DoD Gulf War Illness New Investigator Award

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The GWIRP New Investigator Award mechanism was first offered in FY14. Since then, 33 New Investigator Award applications have been received, and 12 have been recommended for funding.The intent of the GWIRP New Investigator Award is to support investigators new to the field of GWI research at different stages of career development. This award enables such investigators to compete for funding separately from investigators with established programs of GWI research. Previous experience in GWI research is allowed, but not required. However, Principal Investigators (PIs) with a limited background in GWI research are strongly encouraged to strengthen their applications through collaboration with investigators who are experienced in GWI research and/or possess other relevant expertise. It is the PI’s responsibility to describe how the collaboration(s) will augment his/her ability to address the research question.All applicants for the New Investigator Award must meet specific eligibility criteria under one of the following categories, as described in Section I.D., Eligibility Information. Transitioning Postdoctoral Fellow Early-Career Investigator New GWI ResearcherThe New Investigator Award is designed to promote new ideas in GWI research and establish proof-of-principle for further development in future studies. Basic through clinical research is allowed under this award mechanism. The types of studies that will be supported include those aimed at identification of objective measures (e.g., biomarkers) to distinguish healthy Veterans from those with GWI, studies to improve the understanding of the pathobiology underlying symptoms, and preclinical development of interventions for GWI. Applications are not required to include preliminary data; however, preliminary data may be used to support the objectives of proposed project. These data are not required to have come from the GWI research field. Applications not supported by preliminary data should be based on sound scientific rationale and may reflect clinical observations or discoveries made in other illnesses. Regardless of the approach, the focus should be clearly on Veterans with GWI. It is the responsibility of the PI to clearly and explicitly articulate the project’s potential impact on GWI.Applications Proposing Biomarker Research: Applicants must present a rationale for why the proposed markers would be specific for GW-related exposures and not induced by independent factors or events unrelated to Gulf War deployment. Investigation involving derivation of markers from animal models does not address the intent of the biomarker focus area under this award.Research involving human subjects is permitted under this Program Announcement/Funding Opportunity but is restricted to studies without clinical trials. A clinical trial is defined as a prospective accrual of human subjects where an intervention (e.g., device, drug, biologic, surgical procedure, rehabilitative modality, behavioral intervention or other) is tested on a human subject for a measurable outcome with respect to exploratory information, safety, effectiveness, and/or efficacy. This outcome represents a direct effect on the human subject of that intervention or interaction. For more information about distinguishing clinical trials from clinical research, a Human Subject Resource Document is provided at https://cdmrp.org/ Program_Announcements_and_Forms/. PIs interested in applying for funding for a clinical trial should use the FY16 GWIRP Treatment Evaluation Award mechanism. For information about that mechanism, see http://cdmrp.army.mil/funding/gwirp.shtml. Retrospective studies or other non-interventional study designs are acceptable under the New Investigator Award.Studies whose principal focus is on psychiatric disease or psychological stress as the primary cause of GWI will not be funded under this Program Announcement/Funding Opportunity.

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