Opportunity Information: Apply for HT942526ORPCRA
The FY26 Orthopaedic Research Program (ORP) Clinical Research Award (CRA) is a Defense Health Agency funding opportunity designed to support clinical research that tests orthopaedic-specific factors and interventions and produces evidence that can actually be used in real-world care. The central goal is to generate clinically useful findings that can improve patient outcomes and, ideally, shape clinical practice, standards of care, or even policy. A key requirement is that each application clearly explains how the proposed work will have a direct impact on patient care and how it will help reduce the burden of orthopaedic injuries and their downstream complications (sequelae). Although the program is rooted in military health needs, the intended impact is broader: results should be relevant to Service Members, their families, and Veterans, and also translate to benefits for the general public.
This award is organized into two distinct research levels that reflect different types of clinical evidence generation. Research Level 1 (RL1) is aimed at clinical research that may include observational studies, prospective cohort studies, comparative effectiveness research, or other patient-centered clinical investigations that do not necessarily rise to the level of a full clinical trial. RL1 proposals must fit at least one of the FY26 focus areas: Ligamentous Trauma, Osseointegration Outcomes, Return-to-Duty Strategies, or Military Women’s Health. In practical terms, RL1 is positioned for studies that can clarify risk factors, outcomes, care pathways, diagnostic or prognostic tools, rehabilitation strategies, or other clinically meaningful interventions where the design is rigorous and the endpoint is actionable evidence.
Research Level 2 (RL2) is specifically intended for clinical trials, meaning studies with a structured, prospective approach to testing an intervention in humans, often involving randomization and clearly defined primary endpoints. RL2 is limited to a narrower set of focus areas: Ligamentous Trauma, Limb Stabilization and Protection, and Return-to-Duty Strategies. The structure signals that the sponsor is looking for higher-level evidence that can directly guide treatment decisions, operational protocols, and rehabilitation or readiness planning. For applicants, this means RL2 proposals should be ready for the demands of trial execution, including recruitment feasibility, appropriate controls, safety and monitoring considerations, and robust statistical planning.
Regardless of the level, proposals must align with at least one of the listed focus areas, which serve as the program’s thematic priorities for FY26. Ligamentous Trauma generally points to injuries involving ligaments (for example, knee, ankle, shoulder, or wrist instability), where improved management could reduce chronic disability and improve long-term function. Osseointegration Outcomes emphasizes the performance and patient outcomes of osseointegration approaches, which are particularly relevant for certain amputee populations and can affect mobility, comfort, and quality of life. Limb Stabilization and Protection focuses on approaches that prevent additional damage, improve healing, and protect function following injury or during recovery. Return-to-Duty Strategies concentrates on evidence that supports safe, effective return to work and operational readiness, including rehabilitation approaches, functional assessments, and interventions that reduce reinjury risk. Military Women’s Health highlights orthopaedic issues that disproportionately affect or present differently in women, or where sex-specific evidence is needed to improve care and readiness outcomes.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary grant opportunity under the Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity (DHACA), categorized under science and technology and other research and development (CFDA 12.420). Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, which generally means a wide range of applicant organizations may apply, depending on the full announcement details. The opportunity number is HT942526ORPCRA. The posting date is June 17, 2026, and the listed original closing date is November 18, 2026. The program anticipates making about five awards. The award ceiling is not specified in the provided text, so applicants would need to consult the full funding announcement for budget limits, allowable costs, project period expectations, and any cost-sharing or matching requirements (if applicable).
Overall, this opportunity is best understood as a clinically oriented orthopaedics funding mechanism with an emphasis on real-world impact: it favors studies that can change what clinicians do, improve recovery and function after injury, and reduce longer-term complications, with clear relevance to military and veteran populations and strong potential for broader civilian benefit.Apply for HT942526ORPCRA
- The Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "DoW Orthopaedic, 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 2026-06-17.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-11-18. (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 5 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.
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FY26 Orthopaedic Research Program (ORP) Clinical Research Award (CRA) FAQs
What is the FY26 ORP Clinical Research Award (CRA)?
The FY26 Orthopaedic Research Program (ORP) Clinical Research Award (CRA) is a Defense Health Agency funding opportunity that supports clinical research focused on orthopaedic-specific factors and interventions. The emphasis is on generating evidence that can be used in real-world care to improve patient outcomes and potentially influence clinical practice, standards of care, or policy.
What is the main purpose of this award?
The central goal is to produce clinically useful findings that directly improve patient care and help reduce the burden of orthopaedic injuries and their downstream complications (sequelae). Each application is expected to clearly explain how the proposed work will have a direct impact on patient care.
Who is the sponsor for this opportunity?
This is a Defense Health Agency opportunity and is administered under the Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity (DHACA).
Is the program only for military health needs?
No. While the program is rooted in military health needs, the intended impact is broader. Results should be relevant to Service Members, their families, and Veterans, and also translate to benefits for the general public.
What types of studies does the CRA support?
The CRA supports clinical research that tests orthopaedic-specific factors and interventions and generates actionable evidence for patient care. The award is organized into two research levels, one for clinical research that is not necessarily a full clinical trial and another specifically for clinical trials.
What are the two research levels (RL1 and RL2)?
The award has two distinct levels:
- Research Level 1 (RL1): Clinical research such as observational studies, prospective cohort studies, comparative effectiveness research, or other patient-centered investigations that do not necessarily rise to the level of a full clinical trial.
- Research Level 2 (RL2): Clinical trials with a structured, prospective approach to testing an intervention in humans, often involving randomization and clearly defined primary endpoints.
What kinds of study designs are appropriate for RL1?
RL1 may include observational studies, prospective cohort studies, comparative effectiveness research, and other patient-centered clinical investigations. RL1 is positioned for rigorous studies that can clarify risk factors, outcomes, care pathways, diagnostic or prognostic tools, rehabilitation strategies, or other clinically meaningful interventions where the endpoint is actionable evidence.
What kinds of study designs are appropriate for RL2?
RL2 is intended specifically for clinical trials. These are structured, prospective studies that test an intervention in humans and often include randomization, defined primary endpoints, and other features associated with higher-level clinical evidence generation.
Do applications have to fit within specific focus areas?
Yes. Regardless of level, proposals must align with at least one of the listed FY26 focus areas, which serve as the program thematic priorities.
What are the FY26 focus areas for RL1?
RL1 proposals must fit at least one of these focus areas:
- Ligamentous Trauma
- Osseointegration Outcomes
- Return-to-Duty Strategies
- Military Women’s Health
What are the FY26 focus areas for RL2?
RL2 proposals are limited to these focus areas:
- Ligamentous Trauma
- Limb Stabilization and Protection
- Return-to-Duty Strategies
What does the Ligamentous Trauma focus area generally cover?
Ligamentous Trauma generally refers to injuries involving ligaments, such as instability affecting the knee, ankle, shoulder, or wrist. The focus is on improving management to reduce chronic disability and improve long-term function.
What does the Osseointegration Outcomes focus area emphasize?
Osseointegration Outcomes emphasizes the performance and patient outcomes of osseointegration approaches. This is particularly relevant for certain amputee populations and may affect mobility, comfort, and quality of life.
What does Limb Stabilization and Protection focus on?
Limb Stabilization and Protection focuses on approaches that prevent additional damage, improve healing, and protect function following injury or during recovery.
What does Return-to-Duty Strategies focus on?
Return-to-Duty Strategies concentrates on evidence that supports safe and effective return to work and operational readiness. This can include rehabilitation approaches, functional assessments, and interventions designed to reduce reinjury risk.
What does the Military Women’s Health focus area highlight?
Military Women’s Health highlights orthopaedic issues that disproportionately affect women, present differently in women, or where sex-specific evidence is needed to improve care and readiness outcomes.
What is a key requirement for all applications?
A key requirement is that each application clearly explains how the proposed work will have a direct impact on patient care and how it will help reduce the burden of orthopaedic injuries and their sequelae.
How is RL2 positioned differently from RL1 in terms of expectations?
RL2 signals a demand for higher-level evidence that can directly guide treatment decisions, operational protocols, and rehabilitation or readiness planning. RL2 proposals should be ready for trial execution considerations such as recruitment feasibility, appropriate controls, safety and monitoring considerations, and robust statistical planning.
What is the opportunity number for this funding opportunity?
The opportunity number is HT942526ORPCRA.
What is the CFDA number and category mentioned for this opportunity?
The opportunity is categorized under science and technology and other research and development with CFDA 12.420.
Is eligibility restricted?
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, which generally indicates a wide range of applicant organizations may apply. Applicants would still need to confirm specific eligibility details in the full announcement.
When was this opportunity posted?
The posting date is June 17, 2026.
What is the closing date for applications?
The listed original closing date is November 18, 2026.
How many awards are anticipated?
The program anticipates making about five awards.
Is there an award ceiling or budget limit listed?
No award ceiling is specified in the provided information. Applicants would need to consult the full funding announcement for budget limits, allowable costs, project period expectations, and any cost-sharing or matching requirements (if applicable).
What kind of impact is the sponsor looking for?
The opportunity emphasizes real-world clinical impact. It favors studies that can change what clinicians do, improve recovery and function after injury, and reduce longer-term complications, with clear relevance to military and veteran populations and strong potential for broader civilian benefit.
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