Opportunity Information: Apply for HT942526ATRPCRA
The FY26 Department of the Army Arthritis Research Program (ATRP) Clinical Research Award (CRA) is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by USAMRAA that funds clinical research aimed at producing practical, decision-relevant evidence for arthritis care. The central goal is to evaluate arthritis-related, disease-specific factors and interventions in ways that can realistically improve patient outcomes and help shape clinical practice or health policy. The program explicitly welcomes proposals across the full spectrum of arthritis types, rather than restricting applicants to a narrow diagnosis category, as long as the work remains clearly arthritis-focused and clinically oriented.
Applicants must align their proposed project with one of two required FY26 focus areas. The first is Prevention and Early Diagnosis, which is geared toward studies that improve early identification, risk stratification, or upstream prevention approaches before severe disease burden accumulates. The second is Treatment and Mitigation of Disease Progression/Burden, which targets interventions and strategies intended to slow progression, reduce symptoms or disability, lessen complications, and generally decrease the overall impact of arthritis on patients and communities. In practical terms, proposals should make it obvious which focus area is being addressed and how the study endpoints will generate evidence that clinicians, health systems, or policymakers can use.
A key structural feature of this award is that it offers two distinct research levels, and the applicant must choose the one that fits the maturity and scale of the proposed work. Research Level 1 is intended for clinical research and early-phase or pilot clinical trials, including new or emerging lines of investigation that are not yet ready for a large randomized controlled trial. This level is a fit when the study needs preliminary clinical testing, feasibility assessment, refinement of protocols, or early signal generation before a definitive trial would be justified. Research Level 2 is designed for a full-scale clinical trial, meaning applicants should be ready to execute a larger, more definitive study intended to produce stronger causal evidence suitable for broad clinical influence. Because the program distinguishes between pilot-stage and full-scale trials, applicants should match their design, sample size ambition, and operational plan to the chosen level and avoid overreaching beyond what the selected level implies.
The opportunity places notable emphasis on community involvement in the research process. Applications are expected to include a community collaborator such as a patient or care partner, or a consultant from a community-based organization, who can provide real-world input during study design and continue advising throughout planning and implementation. For Research Level 1, this community collaborator is encouraged, signaling that meaningful engagement is valued even at the pilot stage. For Research Level 2, it is required, reflecting the expectation that full-scale clinical trials incorporate patient and community perspectives to improve relevance, feasibility, recruitment/retention, and interpretability of outcomes. In other words, the program is not looking for token participation; it is looking for ongoing consultation that affects decisions as the study is built and executed.
Another important eligibility and readiness signal is the requirement for preliminary and/or published data. This indicates that the program expects applicants to demonstrate a credible foundation for the clinical question and approach, such as existing feasibility results, prior studies supporting the intervention or hypothesis, or published evidence that justifies moving forward with the proposed clinical research. This requirement is especially relevant for Level 2, where full-scale trials typically demand stronger justification, but it applies broadly to the opportunity and should be treated as a core application component rather than an optional enhancement.
From the funding notice details, the opportunity number is HT942526ATRPCRA, the assistance listing (CFDA) number is 12.420, and eligibility is listed as unrestricted. The application closing date is October 22, 2026, and the program anticipates making about four awards. An award ceiling is not specified in the provided listing, so applicants would typically need to consult the full announcement and associated program guidance for budget caps, period of performance limits, cost allowability rules, and any trial-specific requirements. Overall, this award is structured for clinical teams prepared to generate actionable evidence in arthritis, with clear alignment to one of the two focus areas, an appropriately scaled trial plan (pilot versus full-scale), and demonstrated readiness supported by preliminary or published data, alongside active community collaboration.Apply for HT942526ATRPCRA
- The Dept. of the Army -- USAMRAA in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "DoW Arthritis Clinical Research Award" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.420.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-05-01.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-10-22. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.
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FY26 Department of the Army Arthritis Research Program (ATRP) Clinical Research Award (CRA) FAQs
What is the FY26 ATRP Clinical Research Award (CRA)?
The FY26 Department of the Army Arthritis Research Program (ATRP) Clinical Research Award (CRA) is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by USAMRAA. It funds clinical research intended to generate practical, decision-relevant evidence that can improve arthritis care, influence clinical practice, or help shape health policy.
What kind of research is this award meant to support?
This award supports clinically oriented arthritis research that evaluates disease-specific factors and interventions with a clear line of sight to improving patient outcomes. The emphasis is on producing evidence that clinicians, health systems, and/or policymakers can realistically use.
Does the program restrict applications to specific types of arthritis?
No. The program explicitly welcomes proposals across the full spectrum of arthritis types, as long as the work is clearly arthritis-focused and clinically oriented.
What are the required FY26 focus areas?
Applicants must align their project with one of two required FY26 focus areas:
- Prevention and Early Diagnosis (improving early identification, risk stratification, or upstream prevention before severe burden accumulates)
- Treatment and Mitigation of Disease Progression/Burden (interventions/strategies to slow progression, reduce symptoms or disability, lessen complications, and reduce overall impact)
Do applicants need to pick only one focus area?
Based on the opportunity description, applicants are required to align with one of the two focus areas. A competitive application should make it obvious which focus area is being addressed and how the endpoints will produce decision-relevant evidence.
How should a proposal show it fits the chosen focus area?
The proposal should clearly identify the selected focus area and describe how the study design and endpoints will generate evidence that can be used by clinicians, health systems, or policymakers. The fit should be explicit rather than implied.
What are the two research levels under this award?
This award offers two distinct research levels, and the applicant must choose the level that matches the maturity and scale of the work:
- Research Level 1: clinical research and early-phase or pilot clinical trials; appropriate for feasibility testing, protocol refinement, and early signal generation
- Research Level 2: full-scale clinical trial; intended for larger, more definitive studies designed to produce stronger causal evidence
What is Research Level 1 intended for?
Research Level 1 is intended for clinical research and early-phase/pilot clinical trials, including new or emerging investigations that are not yet ready for a large randomized controlled trial. It fits projects needing feasibility assessment, preliminary clinical testing, and/or protocol refinement.
What is Research Level 2 intended for?
Research Level 2 is designed for a full-scale clinical trial. Applicants choosing this level should be ready to carry out a larger, more definitive study capable of producing stronger causal evidence suitable for broad clinical influence.
How should applicants decide between Level 1 and Level 2?
Applicants should match their study maturity, design, sample size ambition, and operational plan to the selected level. Level 1 aligns with pilot-stage readiness; Level 2 aligns with full-scale trial readiness. The opportunity notes the importance of not overreaching beyond what the chosen level implies.
Is community involvement expected in the research process?
Yes. The opportunity places notable emphasis on community involvement. Applications are expected to include a community collaborator who provides real-world input during study design and continues advising throughout planning and implementation.
Who can serve as a community collaborator?
The opportunity describes community collaborators as examples such as a patient or care partner, or a consultant from a community-based organization, who can provide ongoing, real-world input.
Is a community collaborator required for both research levels?
For Research Level 1, a community collaborator is encouraged. For Research Level 2, a community collaborator is required.
What does the program mean by meaningful community collaboration?
The description indicates the program is not looking for token participation. It expects ongoing consultation that affects decisions as the study is designed and executed, with continued engagement through planning and implementation.
Are preliminary or published data required?
Yes. The opportunity states there is a requirement for preliminary and/or published data. This is intended to show a credible foundation for the clinical question and approach, such as feasibility results or published evidence supporting the intervention/hypothesis.
Is the preliminary/published data requirement more important for Level 2?
The description notes this requirement is especially relevant for Level 2 (since full-scale trials typically need stronger justification), but it also applies broadly to the opportunity and should be treated as a core application component.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted in the provided funding notice details.
What is the opportunity number for this funding announcement?
The opportunity number is HT942526ATRPCRA.
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number?
The Assistance Listing (CFDA) number is 12.420.
What is the application deadline?
The application closing date is October 22, 2026.
How many awards does the program expect to make?
The program anticipates making about four awards.
Is there a stated maximum award amount (ceiling)?
No award ceiling is specified in the provided listing. Applicants would typically need to consult the full announcement and program guidance for details such as budget caps, period of performance limits, cost allowability rules, and trial-specific requirements.
What is the main emphasis when reviewers assess whether the project is a good fit?
Based on the description, strong fit is demonstrated by: (1) clear alignment to one of the two required focus areas, (2) a clinically oriented design aimed at practical, decision-relevant endpoints, (3) an appropriately scaled plan that matches Level 1 or Level 2, (4) preliminary and/or published data supporting readiness, and (5) active community collaboration (required for Level 2, encouraged for Level 1).
Does this award support research intended to influence clinical practice or policy?
Yes. The stated goal is to produce practical, decision-relevant evidence that can improve patient outcomes and help shape clinical practice or health policy.
What is USAMRAA's role in this opportunity?
The opportunity is administered by USAMRAA, which manages the discretionary grant program described in the provided information.
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