden of Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases and related conditions. The program is specifically looking for work that can plausibly lead to impactful discoveries or significant advances that speed progress in patient care and/or improve quality of life. In practical terms, the emphasis is on ideas that could change the direction of the field rather than simply add another small step to what is already known.
A central requirement is that the proposed research be genuinely innovative. Competitive applications are expected to introduce a new concept or question, challenge existing assumptions, or tackle a problem from a fresh angle using uniquely creative approaches. The solicitation is explicit that proposals should not be framed as the next logical step following published findings or as incremental extensions of an existing project. This makes the IDA a better fit for high-impact, high-novelty studies where the value is in the originality of the idea and its potential to shift understanding or practice, even if the research is earlier-stage than a traditional, heavily preliminary-data-driven grant.
A distinctive feature of this funding opportunity is a dedicated Career Development Option (IDA-CDO) for eligible early-career investigators. This track supports newer investigators who want to pursue mechanism-relevant, potentially impactful research under the mentorship of an experienced tick-borne disease researcher or research team. Applications submitted under the career development option are handled differently in two important ways: they are reviewed using career development-specific criteria and evaluated by a separate, dedicated peer review panel. They also carry a lower maximum cost limit than the standard IDA, reflecting the program structure and the intent to pair training and mentorship with a focused research plan.
Administratively, this is a discretionary grant opportunity in the science, technology, and research and development category, listed under CFDA 12.420. The funding opportunity number is HT942526TBDRPIDA, and eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning a wide range of applicant organizations may apply as long as they meet standard federal requirements. The anticipated number of awards is five. The opportunity was created on May 5, 2026, and the original closing date is October 22, 2026. The award ceiling is not specified in the provided details, and applicants would need to consult the full posting and associated program announcement materials for budget caps, cost principles, and any limits tied to the standard IDA versus the IDA-CDO track.
Overall, the IDA is positioned for researchers proposing fresh, field-shifting ideas in Lyme disease and tick-borne disease science, with an additional pathway specifically structured to help early-career investigators build independence through mentored, mechanism-focused research.Apply for HT942526TBDRPIDA
- 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 Tick-Borne Disease Idea 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 2026-10-22. (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 5 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.
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FY26 Tick-Borne Disease Research Program (TBDRP) Idea Development Award (IDA) - FAQs
1) What is the FY26 TBDRP Idea Development Award (IDA)?
The FY26 Tick-Borne Disease Research Program (TBDRP) Idea Development Award (IDA) is a U.S. Department of the Army funding opportunity administered through the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA). It supports bold, conceptually innovative research intended to reduce the burden of Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases and related conditions.
2) What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?
The main goal is to fund research that can plausibly lead to impactful discoveries or significant advances that accelerate progress in patient care and/or improve quality of life for people affected by Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases and related conditions.
3) What kinds of research projects are a strong fit for the IDA?
Projects are a strong fit when they are high-impact and high-novelty, with the potential to change the direction of the field rather than add a small incremental step to existing knowledge. The emphasis is on originality and the potential to shift understanding or practice, even if the work is earlier-stage than grants that require extensive preliminary data.
4) What does the program mean by "genuinely innovative" research?
Competitive applications are expected to introduce a new concept or question, challenge existing assumptions, or address a problem from a fresh angle using uniquely creative approaches. The solicitation indicates that proposals should not be framed as the next logical step following published findings or as incremental extensions of an existing project.
5) Are incremental or follow-on studies competitive under this opportunity?
The program explicitly discourages proposals that are presented as incremental extensions or the next logical step after published findings. The IDA is designed for field-shifting ideas rather than incremental progress.
6) What diseases and conditions does the IDA focus on?
The stated focus is Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases, as well as related conditions, with the broader aim of reducing disease burden and supporting advances that can speed progress in care and quality of life.
7) What is the Career Development Option (IDA-CDO)?
The IDA includes a dedicated Career Development Option (IDA-CDO) intended for eligible early-career investigators. This option supports newer investigators pursuing mechanism-relevant, potentially impactful research under mentorship from an experienced tick-borne disease researcher or research team.
8) How is the IDA-CDO different from the standard IDA?
Applications submitted under the IDA-CDO are handled differently in two key ways: (1) they are reviewed using career development-specific criteria, and (2) they are evaluated by a separate, dedicated peer review panel. The IDA-CDO also has a lower maximum cost limit than the standard IDA.
9) Is mentorship required for the Career Development Option?
Yes. The IDA-CDO is described as supporting early-career investigators conducting research under the mentorship of an experienced tick-borne disease researcher or research team.
10) Who can apply (eligibility)?
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning a wide range of applicant organizations may apply as long as they meet standard federal requirements.
11) What federal program listing or CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
This opportunity is listed under CFDA 12.420.
12) What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is HT942526TBDRPIDA.
13) What type of grant is this categorized as?
It is described as a discretionary grant opportunity in the science, technology, and research and development category.
14) How many awards are expected to be made?
The anticipated number of awards is five.
15) When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on May 5, 2026.
16) What is the application closing date?
The original closing date is October 22, 2026.
17) What is the award ceiling (maximum funding amount)?
The award ceiling is not specified in the provided details. Applicants are expected to consult the full posting and associated program announcement materials for budget caps and any limits that differ between the standard IDA and the IDA-CDO track.
18) Are there different budget limits for the IDA and the IDA-CDO?
Yes. The IDA-CDO is described as having a lower maximum cost limit than the standard IDA. Specific dollar limits are not included in the provided information and would need to be confirmed in the full announcement materials.
19) What should applicants review for budget rules, cost principles, and caps?
Applicants should consult the full posting and associated program announcement materials to understand budget caps, cost principles, and any limits tied to the standard IDA versus the IDA-CDO.
20) What is the overarching program emphasis when evaluating ideas?
The emphasis is on proposals with the potential to lead to impactful discoveries or significant advances, particularly those that could speed progress in patient care and/or improve quality of life. The program is positioned for fresh, field-shifting concepts rather than incremental research steps.
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