Department of Defense: Gulf War Illness New Investigator Award

The intent of the GWIRP NIA 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, applications naming a Principal Investigator (PI) with limited background in GWI research are strongly encouraged to include collaboration with investigators who are experienced in GWI research and/or possess other relevant expertise to strengthen the application. The application should describe how the collaboration(s) will augment the PI’s ability to address the research question.

PIs must meet specific eligibility criteria under one of the following categories, as described in Section II.C, Eligibility Information.

• Transitioning Postdoctoral Fellow

• Early-Career Investigator

• New GWI Researcher

The NIA 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. The application should clearly and explicitly articulate the project’s potential impact on GWI.

New in FY18! Biorepository Contribution Option: In FY17, the GWIRP awarded infrastructure support for a GWI biorepository. The “Boston Biorepository, Recruitment, and Integrative Network (BBRAIN) for GWI” has now been established for the retention and distribution of biospecimens and/or data related to GWI research. Applicants to the FY18 GWIRP are encouraged to contribute biospecimens and data to this repository network. The FY18 GWIRP NIA offers a nested Biorepository Contribution Option with higher levels of funding for qualified applications as described in Section II.D.5, Funding Restrictions. For the application to qualify for a higher level of funding, the PI must submit a Biorepository Contribution Statement (see Attachment 11) providing a detailed accounting of proposed costs and a commitment to work with protocols and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) developed by the BBRAIN for quality assurance purposes. For additional details about BBRAIN, refer to the section below titled Access to Data and/or Previously Collected Biospecimens from Veterans of the 1990-1991 Gulf War.

The anticipated direct costs budgeted for the entire period of performance for an FY18 GWIRP NIA will not exceed $500,000. If applying under the Biorepository Contribution Option, direct costs will not exceed $516,000. Refer to Section II.D.5, Funding Restrictions, for detailed funding information.

Activities not supported under this Program Announcement include:

• Investigations involving derivation of GWI diagnostic biomarkers from animal models.

• Studies focusing on psychiatric disease or psychological stress as the primary cause of GWI.

•   Studies focusing on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) research.

• Clinical Trials.

The intent of the GWIRP NIA 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, applications naming a Principal Investigator (PI) with limited background in GWI research are strongly encouraged to include collaboration with investigators who are experienced in GWI research and/or possess other relevant expertise to strengthen the application. The application should describe how the collaboration(s) will augment the PI’s ability to address the research question.

PIs must meet specific eligibility criteria under one of the following categories, as described in Section II.C, Eligibility Information.

• Transitioning Postdoctoral Fellow

• Early-Career Investigator

• New GWI Researcher

The NIA 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. The application should clearly and explicitly articulate the project’s potential impact on GWI.

New in FY18! Biorepository Contribution Option: In FY17, the GWIRP awarded infrastructure support for a GWI biorepository. The “Boston Biorepository, Recruitment, and Integrative Network (BBRAIN) for GWI” has now been established for the retention and distribution of biospecimens and/or data related to GWI research. Applicants to the FY18 GWIRP are encouraged to contribute biospecimens and data to this repository network. The FY18 GWIRP NIA offers a nested Biorepository Contribution Option with higher levels of funding for qualified applications as described in Section II.D.5, Funding Restrictions. For the application to qualify for a higher level of funding, the PI must submit a Biorepository Contribution Statement (see Attachment 11) providing a detailed accounting of proposed costs and a commitment to work with protocols and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) developed by the BBRAIN for quality assurance purposes. For additional details about BBRAIN, refer to the section below titled Access to Data and/or Previously Collected Biospecimens from Veterans of the 1990-1991 Gulf War.

The anticipated direct costs budgeted for the entire period of performance for an FY18 GWIRP NIA will not exceed $500,000. If applying under the Biorepository Contribution Option, direct costs will not exceed $516,000. Refer to Section II.D.5, Funding Restrictions, for detailed funding information.

Activities not supported under this Program Announcement include:

• Investigations involving derivation of GWI diagnostic biomarkers from animal models.

• Studies focusing on psychiatric disease or psychological stress as the primary cause of GWI.