DoD’s Peer Reviewed Alzheimer’s Research Program Translational Research Award for Advancing AD/ADRD Clinical Applications

The intent of the FY22 PRARP TRA is to support translational research that will accelerate the movement of promising products and knowledge in AD/ADRD research into clinical applications, including healthcare products and interventions, technologies, behavioral modalities, social modalities, and/or clinical practice guidelines. This mechanism supports both preclinical-to-clinical translational research (e.g., studies of interventions and medical devices in preclinical systems) and clinical research-to-clinical care translation (e.g., comparative effectiveness, implementation science, healthcare services research). Observations that support a research idea may be derived from a laboratory discovery, population-based studies, or a clinician’s first-hand knowledge of patients and anecdotal data. Inclusion of preliminary data is required. Use of animal models, if applicable, must be fully justified for relevance to human health. Clinical research applications are required to include a community collaboration research element.

Important aspects of this award mechanism include:

Translational Potential: The PRARP does not view translational research as a one-way continuum from bench to bedside. The research plan is encouraged to involve a reciprocal flow of ideas and information between basic and clinical science or clinical and implementation science as appropriate. The application should detail steps to move the research along the research and development continuum.

Relevance to Military Health: Projects must have relevance to military Service Members, Veterans, and/or their family members and care partners. Applicants are encouraged to integrate and/or align their research projects with Department of Defense (DOD) and/or Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) research laboratories and programs. Collaborations between researchers, at military or Veterans institutions and non-military institutions, are strongly encouraged. A list of websites that may be useful in identifying additional information about ongoing DOD and VA areas of research interest or potential opportunities for collaboration can be found in Appendix 2.