Sponsor link https://cdmrp.army.mil/funding/oporp
The FY22 OPORP funding opportunity announcements for the following award mechanisms are posted on the Grants.gov website.

The vision of the OPORP is to ensure the highest possible quality of life for our Service Members, Veterans, and beneficiaries through the advancement of knowledge in orthotics and prosthetics-related research. The OPORP supports research on outcomes-based best practices through analysis of prosthetic and/or orthotic device options that are currently available, and not on the development of new devices or the improvement of an existing technology. Projects involving spinal orthoses, pediatric populations, or analysis of short-term use devices will not be considered for the FY22 OPORP.

Applications submitted to the FY22 OPORP must address one or more of the following Strategic Goals:

• Optimize patient-specific technology prescription for the Warfighter/Veteran. Applications submitted to this goal should focus on identifying optimal (1) devices and device characteristics, (2) human interface with devices, and/or (3) intuitive control systems, all grounded in an understanding of the requirements of patient-specific needs and the capabilities and limitation of available devices.
• Optimize patient-specific rehabilitation regimens for the Warfighter/Veteran. Applications submitted to this goal should address the cause and effect of an orthotic or prosthetic device on optimal type, timing, and dosing (e.g. duration, frequency, intensity) of rehabilitation for each individual in the context of each person’s unique requirements and preferences. Efforts that also address the impact of provider competencies and patient training on the effectiveness of the rehabilitation regimen, as well as efforts to identify the best approaches to mitigate secondary health deficits, are encouraged.
• Support standardized assessment of patient outcomes related to prosthetics and orthotics. Applications submitted to this goal should seek to validate function and performance, community integration, and user satisfaction outcomes associated with various device properties and functional abilities. An important objective of this goal is to enhance the understanding of the outcomes that matter most for individuals living with orthotic and prosthetic devices.

Funding Opportunities-FY21 OPORP, Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) (army.mil)

Clinical Research Award – Letter of Intent due May 4, 2022

Independent investigators at all academic levels (or equivalent)

• Supports clinical research that evaluates orthoses and/or prostheses using patient-centric outcomes relevant to Service Members and military beneficiaries, Veterans, and other individuals with limb loss and/or impairment.
• Supported research is intended to generate clinically useful evidence with potential to optimize patient outcomes and inform clinical or policy decisions.
• • Multidisciplinary collaboration among academia, industry, patient advocacy, the military Services, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and/or other federal government agencies is highly encouraged.
• Applications submitted to the FY22 OPORP CRA must address at least one of the FY22 OPORP Strategic Goals
• Preclinical studies using animals are not allowed.
• Clinical trials are not allowed.

The FY22 OPORP CRA offers two funding levels: Funding Level 1:

• Maximum funding of $350,000 for total costs (direct costs plus indirect costs)

• Maximum period of performance is 2 years Funding Level 2:

• Maximum funding of $2,000,000 for total costs (direct costs plus indirect costs)

• Maximum period of performance is 4 years

Clinical Trial Award – Letter of Intent due May 4, 2022

Independent investigators at all academic levels (or equivalent)

Supports the rapid implementation of clinical trials with the potential to have a significant impact on improving the health and well-being of Service Members and military beneficiaries, Veterans, and other individuals with limb loss and/or limb impairment.

• Supports clinical trials that evaluate orthoses and/or prostheses using patient-centric outcomes for the purpose of generating clinically useful evidence to enhance and optimize patient outcomes.

• Multidisciplinary collaboration among academia, industry, patient advocacy, the military Services, VA and/or other federal government agencies is highly encouraged.

• Applications submitted to the FY22 OPORP CTA must address at least one of the FY22 OPORP Strategic Goals.

• Preclinical studies using animals are not allowed

The FY22 OPORP CTA offers two funding levels: Funding Level 1:

• Maximum funding of $350,000 for total costs (direct costs plus indirect costs)

• Maximum period of performance is 3 years Funding Level 2:

• Maximum funding of $4,000,000 for total costs (direct costs plus indirect costs)

• Maximum period of performance is 4 years

A pre-application is required and must be submitted through the electronic Biomedical Research Application Portal (eBRAP) at https://eBRAP.org prior to the pre-application deadline. All applications must conform to the final funding opportunity announcements that will be available for downloading from the Grants.gov website. The application package containing the required forms for each award mechanism will also be found on Grants.gov. A listing of all CDMRP and other USAMRDC extramural funding opportunities can be obtained on the Grants.gov website by performing a basic search using CFDA Number 12.420. 

Submission deadlines are not available until the funding opportunity announcements are released. For email notification when announcements are released, subscribe to program-specific news and updates under “Email Subscriptions” on the eBRAP homepage at https://eBRAP.org. For more information about the OPORP or other CDMRP-administered programs, please visit the CDMRP website (https://cdmrp.army.mil).