Open now. The Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity, through the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs, is accepting applications for the FY26 Parkinson’s Research Program Investigator-Initiated Research Award (HT942526PRPIIRA), Assistance Listing 12.420.
Funding and deadlines
CDMRP expects to allot approximately $10 million to fund about five awards. The total-cost cap is $2 million per award, with a maximum three-year period of performance. Cost sharing is not required.
The mandatory Letter of Intent is due October 23, 2026 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time through eBRAP. The full application is due November 6, 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time; for extramural applicants, the full application is submitted through Grants.gov. The application-verification period ends November 13, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET.
What the program supports
The award supports highly rigorous, multidisciplinary, high-impact Parkinson’s disease research addressing at least one FY26 PRP Focus Area. Preliminary data are required, clinical trials are allowed, and the program spans research from basic science through clinical trials.
Relevant focus areas include Parkinson’s disease heterogeneity; biological mechanisms and biomarkers, including clinical and device biomarkers of unmet medical needs; and interventions that may include non-pharmacological approaches, surgical approaches, non-surgical devices, and non-invasive central nervous system stimulation.
Eligibility and submission controls
Eligible organizations include foreign and domestic for-profit and nonprofit organizations and public or private entities. Independent investigators at all academic levels or equivalent who are affiliated with an eligible organization may serve as PI. The Initiating PI must devote at least 15% of full-time professional effort to the award.
Active SAM.gov, eBRAP.org, and Grants.gov registrations are required before application submission. Awards are made to eligible organizations, not individuals.
Atlas strategy
Atlas Opportunity Score: 82/100. The award offers a credible partner pathway for established Parkinson’s research teams that already have the required preliminary data, PI capacity, and a well-defined high-impact research question.
N9+ Fit: 72/100, conditional. The Nonagon N9+ may fit as a remote physical examination and vitals platform within a qualifying Parkinson’s research project, including longitudinal guided examinations, telehealth-enabled encounters, objective data collection, or clinical/device biomarker work. N9+ should not be represented as a Parkinson’s-specific diagnostic and cannot substitute for the required disease-specific hypothesis, preliminary data, or research infrastructure.
Direct Dr. Miltie posture: for-profit organizations are legally eligible, but Dr. Miltie should not be treated as submission-ready without a qualified independent PI, Parkinson’s-specific preliminary data, a compliant research design, and appropriate institutional and regulatory infrastructure. The preferred posture is partner-led with an established academic, VA, military, health-system, or industry research team.
Next action
Prioritize established Parkinson’s investigators and research organizations with qualifying preliminary data and near-term FY26 PRP intent where N9+ can serve as a legitimate research technology or data-collection partner.
Official federal opportunity: Simpler.Grants.gov.
Controlling program announcement: FY26 PRP IIRA Program Announcement.
CDMRP funding page: FY26 Parkinson’s Research Program Funding Opportunities.