February Featured Opportunities
CDMRP Announces $1.27 Billion, 34 Research Programs for Fiscal Year 2026
| Research Program | Funding Amount |
|---|---|
| Alcohol and Substance Use Disorders Research Program | $4.0 million |
| Alzheimer’s Research Program | $15.0 million |
| Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Research Program | $40.0 million |
| Arthritis Research Program | $10.0 million |
| Autism Research Program | $8.0 million |
| Bone Marrow Failure Disease Research Program | $7.5 million |
| Breast Cancer Research Program | $145.0 million |
| Combat Readiness Medical Research Program | $5.0 million |
| Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Research Program | $12.5 million |
| Epilepsy Research Program | $12.0 million |
| Hearing Restoration Research Program | $5.0 million |
| Joint Warfighter Medical Research Program | $10.0 million |
| Kidney Cancer Research Program | $15.0 million |
| Lung Cancer Research Program | $20.0 million |
| Lupus Research Program | $10.0 million |
| Melanoma Research Program | $40.0 million |
| Military Burn Research Program | $10.0 million |
| Multiple Sclerosis Research Program | $15.0 million |
| Neurofibromatosis Research Program | $25.0 million |
| Orthopaedic Research Program | $20.0 million |
| Ovarian Cancer Research Program | $50.0 million |
| Pancreatic Cancer Research Program | $20.0 million |
| Parkinson’s Research Program | $16.0 million |
| Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program (20 topics) | $165.0 million |
| Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program (52 topics) | $370.0 million |
| Prostate Cancer Research Program | $75.0 million |
| Rare Cancers Research Program | $17.5 million |
| Reconstructive Transplant Research Program | $12.0 million |
| Spinal Cord Injury Research Program | $33.0 million |
| Tick-Borne Disease Research Program | $7.0 million |
| Toxic Exposures Research Program | $15.0 million |
| Traumatic Brain Injury and Psychological Health Research Program | $40.5 million |
| Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Research Program | $10.0 million |
| Vision Research Program | $10.0 million |
North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command invite submissions for science and technology experiments, innovations, and demonstrations to be conducted at Arctic Edge 2027 (AE27) between 19 April and 7 May 2027. Arctic Edge is an annual defense exercise designed to demonstrate that U.S. forces are engaged, postured, and ready to assure, deter, and defend the U.S. and its partners in an increasingly complex Arctic security environment.
Research Initiatives at the Naval Postgraduate School
The Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) is interested in receiving proposals for research initiatives that offer potential for advancement and improvement in the NPS core mission of graduate education and research. Readers should note that this is an announcement to declare NPS’s solicitation in competitive funding of meritorious research initiatives across a spectrum of science and engineering, business, politics and public/foreign policy, operational and information sciences, and interdisciplinary disciplines that are in line with the NPS’s graduate education and research mission.
Unbiased Behavioral Discovery Platforms
The DoD seeks to develop unguided behavioral discovery technologies to accelerate detection and medical countermeasure development against current and future threats. These platforms will enable:
Quantification of novel behaviors in pre-clinical animal models that are more sensitive than state-of-the-art.
High-throughput evaluation of intervention efficacy in animal models with high translational value.
ALIAS Missionized Autonomy for Emergency Services - SBIR XL
This topic focuses on development and demonstration of missionized autonomy for emergency services, initially focusing on autonomous wildfire response using autonomous Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) and integrated sensing technologies. These capabilities will leverage the DARPA Aircrew Labor In-Cockpit Automation System (ALIAS) air vehicle autonomy program, using Sikorsky’s MATRIX autonomy system on S-76 and UH-60 helicopters combined with third-party autonomy applications to execute emergency services and wildland firefighting tasks. A key focus will be on the development of autonomy applications that enhance the capabilities of these systems.
Expedited Research Innovation System (ERIS) – Current health-related topic areas include:
Advanced technologies for defense against chemical and biological threats, human-made or naturally occurring. This topic supports technologies for defense of humans and elements of the bioeconomy critical to national security, including agricultural crops, livestock, and biomanufacturing production organisms that deliver threat surveillance, threat detection, threat diagnosis, countermeasure design, countermeasure deployment, and threat attribution, to include simulation-based and experiment-based technologies.
Advanced technologies for the improved resilience of U.S. operations throughout the prepare, deployment, execute, and return cycle. This topic supports technologies for human health and performance optimization. This topic supports technologies in the convergence of AI/ML with chemistry and biology, including foundation models and data factories.
Novel Technologies for CWMD and Related Threats - Open Topic - Objective: Develop novel technologies with commercial and national security applications that enable the detection (or indication and warning) of radiological or nuclear threats without the need for bespoke sensors—using only signals from general-purpose military hardware, commercially-available devices proliferate in civil society, and publicly-available data sources.
Fundamental Research to Counter Weapons of Mass Destruction (C-WMD) - This announcement solicits ideas and topic-based pre-application white papers for long-term challenges that offer a significant contribution: to the current body of knowledge, to the understanding of phenomena and observable facts, to significantly advance revolutionary technology, to new concepts for technology application, or that may have impact on future CWMD threat reduction, expertise, or capabilities. A portion of this effort is expected to be devoted to awards for science, technology, engineering and mathematics education programs with a C-WMD focus, such as, but not limited to postdoctoral fellowships, stipends, degrees, visiting scientist programs, student exchange programs, and development of accredited C-WMD curricula.
BioStabilization Systems (BoSS) - The BioStabilization Systems (BoSS) program aims to transform how live cell-based therapies are stabilized, manufactured, and distributed.
BIOmolecular Grammar for protein Aggregation Modulation and Intervention (BIOGAMI) - BIOGAMI aims to combine breakthroughs in protein science with powerful computing tools, including machine learning and AI, to better understand and reshape molecular grammar. ARPA-H expects that teams will bring together partners from biotech companies, universities, and other organizations, with expertise in biochemistry, biophysics, structural biology, neurodegenerative disease, and chronic illness.
Agentic AI-EnableD CardioVascular CAre TransfOrmation (ADVOCATE) Innovative Solutions Opening (ISO) - The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) Agentic AI-Enabled Cardiovascular Care Transformation (ADVOCATE) program will enable the development of an Agentic system that delivers autonomous and semi-autonomous clinical care directly to patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD).
Scalable Solutions Office (SSO) Mission Office Innovative Solutions Opening (ISO) - This ISO seeks solution summaries and proposals for projects that fall within the general scope of the ARPA-H Scalable Solutions mission office (SSO). SSO expands what is technically possible by developing approaches that will leverage an interdisciplinary approach and collaborative networks to address challenges of geography, distribution, manufacturing, data and information, thereby improving health care access and affordability.
Resilient Systems Office (RSO) Mission Office Innovative Solutions Opening (ISO) - This ISO seeks solution summary and proposal submissions for projects that fall within the scope of the ARPA-H mission Resilient Systems Office (RSO). RSO’s interest areas will address systemic challenges across the healthcare and public health landscape by investing in cutting-edge technologies that address long-standing gaps in the quality, efficacy, and consistent availability of care.
Proactive Health Office (PHO) Mission Office Innovative Solutions Opening (ISO) - The Proactive Health Office (PHO) at ARPA-H is seeking solutions to improve the healthspan and health outcomes of Americans prior to the onset of disease and/or the development of diminished quality of life from illness. Specifically, PHO hypothesizes that 1) population-level improvements in access to and uptake of disease prevention and wellness-promoting behaviors and 2) development of novel early-detection methods and prophylactic interventions could drastically improve the health of American throughout their lives, and 3) that system level innovations are required for delivery of proactive health effectively.
Health Science Futures (HSF) Mission Office Innovative Solutions Opening (ISO) - This ISO seeks solution summaries and proposal submissions for projects that fall within the general scope of the ARPA-H Health Science Futures (HSF) mission office. HSF expands what is technically possible by developing approaches that will remove the scientific and technological limitations that stymie progress towards the healthcare of the future. HSF supports cutting-edge, often disease-agnostic research programs that have the potential for translational real-world change.
2026 PCORI Research Project Agenda Topic Themes
| Topic Theme | Description |
|---|---|
| Addressing Cancer | Strategies to improve uptake of recommended cancer screening in populations with documented low screening rates Impact of modality, timing, and dosing of cancer therapy on various toxicities Survivorship care models for adolescent and young adult cancer survivors |
| Harnessing Digital Health Technologies | Wearables to improve chronic disease self-management outcomes Integrating patient-generated data into clinical decision-making Precision medicine strategies using AI-assisted imaging |
| Improving Outcomes for People with IDD | Treatment of co-occurring conditions Interventions supporting caregivers Lifespan transition care models Improving mental health outcomes Improving access, delivery, and quality of care |
| Preventing Maternal Morbidity and Mortality | Maternal mental health or substance use disorder interventions System strategies addressing maternal care gaps Optimal prevention, diagnosis, and treatment strategies for high‑risk pregnancies |
| Improving Mental and Behavioral Health | Interventions for ADHD, anxiety, and mood disorders in youth Approaches addressing mental illness across adulthood including perinatal period Care delivery models improving screening, diagnosis, treatment, and crisis prevention |
| Improving Metabolic and Endocrine Health | Approaches to weight management Therapies for menopause symptom management Care coordination for type 2 diabetes with multiple chronic conditions |
| Managing Pain | Non-pharmacological and complementary pain management strategies Improving pain care for individuals with cognitive limitations Prevention/treatment of chronic pain conditions Acute pain interventions |
| Advancing CER to Promote Health and Prevent Disease | Integrated, whole-person care models Lifestyle and behavioral interventions Prevention strategies and implementation of evidence-based behaviors |
| Addressing Rare Diseases | Improving primary care for individuals lacking access to specialty centers Symptom management approaches Timely diagnosis strategies Multidisciplinary care models Transition care for children moving to adult care |
| Addressing Sensory Health | Screening approaches removing barriers for high-risk populations Treatment and management of sensory conditions Care coordination for family care partners Addressing stigma and mental health impacts |
| Addressing Substance Use | Addressing barriers to treatment Prevention, identification, and treatment in youth Overdose prevention strategies Treatment of coexisting substance use and mental health conditions Treatment across the aging continuum |
Assay Development for Superior Understanding of Response and Efficacy (ASSURE) - The ASSURE program aims to develop innovative, multiplexed, high-throughput, scalable and samplesparing assays that provide comprehensive evaluation of an individual’s immune status as a response to either infection or vaccination. This program seeks to de-risk the development of novel assay platform technologies with the ultimate goal of establishing new, qualified assays primarily for BARDA and vaccine developers to comprehensively assess the immune response and status elicited by vaccines and/or infection due to CBRN threats, pandemic influenza, or other emerging infectious diseases. Some of these assays may lead to support of new correlates of protection.
News & Updates
Is your biosketch up to date with federal requirements?
Federal sponsors, including CDMRP and NIH now require the use of federal-wide Common Forms for biographical sketch and current/ pending (other) support documents for all senior/ key personnel. See our guide to ensure your documents meet these federal requirements.
Download the HJF Guide to Preparing the New Biosketch
NIH Removing AIDS Application Due Dates from NOFOs effective for applications submitted for January, 2027 and later Advisory Council Reviews.
Basic Experimental Studies in Humans (BESH) Will No Longer Be Considered Clinical Trials by the NIH effective with applications submitted to due dates on or after May 25, 2026.
Notice of Temporary Extension to Early-Stage Investigator (ESI) Eligibility Period – NIH announced an automatic short-term extension of Early-Stage Investigator (ESI) eligibility in response to disruptions caused by the recent lapse in federal appropriations. The extension is intended to lessen the impact of these disruptions on application submission, peer review, and award processing.
Who is impacted:
Investigators whose ESI end date was in September, October, or November 2025 will have ESI status extended through March 31, 2026; the last submission as an ESI must be on or before that date.
All others retain their current ESI timelines unless extended under other NIH policies.
Meetings and Events: |
|---|
HJF Innovation Labs @ MontgomeryCountyMD – BioHealth Pitch Showcase - As a valued member of the military medical ecosystem, we warmly invite you to join us for pitch presentations from four biomedical startup companies that have applied for residency at the HJF Innovation Labs @ MontgomeryCountyMD. These companies play a crucial role in advancing dual use medical technologies and therapies. Beginning at 5:00 pm on April 14, invited companies will present their pitches, followed by an interactive Q&A. The session will conclude with a networking reception featuring hors d’oeuvres and beverages. Registration will be on a first come, first served basis. When: Where: |
Platelet & Platelet-like Products State of the Technology Meeting The meeting will focus on advancing platelet and platelet-like products to meet critical military and civilian needs in combat and disaster scenarios, while providing insights into government funding opportunities and fostering discussions on emerging technologies such as extracellular vesicles, synthetic nanoparticles, and clinical trial updates. The event will feature:
Poster Session: Participants are encouraged to take part in the poster session where attendees can showcase their technology to the broader community and connect with collaborators and investors. More information about the poster session is provided below in the "Poster Session FAQ" below. Location: 1001 14th St NW Washington, DC 20005
Register Here: https://sot-platelets.eventbrite.com |
CWMD & MCDC 2026 Annual Membership Meeting: May 12, 2026 – May 13, 2026 at the Gaylord National Harbor. The Poster registration deadline is May 4, 2026 or until all spots are filled. |
| Rapid Response Partnership Vehicle (RRPV) - Save the Date for the 2026 RRPV General Membership Meeting, taking place August 26–27 at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Arlington, VA |
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute hosted its Digital Twins in Heart, Lung, Blood, and Sleep Research virtually on September 25–26, 2025. The event recordings are now available. The institute will host its Defining Lung Health Through the Lifespan workshop virtually on March 4-5, 2026. |