DOD Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Clinical/Translational Research Award

Summary: The fiscal year 2025 (FY25) Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Research Program (DMDRP) Clinical/Translational Research Award (CTRA) mechanism supports advanced translational research that will accelerate the movement of promising ideas in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) research into clinical applications. Research must address at least one of the FY25 CTRA focus areas. Research projects investigating therapies that will be efficacious across the life span, including infants, toddlers, and nonambulatory individuals, are strongly encouraged.

Distinctive Features: Applications must include preliminary and/or published data relevant to DMD to support the proposed research project. Pilot, proof-of-principle clinical trials, and correlative studies to better inform development of drugs, devices, and other interventions are allowed. The CTRA offers two funding levels: Funding Level 1 to support smaller, less complex preclinical and/or clinical research; and Funding Level 2 to support larger, more complex preclinical and/or clinical research.

Early-Career Partnering PI Option (PPIO): The Partnering PI must be an independent, early-career investigator within 10 years of their first faculty appointment (or equivalent) by the time of application submission. Lapses in research time or appointments as denoted in the biographical sketch should be explained in the application.

It is encouraged, but not required, that the partnering PI is an M.D. or M.D./Ph.D. to increase collaboration between clinical and nonclinical aspects of DMD research.