DoW Vision, Translational Research Award
About
Summary: The fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Vision Research Program (VRP) Translational Research Award (TRA) supports translational research that transforms a promising discovery into new drugs, devices or clinical practice guidelines that are ready for definitive testing in clinical trials during or by the end of the period of performance. The TRA may be used to support preclinical studies, clinical research or a pilot clinical trial, but not a full-scale clinical trial. Research must align with at least one of the FY26 VRP Focus Areas. Distinctive Features: · If developing new drugs or device(s), the research team must include expertise in the regulatory approval process. · The TRA includes a Partnering Principal Investigator (PI) Option (PPIO) for two PIs, an Initiating PI and a Partnering PI. · Scored peer review criteria include Research Idea/Rationale, Research Strategy and Feasibility, Impact, Personnel and Post-Award Transition Plan. · Programmatic review criteria include adherence to the intent of the TRA, contribution to the VRP portfolio, relative impact and relevance to military health. · The VRP may share FY26 TRA applications and reviews with the National Eye Institute (NEI) for independent funding consideration. https://cdmrp. health. mil/pubs/press/2026/vrppreann.
The DoW Vision, Translational Research Award (TRA) is a competitive federal grant designed for researchers and research teams ready to bridge the gap between promising laboratory discoveries and real-world clinical applications. This grant supports translational research that transforms scientific breakthroughs into new drugs, medical devices, or clinical practice guidelines prepared for definitive clinical testing. If you're leading a research initiative focused on vision science and military health relevance, this award can fund your preclinical studies, clinical research, or pilot clinical trials—but not full-scale trials. The program requires alignment with FY26 Vision Research Program Focus Areas and emphasizes teams with regulatory expertise when developing new therapeutics or devices. The distinctive Partnering Principal Investigator Option allows collaborative leadership between an Initiating PI and a Partnering PI, strengthening research teams and institutional partnerships. Researchers should apply if they have a promising discovery ready for the next phase of development and want to accelerate their timeline to clinical validation. The peer review process evaluates research quality, feasibility, impact, team expertise, and post-award transition planning, while programmatic review considers military health relevance and portfolio contribution.
Funding Facts
● Applications openDeadline
November 12, 2026
Who can apply
Last verified July 5, 2026 · Source: Grants.gov
Grant Details
Funding Range
Not specified—varies by project
Deadline
2026-11-12
Grant Type
federal
Application Cycle
Annual—FY26 cycle with November 2026 deadline
Best For
Vision research teams with promising discoveries ready for clinical translation; researchers aligned with military health priorities
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for DoW Vision, Translational Research Award?
Specific eligibility criteria are not detailed in the available information. Typically, federal research awards require institutional affiliation and qualified research leadership. Visit the official DoW Vision program announcement at https://cdmrp.health.mil/pubs/press/2026/vrppreann for complete eligibility requirements, which may include researcher qualifications, institutional sponsorship, and citizenship requirements.
How much funding does DoW Vision, Translational Research Award provide?
Specific funding amounts are not specified in the available program information. Award amounts typically vary based on project scope and research focus area. For current funding ranges and budget guidelines, please consult the official program announcement and funding opportunity details on the CDMRP website.
What can DoW Vision, Translational Research Award funding be used for?
The TRA supports translational research that moves discoveries toward clinical application, including: preclinical studies, clinical research, and pilot clinical trials (full-scale clinical trials are not supported). Research must align with at least one FY26 Vision Research Program Focus Area. For drug or device development, your team must include regulatory approval expertise. Visit the official website for detailed allowable costs and project scope guidelines.
When is the deadline for DoW Vision, Translational Research Award?
The FY26 application deadline is November 12, 2026. However, confirm this date and check for any pre-announcement or Letter of Intent requirements on the official CDMRP website at https://cdmrp.health.mil/pubs/press/2026/vrppreann, as federal grant timelines can be subject to changes.
Last updated: July 5, 2026