Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP) Program: Research on Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) As a Lifelong Condition | HHS 2025 ACL NIDILRR DPHF 0117

Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2025 ACL NIDILRR DPHF 0117

The Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP) Program: Research on Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) As a Lifelong Condition is a discretionary grant opportunity from the Administration for Community Living (ACL), specifically within NIDILRR, focused on strengthening rehabilitation-related services and outcomes under the Rehabilitation Act. The central aim of the DRRP program is to generate practical, usable knowledge and to develop or refine methods, procedures, services, and rehabilitation technologies that improve outcomes for people with disabilities, with a strong emphasis on individuals who have the greatest support needs. In this particular funding priority, the program zeroes in on traumatic brain injury as a lifelong condition, meaning the research is expected to address needs that can persist or evolve long after the initial injury and across different stages of life.

The objective of this specific DRRP is to improve long-term health outcomes for people with TBI by developing and testing interventions, services, and supports that respond to the complex and varied healthcare needs associated with living with TBI over time. The funded project is allowed to do intervention-development work (for example, designing or adapting an intervention and establishing feasibility), but it is required to complete at least one intervention efficacy study, which typically means a more rigorous evaluation aimed at determining whether the intervention produces beneficial outcomes under controlled or well-defined conditions. Overall, the expectation is that the grantee will move beyond describing problems and instead produce evidence about what works to support long-term health and functioning for individuals with TBI.

The project period is set at 60 months (five years), structured as five separate 12-month budget periods. The opportunity lists an award ceiling of $600,000 and anticipates making one award, indicating a single funded project at this maximum level. The funding activity is categorized under science and technology and other research and development, and the CFDA number associated with the opportunity is 93.433. The funding opportunity number is HHS 2025 ACL NIDILRR DPHF 0117, and the original application closing date is April 8, 2025, with the opportunity having been created on January 17, 2025.

Eligibility is broad across government, education, nonprofit, and private-sector entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; other Native American tribal organizations; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than IHEs); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and other eligible entities as specified in the notice. Faith-based and community organizations are eligible as long as they meet the stated requirements. Foreign entities are explicitly not eligible to apply for or receive awards under this announcement, which is an important restriction for organizations with international headquarters or primary operations outside the United States.

In practical terms, this opportunity is designed for an applicant capable of running a multi-year research program that results in tested, evidence-based approaches to long-term TBI care and support. A competitive proposal would typically be expected to show a clear plan for developing or refining interventions and then evaluating at least one of them through an efficacy study, with outcomes that meaningfully reflect long-term health and life impacts for people living with TBI.

• The Administration for Community Living in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP) Program: Research on Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) As a Lifelong Condition" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.433.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2025-01-17.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-04-08. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $600,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for HHS 2025 ACL NIDILRR DPHF 0117

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