DOD Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Research Program (DMDRP) – Full Application
Well-being, Health and Biomedical Discovery
Deadlines
Academic Unit: Inquire with unit
Memorial Deadline: Tuesday 15th, September 2026
External Deadline: Friday 18th, September 2026
Description
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) results from mutations in the dystrophin gene that lead to an absence of dystrophin in muscle cells, allowing these cells to be easily damaged. Boys living with DMD experience devastating muscle weakness that affects the skeletal muscles, heart, and respiratory muscles. Currently, there is no cure for DMD and young men with this disease rarely live beyond their early 30s.
Clinical/Translational Research Award
The FY26 DMDRP Clinical/Translational Research Award (CTRA) mechanism supports
advanced translational research that will accelerate the movement of promising ideas in DMD
research into clinical applications. Translational research may be defined as an integration of
basic science and clinical observations. However, applicants should not view translational
research as a one-way continuum from bench to bedside. The research plan must involve a
reciprocal flow of ideas and information between applied and clinical research. As such,
applications must include preliminary and/or published data relevant to DMD to support
the proposed research project. Preliminary data may include unpublished results from
the laboratory of the PI, research team, or collaborators named on the application.
This mechanism is intended to support established projects that have moved beyond the realm
of basic research and proof-of-concept studies and have the potential to result in a near-term
impact in clinical research or the clinic. Research projects investigating therapies that will
be efficacious in patients across the lifespan, including infants, toddlers, and
nonambulatory individuals, are strongly encouraged.
Idea Development Award
The FY26 DMDRP IDA promotes new ideas that are still in the early stages of development and
have the potential to yield impactful data and new avenues of investigation. This award supports
impactful, high-risk/high-reward research that could lead to critical discoveries or major
advancements that will accelerate progress in improving outcomes for individuals with DMD in
the near term. Applications should include a well-formulated, testable hypothesis based on
strong scientific rationale.
Pre-Application Due: September 4, 2026
Application Due: September 18, 2026
To view the DMDRP funding opportunity announcements and submit a pre-application, visit https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/ProgramFY.htm?programFYId=719113