This program announcement must be read in conjunction with the General Application Instructions, version CD26_01.

Program Announcement for the Defense Health Agency

Neurofibromatosis Research Program Neurofibromatosis Research Academy – Leadership Award

Funding Opportunity Number: HT942526NFRPNFRALA

Pre-Application Due: August 31, 2026

Application Due: September 14, 2026 https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/gai.htm?version=CD26_01

FY26 Neurofibromatosis Research Academy – Leadership Award 2

Content Before You Begin 3

Basic Information Summarizes the funding opportunity, funding details, submission deadlines and review dates

Eligibility Details eligibility factors for the applicant organization and Principal Investigator

Program Description Describes the program mission and intent of the Neurofibromatosis Research Academy – Leadership Award; provides key award information and considerations; and outlines funding details

Application Contents Presents the two-step application process and instructions for preparing a pre-application and full application

Submission Requirements Provides locations for application packages, instructions for submitting pre-applications and full applications, and describes application verification

Application Review Information Outlines the processes for application compliance review, pre-application and full application selection/notification, and risk assessment. Also, details the review criteria for pre-application screening and both tiers of the CDMRP application review process – Peer Review and Programmatic Review

Federal Award Notices Outlines what a successful applicant can expect if recommended for funding

Post-Award Requirements References policy requirements for funded research; outlines reporting requirements and restrictions related to Principal Investigator changes and institutional award transfers

Other Information Outlines criteria for administrative actions including application rejection, modification, withdrawal and withhold

Appendix 1 Includes a checklist for all full application components to facilitate application submission

Appendix 2 Acronym List

FY26 Neurofibromatosis Research Academy – Leadership Award 3

Before You Begin

• Active SAM.gov, eBRAP.org and Grants.gov registrations are required for application submission. User registration for each of these websites can take several weeks or longer.

Each applicant must ensure their registrations are active and up to date prior to application preparation.

• Read this funding opportunity announcement in the order it is written before beginning to prepare application materials. It is the responsibility of the applicant to determine whether the proposed research meets the intent of this funding opportunity and that all parties meet eligibility requirements.

• To support application preparation, additional resources are available including an application process FAQ, a Guide for Intragovernmental & Intramural Applicants and a CDMRP Video Series detailing the application process.

Who to Contact for Support

This document uses internal links; you can go back to where you were by pressing the Alt + left arrow keys (Windows) or command + left arrow keys (Macintosh) on your keyboard.

Click to be taken to additional guidance and instructions within the General Application Instructions (GAI).

eBRAP Help Desk

301-682-5507 help@eBRAP.org

Questions regarding funding opportunity submission requirements, as well as technical assistance related to pre-application or intramural application submission.

Grants.gov Support Center

800-518-4726 International: 1-606-545-5035 support@grants.gov

Questions regarding Grants.gov registration and Workspace.

https://sam.gov/ https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/index.htm https://grants.gov/register https://cdmrp.health.mil/#:%7E:text=Frequently%20Asked%20Questions%20%C2%BB https://cdmrp.health.mil/#:%7E:text=Guide%20for%20Intragovernmental%20%26%20Intramural%20Applicants https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/Program.htm#:%7E:text=Journey%20of%20an,Tier%20Review%20Process mailto:help@eBRAP.org mailto:support@grants.gov https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/gai.htm?version=CD26_01

Section Shortcuts Basic Information | Eligibility | Program Description | Application Contents and Format | Submission Requirements Application Review Information | Federal Award Notices | Post-Award Requirements | Other Information

FY26 Neurofibromatosis Research Academy – Leadership Award 4

1. Basic Information About the Funding Opportunity

Summary: The fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Neurofibromatosis Research Program (NFRP) Neurofibromatosis Research Academy – Leadership Award (NFRALA) supports visionary, established neurofibromatosis (NF) investigators with documented history of neurofibromatosis funding, publications, strong mentorship and commitment to leadership to serve as Director and Deputy Director of the Neurofibromatosis Research Academy. The Academy Director and Deputy Director will execute a multi-institutional, interactive, virtual research academy that consists of scholars, who are early-career investigators, and their career guides, who serve as the scholars’ primary mentors.

Distinctive Features:

• Academy Director: Established NF investigators at or above the level of Associate

Professor, or equivalent, at the full application submission deadline.

• Academy Deputy Director: Investigators at or above the level of Associate Professor, or equivalent, at the full application deadline and affiliated with a different institution than the Academy Director.

• Pilot Research Project: The Academy Director and Deputy Director will conduct one or more pilot research projects in collaboration with the academy scholars. Preliminary and/or published data relevant to NF and the proposed research project are encouraged but not required.

Funding Details: The Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) expects to allot roughly $2.4M to fund approximately one Neurofibromatosis Research Academy – Leadership Award application with total cost caps of $2.4M per award. The maximum period of performance is 4 years. It is anticipated that awards made from this FY26 funding opportunity will be funded with FY26 funds, which will expire for use on September 30, 2032. Awards supported with FY26 funds will be made no later than September 30, 2027.

Submission and Review Dates and Times

• Pre-Application (Letter of Intent) Submission Deadline: 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET), August 31, 2026

• Application Submission Deadline: 11:59 p.m. ET, September 14, 2026

• End of Application Verification Period: 5:00 p.m. ET, September 21, 2026

• Peer Review: November 2026

• Programmatic Review, Stage 1: January 2027

• Invitation for Oral Presentation: February 2027

• Programmatic Review, Stage 2: March 2027 Announcement Type: Initial Funding Opportunity Number: HT942526NFRPNFRALA Assistance Listing Number: 12.420

Basic Information | Eligibility | Program Description | Application Contents and Format | Submission Requirements Application Review Information | Federal Award Notices | Post-Award Requirements | Other Information

FY26 Neurofibromatosis Research Academy – Leadership Award 5

2. Eligibility Information

2.1. Eligible Applicants

2.1.1. Organization

Extramural and intramural U.S. Department of War (DOW) organizations are eligible to apply, including foreign and domestic organizations, for-profit and nonprofit organizations, and public or private entities.

2.1.2. Principal Investigator

An investigator may be named on only one NFRALA application as a Principal Investigator (PI) (i.e., Academy Director or Deputy Director).

Academy Director and Deputy Director:

• Must be an independent, established NF researcher at or above the level of associate professor or equivalent.

• Must have NF research funding (past and/or present).

• Must have a record of NF publications in peer-reviewed journals.

• Must not be named as a Career Guide on any FY26 Neurofibromatosis Academy Scholar

Award applications.

Individuals affiliated with an eligible organization are eligible to be named PI on the application, regardless of ethnicity, nationality or citizenship status.

2.2. Cost Sharing

Cost sharing is not an eligibility requirement.

2.3. Other

Awards are made to eligible organizations, not to individuals. Refer to the General Application Instructions (GAI) for additional recipient qualification requirements.

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Basic Information | Eligibility | Program Description | Application Contents and Format | Submission Requirements Application Review Information | Federal Award Notices | Post-Award Requirements | Other Information

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3. Program Description

The Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity (DHACA) is soliciting applications to this funding opportunity using delegated authority provided by United States Code, Title 10, Section 4001 (10 USC 4001). The CDMRP is the program office managing this FY26 funding opportunity as part of the Neurofibromatosis Research Program (NFRP). The CDMRP is located within the Defense Health Agency Research and Development (DHA R&D), which is a part of the Department of Defense, DOD, herein referred to using the secondary title Department of War, DOW. Congress initiated the NFRP in 1996 to provide support for research of exceptional scientific merit that promotes the understanding, diagnosis and treatment of NF, including NF type 1 (NF1), NF type 2 (NF2) and schwannomatosis. Appropriations for the NFRP from FY96 through FY24 totaled $452.85 million (M). The FY26 appropriation is $25.00M.

The vision of the NFRP is to decrease the clinical impact of neurofibromatosis and schwannomatosis The mission of the NFRP is to promote research directed toward the understanding, diagnosis and treatment of neurofibromatosis and schwannomatosis to enhance the quality of life for persons with these disorders that impact Service Members, Veterans and the American Public.

3.1. Intent of the Neurofibromatosis Research Academy – Leadership Award

The FY26 NFRALA mechanism is soliciting applications for a Director and Deputy Director to stand up and lead the Neurofibromatosis Research Academy (NFRA). The Academy Director and Deputy Director (referred to as Academy Leadership) must be established NF researchers and should be at different institutions. The Academy Leadership must demonstrate a strong record of mentoring and training early-career independent investigators, a commitment to leadership, the ability to articulate methods toward research collaborations, and the ability to objectively assess the progress of all early-career investigators (Scholars) in the NFRA.

The intent of the NFRA is to establish a multi-institutional interactive virtual academy platform that provides a framework of intensive mentoring and iterative guidance with proposed research, national networking, collaborations and a peer group of Scholars to increase research and vital resources in the field of NF. The NFRA will bring together established NF investigators (one Director and one Deputy Director) and Scholars with their Career Guides for the purpose of developing successful, highly productive NF scientists and clinicians to conduct research that will lessen the clinical impact of neurofibromatosis and schwannomatosis disorders. The NFRA affords Scholars the opportunity to operate in a scientifically focused, collegial virtual center to advance cross-disciplinary investigations that range from basic to clinical research while also providing professional and leadership development, including required skills and competencies needed to fund and manage a productive laboratory as future leaders in the NF field.

The functioning NFRA will consist of Scholars and their Career Guides (mentors) from different institutions, and an Academy Director and Deputy Director (see Figure 1 below). The NFRA Leadership will catalyze the growth and professional development of the Scholars in collaboration with their Career Guides and assess the progress of the Scholars. The Academy Leadership facilitates communication and collaboration among all Academy members as well as with national research and patient advocacy communities. NFRA fosters connections between Scholars and Career Guides and other national and international NF experts who may not be directly affiliated with the NFRA. The Career Guide is not required to be at the same institution as the Scholar; however, if the (primary) Career Guide is from a different institution, the Scholar must identify a secondary Career Guide at the Scholar’s

Basic Information | Eligibility | Program Description | Application Contents and Format | Submission Requirements Application Review Information | Federal Award Notices | Post-Award Requirements | Other Information

FY26 Neurofibromatosis Research Academy – Leadership Award 7 institution. The NFRP expects to concurrently release a FY26 NFRA Scholars Award (NFRASA) funding mechanism to solicit early-career investigators with their designated Career Guides to the Academy. The Scholars will conduct their research under the guidance of the Academy Leadership team.

Figure 1: Structure of the FY26 NFRP NFRA: Infographic demonstrating the intended collaborative environment provided for Scholars as part of the NFRP Leadership Academy. Scholars should benefit from not just the Academy Leadership, but also the breadth of experience, resources and expertise of the NFRA Advisory Panel and Patient Advocacy Panel and other Scholars and Career Guides.

Objectives of the NFRA Academy Leadership include, but are not limited to:

• Establish the Academy structure and oversight, including how the NFRA leadership will integrate different disciplines into one cohesive unit.

• Develop tools for Scholars to enable success and provide opportunities to broaden their knowledge in NF disorders.

• Conduct collaborative neurofibromatosis pilot research project(s) that include Academy

Scholars. These pilot projects should have the potential to improve collaboration within the Academy, as well as impact neurofibromatosis research and/or neurofibromatosis patients/survivors.

• Act as a resource for all Scholars and Career Guides in the Academy over the Scholars’ 4-year period of performance.

• Facilitate communication and collaboration among all Scholars and Career Guides (including periodic interactive communication among all Academy members).

• Develop an evaluation plan with assessment criteria to evaluate the research progress made by all Scholars, as well as their career progression and sustainment as independent investigators in NF research.

• Provide avenues to increase the promotion of the Academy and visibility of Scholars within NF research and advocacy communities (e.g., peer review, conferences, editorial boards).

• Support the professional development of Scholars (e.g., laboratory and team management skills) through invited presentations from experts outside of the Academy.

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FY26 Neurofibromatosis Research Academy – Leadership Award 8

• Plan and host an annual one-day workshop and, biennially, a multi-day workshop for all Scholar/Career Guide pairs as well as Academy graduates to present their research, share knowledge and develop collaborative efforts within the NFRA. Scholars will be responsible for their own travel costs to in-person Academy meetings.

• Include NFRP investigators holding NFRP Young Investigator Research-type awards to at least one annual meeting of the FY26 NFRA and at least one biennial multi-day meeting.

These investigators will be responsible for their own travel costs, funds for which are included in their research awards.

• Establish a panel of patient advocates and Veteran(s) (i.e., the NF Patient Advocacy Panel) to inform the NFRA on the needs of the patient community.

• Establish a NFRA Advisory Panel that incorporates experts in the field, Career Guides and at least one NF Patient Advocate from the NF Patient Advocacy Panel.

3.1.1. Strategic Goals and Areas of Emphasis for the NFRALA

The NFRP seeks to support innovative, high-impact research that will foster new directions for and address neglected issues in NF research; sponsor multidisciplinary and multi-institutional collaborations that will bring new perspectives to the field; promote translational and clinical studies to move promising ideas from bench to bedside; and develop a balanced portfolio of meritorious research related to all aspects of NF1, NF2 and schwannomatosis.

Strategic Goals: The NFRP’s current strategic goals are:

• Support basic and exploratory research.

• Facilitate rapid testing of potential therapeutics.

• Increase capacity and multi-disciplinary research through support and development of vital resources and the next generation of NF cancer researchers to improve patient care. (Must be addressed for this award mechanism).

• Encourage research in areas of critical interest to NF patients.

Areas of Emphasis: To meet the intent of the funding opportunity, all applications should specifically address the critical needs of the NF community in one or more of the areas of emphasis listed below. The NFRP also encourages all applicants to include materials and data from diverse populations in their research.

• NF2- and schwannomatosis-related areas (e.g., hearing, balance, schwannoma, ependymoma, meningioma, LZTR1, SMARCB1).

• Endpoint validation, biomarker discovery and technological innovation for assessments.

• Application of data science.

• Non-tumor manifestations not limited to:

○ Pain

○ Cognitive manifestations

○ Sleep

• Heterogeneity of NF-related phenotypes.

• Genetics, genomics, epigenetics, systems biology, metabolomics or similar approaches.

• Preclinical efficacy studies.

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FY26 Neurofibromatosis Research Academy – Leadership Award 9

• Target identification and drug discovery.

• Nutritional, environmental and other modifiers of NF.

• Health services research.

Note: Not all areas of emphasis are applicable to every award mechanism. If the proposed research project does not address at least one of the FY26 NFRP areas of emphasis, justification should be provided that it addresses an important problem related to NF research and/or patient care.

3.1.2. Key Elements for the NFRALA

• The NFRA – Leadership Award is structured to support two PIs. The Academy Director will be identified as the Initiating PI and will be responsible for the majority of the administrative tasks associated with application submission. The Deputy Director will be identified as the Partnering PI. The collaboration between the Academy Director and the Deputy Director should be supported by complementary expertise and experience. The application should clearly demonstrate that both PIs have equal levels of input on the proposed Academy Leadership and clearly define the components to be addressed by each to support the success of the Scholars. While it is up to the Academy Director and the Deputy Director to define their roles, both should have interactions with the Scholars; acting as administrative support does not fulfill the intent of the Deputy Director. The Director and Deputy Director are not required to be at the same institution. If recommended for funding, each PI will be named on separate awards to the recipient organization(s). Each award will be subject to separate reporting, regulatory and administrative requirements. For individual submission requirements for the Initiating and Partnering PI(s), refer to Section 5.3, Submission Instructions.

• Patient Advocacy Panel: Academy Director and Deputy Director will maintain an NF Patient Advocacy Panel to inform the academy on the needs of the NF patient community.

The panel should include at least two Patient Advocates and at least one Veteran, as described in Attachment 7: Patient Advocacy Panel.

• Oral Presentation: An invited oral presentation is a requirement for application review, as described in Section 6.2.3. Programmatic Review.

3.1.3. Other Important Considerations for the NFRALA

Clinical trials are not allowed within this funding opportunity. For the purposes of this funding opportunity, research that meets the definition of a clinical trial is distinct from clinical research.

All projects should adhere to a core set of standards for rigorous study design and reporting to maximize the reproducibility and translational potential of clinical and preclinical research, such as those described in the STROBE, CONSORT, SPIRIT and ARRIVE 2.0 guidelines.

Applications from investigators within the DOW and applications involving multidisciplinary collaborations among academia, industry, the DOW, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and other federal government agencies are highly encouraged. These relationships can leverage knowledge, infrastructure and access to unique clinical populations that the collaborators bring to the research effort, ultimately advancing research that is of significance to Service Members, Veterans, their Families and the American Public. If the proposed research relies on access to unique resources or databases, the application must describe the access at https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/gai.htm?version=CD26_01#_Definition_List:%7E:text=or%20hardware%20procurement.-,Clinical%20Trial%3A,-As%20defined%20in https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/gai.htm?version=CD26_01#_Definition_List:%7E:text=considered%20clinical%20trials.-,Clinical%20Research%3A,-For%20the%20purposes https://www.strobe-statement.org/ https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-025-03635-5#:%7E:text=SPIRIT%20and%20CONSORT%20are%20evidence,relevant%20empirical%20evidence%20where%20possible https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-025-03668-w?fromPaywallRec=false https://arriveguidelines.org/arrive-guidelines

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FY26 Neurofibromatosis Research Academy – Leadership Award 10 the time of submission and include a plan for maintaining access as needed throughout the proposed research.

The following encouragement is broadly applicable across many CDMRP programs, including the NFRP: A congressionally mandated Metastatic Cancer Task Force was formed with the purpose of identifying ways to help accelerate clinical and translational research aimed at extending the lives of advanced state and recurrent patients. As a member of the Metastatic Cancer Task Force, the CDMRP encourages applicants to review the recommendations and submit research ideas to address these recommendations provided they are within the limitations of this funding opportunity and fit within the FY26 NFRP priorities.

Research Involving Animals: All research funded by the FY26 NFRP NFRALA involving new and ongoing research with animals must be reviewed and approved by the Defense Health Agency Research and Development Command ORRC Animal Care and Use Review Office (ACURO), in addition to the local Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) of record. IACUC approval at the time of submission is not required. Allow at least three to four months for ACURO regulatory review and approval processes for animal studies. Refer to the General Application Instructions for additional information.

In accordance with the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026, Section 732, the CDMRP does not support the conduct of painful research (U.S. Department of Agriculture pain category D or E) involving domestic cats or dogs, except for studies relating to military or service animals.

3.2. Funding Instrument

The funding instrument for awards made under the program announcement will be grants

(31 USC 6304).

3.3. Funding Details

Period of Performance: The maximum period of performance is 4 years.

Cost Cap: The combined total costs budgeted for the entire period of performance in the applications of the Initiating PI and the Partnering PI should not exceed $2.4M. If indirect cost rates have been negotiated, indirect costs are to be budgeted in accordance with the organization’s negotiated rate. Collaborating organizations should budget associated indirect costs in accordance with each organization’s negotiated rate.

All direct and indirect costs of any subaward or contract must be included in the direct costs of the primary award.

The applicant may request the entire maximum funding amount for a project that may have a period of performance less than the maximum 4 years.

The appropriateness of the budget for the proposed research will be assessed during peer review.

A separate award will be made to each PI’s organization.

The PIs are expected to be partners in the research, and direct cost funding should be divided accordingly unless otherwise warranted and clearly justified.

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FY26 Neurofibromatosis Research Academy – Leadership Award 11

Direct Cost Restrictions: For this award mechanism, direct costs:

Must be requested for:

• Interim (In-Progress) Review (IPR)/Milestone Meetings: Travel costs for the PI(s) for attendance and participation in at least one two-day IPR should be requested.

• Costs associated with planning and holding the annual one-day workshop (virtual or in-person) with Academy members, including costs associated with external speakers. (Do not include travel costs for the FY26 NFRP NFRA Scholars).

• Costs associated with planning and holding the biennial multi-day in-person workshop in coordination with the NFRP Program staff, including costs associated with external speakers. In alternate years, they must also attend a DOW NFRP NFRA one-day workshop.

(Do not include travel costs for the FY26 NFRP NFRA Scholars).

May be requested for (not all-inclusive):

• Costs associated with participating in the NFRA (e.g., hardware and/or software for audio- or video-teleconferencing or web-based communications).

• Travel in support of multi-institutional collaborations.

• Travel between/among institutions participating in the Academy.

• Travel costs per Academy Leader to one-day and biennial multi-day workshops.

• Costs for one investigator to travel to one scientific/technical meeting per year in addition to the required meetings described above. The intent of travel to scientific/technical meetings should be to present project information or disseminate project results from the NFRP NFRALA mechanism.

• Cost associated with Leadership team to promote the academy and research outcomes (e.g., virtual/AI/web base activities, publication and print costs).

Must not be requested for:

• Costs for travel to scientific/technical meeting(s) beyond the limits stated above.

• Clinical trial costs.

• Tuition of graduate students.

• Any travel costs for the Academy Scholar Awardees or their Career Guides; their travel costs will be covered by their respective NFRA Scholar Awards.

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FY26 Neurofibromatosis Research Academy – Leadership Award 12

4. Application Contents and Format

4.1. Application Overview

Application submission is a two-step process requiring both a pre-application submitted via the Electronic Biomedical Research Application Portal (eBRAP) and a full application submitted through eBRAP or Grants.gov. Depending on the submission portal, certain aspects of the application will differ.

Intramural DOW organizations submitting a full application should follow instructions for submission through eBRAP.

Extramural organizations submitting a full application must follow instructions for submission through Grants.gov.

4.2. Pre-Application Components

Pre-application submissions must include the following components.

The Initiating PI must submit the following pre-application components.

Letter of Intent (LOI) (one-page limit): Provide a brief description of the research to be conducted. Include the area of emphasis under which the application will be submitted.

4.3. Full Application Components

Each application submission must include the completed full application package for this program announcement. See Appendix 1 for a checklist of the full application components.

The CDMRP requires separate full application package submissions for the Initiating PI and the Partnering PI, even if the PIs are located within the same organization. The application submission process for the Partnering PI uses an abbreviated full application package.

4.3.1. Full Application Components for the Initiating PI

Each application submission must include:

(a) SF424 Research & Related Application for Federal Assistance Form (Grants.gov submissions only):

IMPORTANT: When completing the SF424 R&R, enter the eBRAP log number assigned during pre-application submission into Block 4a – Federal Identifier.

(b) Attachments:

Each attachment of the full application components must be uploaded as an individual file in the format specified and in accordance with the formatting guidelines in the GAI.

○ Attachment 1: Project Narrative (20-page limit): Upload as

“ProjectNarrative.pdf”.

Describe the proposed project in detail using the outline below.

– Vision: Describe the Academy Leadership’s (Academy Director and Deputy

Director) vision of the NFRA and how it will serve as a non-traditional, non-https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/index.htm https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/gai.htm?version=CD26_01#_Recipient_Qualification_Restriction_Info:%7E:text=APPENDIX%202.%0AFORMATTING%20GUIDELINES https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/gai.htm?version=CD26_01#_Recipient_Qualification_Restriction_Info:%7E:text=(a)%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%20SF424%20(R%26R)%20%E2%80%93%20Application%20for%20Federal%20Assistance%20Form https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/gai.htm?version=CD26_01#_Recipient_Qualification_Restriction_Info:%7E:text=%C2%B7-,Project%20Narrative%3A,-Attach%20as%20%E2%80%9CProjectNarrative https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/gai.htm?version=CD26_01#_Full_App_Submission_Grants:%7E:text=IV.%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%20FULL%20APPLICATION%20SUBMISSION%20THROUGH%20GRANTS.GOV https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/gai.htm?version=CD26_01#_Full_App_Submission_eBRAP:%7E:text=V.%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%20FULL%20APPLICATION%20SUBMISSION%20THROUGH%20eBRAP

Basic Information | Eligibility | Program Description | Application Contents and Format | Submission Requirements Application Review Information | Federal Award Notices | Post-Award Requirements | Other Information

FY26 Neurofibromatosis Research Academy – Leadership Award 13 conventional training and research platform, including intensive mentoring and networking for the Scholars in a virtual environment. Describe the mission and roadmap as to how the Academy will develop highly productive NF researchers who will be recognized as leading researchers through a collaborative and interactive research training environment within the 4-year period of performance. Articulate how the Academy addresses one or more FY26 NFRP Strategic Goal(s) and at least one of the FY26 NFRP Areas of Emphasis.

– Background and Experience: Describe the Academy Leadership’s background and experience as established NF researchers. Describe the record of mentoring and training of early-career investigators and how this mentorship contributed significantly to the early investigators’ careers. Explain how the complementary experience of both candidates contributes to the ideal leadership of the Academy.

– Commitment to the NFRA: Describe the Academy Leadership’s commitment to leading the NFRA and to the success of this unique, interactive virtual academy in providing collaborative mentoring of Scholars with the goal of developing sustainable, independent careers as leaders in NF research at their institutions, nationally, and internationally.

– Management of the Academy: Clearly define the roles that will be filled by the Academy Director and Deputy Director in leading the NFRA. Describe how the Academy Leadership will catalyze cross-disciplinary communication and collaboration among all of the Scholars and their Career Guides, the NF consumer community and the broader NF research and patient care communities, including but not limited to periodic virtual interactive meetings and annual and biennial in-person workshops).

Include plans for developing externally funded collaborative research projects conducted by members of the NFRA (e.g., between NFRA Leadership and Scholar, Scholar/Scholar, Scholar/Career Guide) with input from the NF Patient Advocacy Panel. Explain the opportunities provided within the NFRA for the Scholars to overcome barriers associated with initiating and sustaining a career in NF research (grant writing, research and laboratory management, publications, professional networking and committee memberships, etc.). Describe plans for including other NFRP early career investigators and NFRA Scholar Alumni in the NFRA.

– Scholar Transition Support: Describe how the Leadership team will foster the transition of a Scholar from post terminal degree to assistant professor (or equivalent) and on to independent scientist with a track record of independent funding.

– Scholar Evaluation Plan: Explain how the NFRA Leadership will evaluate the research progress made by the Scholars, their career progression, and sustainment as independent investigators in NF research and/or patient care. Identify measurable outcomes for the Scholars that are expected to be achieved by the end of their NFRA Scholar Award period of performance. The Scholar evaluation plan should clearly articulate:

What are the evaluation questions/criteria?

What data will be collected to answer the evaluation questions/asses the defined criteria? How will the data be collected? At what frequency? Who will collect the data? How will the data be managed and stored?

If available, copies of any questionnaires, forms, etc., that may be used for data collection can be included in Attachment 1.

Basic Information | Eligibility | Program Description | Application Contents and Format | Submission Requirements Application Review Information | Federal Award Notices | Post-Award Requirements | Other Information

FY26 Neurofibromatosis Research Academy – Leadership Award 14

○ Attachment 2: Supporting Documentation: Combine and upload as a single file named “Support.pdf”.

There are no page limits for these components unless otherwise noted. Include only components described below; inclusion of items not requested or viewed as an extension of the Project Narrative will result in the removal of those items or may result in administrative withdrawal of the application.

References Cited: List the references cited in the Project Narrative using a standard reference format (include URLs, if available).

List of Abbreviations, Acronyms and Symbols: Provide a list of abbreviations, acronyms and symbols.

Facilities, Existing Equipment and Other Resources: Describe the facilities and equipment available for performance of the proposed project; include any additional facilities or equipment proposed for acquisition at no cost to the award. Indicate whether government-furnished facilities or equipment are proposed for use. If so, reference the original or present government award under which the facilities or equipment items are now accountable. There is not a standardized form for this information.

Publications and/or Patents: Include a list of relevant publication URLs and/or patent abstracts. If articles are not publicly available, then copies of up to five published manuscripts may be included in Attachment 2. Extra items will not be reviewed.

Letters of Support: Provide individual letters signed by collaborating individuals and/or organizational officials demonstrating that the PI has the support and resources necessary for the proposed work. Letters from the PI’s Department Chair, or appropriate organization official, should also confirm that the PI(s) meet(s) eligibility criteria. If applicable, provide a letter of support, signed by the lowest-ranking person with approval authority, confirming participation of intramural DOW collaborator(s) and/or access to military populations, databases or DOW resources. If applicable, provide a letter of support signed by the VA Facility Director(s), or an individual designated by the VA Facility Director(s), confirming access to VA patients, resources and/or VA research space.

Letters of Collaboration (if applicable): Provide a signed letter from each collaborating individual and/or organization demonstrating that the PI has the support and resources necessary for the proposed work. If an investigator at an intramural DOW organization is named as a collaborator on a full application submitted through an extramural organization, the application must include a letter from the collaborator’s Commander or Commanding Officer at the intramural DOW organization authorizing the collaborator’s involvement.

Sex as a Biological Variable Strategy (two-page limit is recommended):

Describe the strategy for how sex will be considered as a biological variable. This strategy should include a brief discussion of what is currently known regarding sex differences in the applicable research area. Clearly articulate how sex as a biological variable will be factored into the data analysis plan and how data will be collected and disaggregated by sex. If needed, provide a strong rationale for proposing a single-sex study, based on justification from scientific literature, preliminary data or other relevant considerations. Refer to the CDMRP Directive on Sex as a Biological Variable in Research for additional information.

https://cdmrp.health.mil/pubs/pdf/CDMRP%20SABV%20Directive_Revised_MAR2025_signed.pdf https://cdmrp.health.mil/pubs/pdf/CDMRP%20SABV%20Directive_Revised_MAR2025_signed.pdf https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/gai.htm?version=CD26_01#_Recipient_Qualification_Restriction_Info:%7E:text=%C2%B7-,Supporting%20Documentation%3A,-Combine%20and%20attach

Basic Information | Eligibility | Program Description | Application Contents and Format | Submission Requirements Application Review Information | Federal Award Notices | Post-Award Requirements | Other Information

FY26 Neurofibromatosis Research Academy – Leadership Award 15

Inclusion Enrollment Report (only required if clinical research is proposed):

Provide an anticipated enrollment table(s) for the inclusion of women and minorities using the “Public Health Service (PHS) Inclusion Enrollment Report,” a three-page fillable PDF form that can be downloaded from eBRAP. The enrollment table(s) should be appropriate to the objectives of the study with the proposed enrollment distributed on the basis of sex, race and ethnicity. Studies utilizing human biospecimens or datasets that cannot be linked to a specific individual, ethnicity or race (typically classified as exempt from Institutional Review Board [IRB] review) are exempt from this requirement.

Research Sharing Plan: Describe the type of data or research resources (e.g., bio-specimen, analysis tool/software, training material) to be made publicly available as a result of the proposed work. Describe the mechanism (e.g., direct sharing, repository, mixed mode) by which data and resources generated during the period of performance will be shared with the research community and other affected communities, including clinical research participants. Include the name of the repository(ies) where scientific data and resources arising from the proposed study will be archived, if applicable. Identify and provide the rationale for any data or resources that will not be shared (e.g., for intellectual property, feasibility, cost or other considerations). The plan should also protect participant privacy, confidential and proprietary data, and performer/third-party intellectual property. Provide a milestone plan for disseminating data/results including when data and resources will be made available to other users. In cases where the study participant could potentially derive medical or other benefit from the information, explain whether the results of screening and/or study participation will be shared with the participant or their primary care provider, including results from any screening or diagnostic tests performed as part of the study.

Use of DOW Resources (if applicable): Provide a letter of support signed by the lowest-ranking person with approval authority confirming access to active-duty military populations and/or DOW resources or databases.

Use of VA Resources (if applicable): Provide a letter of support signed by the VA Facility Director(s) or individual designated by the VA Facility Director(s), such as the Associate Chief of Staff for Research and Development (ACOS/R&D) or Clinical Service Chief, confirming access to VA patients, resources and/or VA research space. If the VA-affiliated non-profit corporation is not identified as the applicant organization for administering the funds, include a letter from the VA ACOS/R&D confirming this arrangement and identifying the institution that will administer the funds associated with the proposed research.

Do not submit a copy of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Data Management and Sharing Plan or duplicate the Data Management Plan, which will be requested only after a recommendation for funding is made.

Refer to the CDMRP Directive on Sharing Data and Research Resources for more information about the CDMRP’s expectations for making data and research resources publicly available.

○ Attachment 3: Technical Abstract (two-page limit): Upload as “TechAbs.pdf”.

Write the technical abstract using the outline below. Clarity and completeness within the space limits are highly important.

https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/Program.htm#:%7E:text=Directive%20on%20Sharing%20Data%20and%20Research%20Resources https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/gai.htm?version=CD26_01#_Recipient_Qualification_Restriction_Info:%7E:text=%C2%B7-,Technical%20Abstract%3A,-Attach%20as%20%E2%80%9CTechAbs

Basic Information | Eligibility | Program Description | Application Contents and Format | Submission Requirements Application Review Information | Federal Award Notices | Post-Award Requirements | Other Information

FY26 Neurofibromatosis Research Academy – Leadership Award 16

– Academy Leadership Plan Summarize the vision for the successful continuation of the Academy as a non-traditional, non-conventional training platform in which the Scholars are poised to lead NF research and patient care to a new frontier.

Outline how the Academy Leadership will catalyze cross-disciplinary communication and collaboration among all the Scholars and their Career Guides, the NF Patient Advocacy Panel and the broader NF research and patient care communities.

– Pilot Research Projects Background: Summarize scientific rationale behind the proposed research project(s).

Hypothesis/Objective(s): State the hypothesis to be tested and/or objective(s) to be reached.

Specific Aims: State the specific aims of the study.

Study Design: Briefly describe the study design, include appropriate controls.

○ Attachment 4: Lay Abstract (two-page limit): Upload as “LayAbs.pdf”.

The lay abstract should address the points outlined below in a manner that is readily understood by readers without a background in science or medicine. Avoid overuse of scientific jargon, acronyms and abbreviations. Do not duplicate the technical abstract.

– Explain the vision and mission of the Academy as a non-traditional, non-conventional training platform in which the Scholars will develop partnerships, collaboration, and career growth to ensure their dedication and productivity as leading NF researchers.

– Describe the integration of the NF Patient Advocacy Panel and NFRA Advisory Panel into the NFRA administration and execution.

– How will the data and resources generated during the performance of the proposed research project(s) be shared with the research community (scientific and advocacy organizations) and the public?

○ Attachment 5: Statement of Work (three-page limit): Upload as “SOW.pdf”.

Refer to eBRAP for the Suggested SOW Format.

For guidance on preparing the SOW, refer to the Example: Assembling a Generic Statement of Work. Include milestones for data or research resource(s) sharing.

Each PI must submit an identical copy of a jointly created SOW. The specific contributions of the Initiating PI and the Partnering PI should be clearly noted for each task.

○ Attachment 6: Sample Agenda (two-page limit): Upload as “SampleAgenda.pdf”.

Provide a sample agenda for the first annual workshop of a fully integrated Academy of Leadership and Scholars that will be led by the FY26 Academy Leadership. Explain how the format for the workshop is designed to stimulate the professional growth of the Scholars in both leadership and research skills.

○ Attachment 7: Patient Advocacy Panel (three-page limit): Upload as “PatAd.pdf.”

Include the names of at least two patient advocates and at least one Veteran (the Veteran may be one of the patient advocates). Describe the Patient Advocacy Panel.

Articulate the patient advocates’ and/or Veteran(s)’ roles on the panel and how they will https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/Program.htm#:%7E:text=Suggested%20SOW%20Format https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/Program.htm#:%7E:text=Example%3A%20Assembling%20a%20Generic%20Statement%20of%20Work https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/Program.htm#:%7E:text=Example%3A%20Assembling%20a%20Generic%20Statement%20of%20Work https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/gai.htm?version=CD26_01#_Recipient_Qualification_Restriction_Info:%7E:text=%C2%B7-,Lay%20Abstract%3A,-Attach%20as%20%E2%80%9CLayAbs https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/gai.htm?version=CD26_01#_Recipient_Qualification_Restriction_Info:%7E:text=%C2%B7-,Statement%20of%20Work%3A,-Attach%20as%20%E2%80%9CSOW

Basic Information | Eligibility | Program Description | Application Contents and Format | Submission Requirements Application Review Information | Federal Award Notices | Post-Award Requirements | Other Information

FY26 Neurofibromatosis Research Academy – Leadership Award 17 be integral to the training, networking, and collaboration of the Scholars. Clearly articulate how the patient advocates and Veteran(s) will have a meaningful role in the NFRP. Provide a letter from at least two patient advocates confirming their commitment to serving on the NF Patient Advocacy Panel.

○ Attachment 8: Impact Statement (one-page limit): Upload as “Impact.pdf”. State explicitly how the proposed research project addresses one or more of the FY26 NFRP Areas of Emphasis or, if the project does not address an Area of Emphasis, provide justification that the proposed research project addresses a critical problem in NF research and/or patient care. In lay language, describe how the NFRA will bridge the gaps in patient outcomes and care through the multidisciplinary training and support of the next generation of NF researchers. Justify the long-term impact of the virtual academy on NF research. Describe how the FY26 NFRP Strategic Goal(s) are integrated into the Academy. Describe how the data and resources generated during the performance of the proposed research project will be shared with the research community (scientific and advocacy organizations) and the public. If applicable, describe how the anticipated outcomes of the proposed study will make an impact in understanding health differences between sexes.

○ Attachment 9: Partnership Statement (one-page limit) Upload as “Partnership.pdf”: Describe how the partners’ combined experience will better address the research question and explain why the work should be done together rather than through separate efforts.

○ Attachment 10: Research Projects (five-page limit): Upload as “ResearchProject.pdf” Briefly describe one or more projects proposed by the Academy Leadership that will be conducted in a collaborative effort by the Academy Leadership and Scholars. Describe the scientific rationale of the pilot(s) projects. List the specific aims and rationale as to why the pilot projects will help Scholars launch a career in NF.

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