Disease Background. NF includes two distinct genetic disorders of the nervous system, NF1 and NF2. Schwannomatosis is a newly recognized rare form of NF. These disorders usually result in tumors involving nerves anywhere in the body. However, non-nervous tissue such as bone and skin can also be affected. Together, these two genetic disorders affect more than 100,000 Americans of both genders and all ethnic groups. NF1 and NF2 are usually inherited as autosomal dominant disorders. Therefore, a parent with NF has a 50% chance of passing the disorder to his or her child. However, 30% to 50% of NF1 and NF2 cases arise as a result of a spontaneous genetic change. Tumors that develop in individuals with NF can cause disfigurement, deafness, blindness, bone deformation, learning disabilities, and in some cases, death. The tumors that appear in NF patients can vary significantly, even among affected individuals in the same family. While surgical intervention can provide palliative relief, at this time there is no cure for these diseases.
Overview of the Program. The Department of Defense (DOD) Neurofibromatosis Research Program (NFRP) was established in fiscal year 1996 (FY96) by Senate Appropriations Committee Report No. 104-124, which provided $8 million (M) for NF research. The NFRP's vision is to find and fund the best research to eradicate the clinical impact of NF. This vision is adapted each year in response to the changing needs of the field with the goal of targeting gaps in the research. Various award mechanisms have been supported over the years to meet these changing needs of the NF landscape including New Investigator, Investigator-Initiated Research, Therapeutic Development, and Clinical Trial Awards. In FY06, the NF Consortium Award was established to fund a multi-institutional network of investigators focused on the execution of clinical trials for the treatment of NF. By offering a variety of award mechanisms, the NFRP has developed a broad research portfolio of innovative basic, translational, and clinical studies with the potential to improve the detection, diagnosis, treatment, or management of NF and the quality of life of affected individuals. Research awards are made using a two-tier review process composed of peer and programmatic reviews that incorporate advisors from the scientific, clinical, and consumer communities. These advisors provide guidance on funding strategies and help ensure scientific merit and attainment of program goals. Over the years, the program's success encouraged Congress to appropriate additional funds totaling $200.3M through FY09. Through FY09, 244 awards have been funded.
FY09 Program. The DOD NFRP was continued through an FY09 congressional appropriation of $10M. Proposals were requested through five award mechanisms: Investigator-Initiated Research, New Investigator, Exploration Hypothesis Development, Postdoctoral Traineeship, and Clinical Trial Awards. Program Announcements were released in February 2009. The deadline for Grants.gov submissions to all award mechanisms was April 14, 2009. The two tiers of review for all proposals were completed in September 2009 at which time 20 proposals were recommended for funding. FY09 award negotiations will be completed by September 30, 2010. Please see Program History for more details.
Program Outcomes. The outcomes of the NFRP-funded research can be gauged in part by the number of resultant publications (487), abstracts/presentations (744), and research resources (101) reported by awardees to date. Details on each funded award are located on this website under Search Awards.
Details on research resources available to the scientific community are located on this website under New Research Resources Initiative by the NFRP. The goal of this initiative is to facilitate and speed NF research by publicizing new resources and aiding collaborations.
Research results focus primarily on cell biology, molecular biology, and technology and resource development. Recent highlighted research is located on this website under Research Highlights and Consumer Highlights and in the Annual Report.
As part of an ongoing program evaluation effort, the NFRP developed NF storyboards that depict key research advances in the field over time. The NF1 and NF2 storyboards can be found on this website. A new research resources initiative was undertaken to facilitate sharing of resources developed from NFRP funding. For more information, please contact cdmrpwebmaster@cdmrp.org
Overview of the Program. The Department of Defense (DOD) Neurofibromatosis Research Program (NFRP) was established in fiscal year 1996 (FY96) by Senate Appropriations Committee Report No. 104-124, which provided $8 million (M) for NF research. The NFRP's vision is to find and fund the best research to eradicate the clinical impact of NF. This vision is adapted each year in response to the changing needs of the field with the goal of targeting gaps in the research. Various award mechanisms have been supported over the years to meet these changing needs of the NF landscape including New Investigator, Investigator-Initiated Research, Therapeutic Development, and Clinical Trial Awards. In FY06, the NF Consortium Award was established to fund a multi-institutional network of investigators focused on the execution of clinical trials for the treatment of NF. By offering a variety of award mechanisms, the NFRP has developed a broad research portfolio of innovative basic, translational, and clinical studies with the potential to improve the detection, diagnosis, treatment, or management of NF and the quality of life of affected individuals. Research awards are made using a two-tier review process composed of peer and programmatic reviews that incorporate advisors from the scientific, clinical, and consumer communities. These advisors provide guidance on funding strategies and help ensure scientific merit and attainment of program goals. Over the years, the program's success encouraged Congress to appropriate additional funds totaling $200.3M through FY09. Through FY09, 244 awards have been funded.
FY09 Program. The DOD NFRP was continued through an FY09 congressional appropriation of $10M. Proposals were requested through five award mechanisms: Investigator-Initiated Research, New Investigator, Exploration Hypothesis Development, Postdoctoral Traineeship, and Clinical Trial Awards. Program Announcements were released in February 2009. The deadline for Grants.gov submissions to all award mechanisms was April 14, 2009. The two tiers of review for all proposals were completed in September 2009 at which time 20 proposals were recommended for funding. FY09 award negotiations will be completed by September 30, 2010. Please see Program History for more details.
Program Outcomes. The outcomes of the NFRP-funded research can be gauged in part by the number of resultant publications (487), abstracts/presentations (744), and research resources (101) reported by awardees to date. Details on each funded award are located on this website under Search Awards.
Details on research resources available to the scientific community are located on this website under New Research Resources Initiative by the NFRP. The goal of this initiative is to facilitate and speed NF research by publicizing new resources and aiding collaborations.
Research results focus primarily on cell biology, molecular biology, and technology and resource development. Recent highlighted research is located on this website under Research Highlights and Consumer Highlights and in the Annual Report.
As part of an ongoing program evaluation effort, the NFRP developed NF storyboards that depict key research advances in the field over time. The NF1 and NF2 storyboards can be found on this website. A new research resources initiative was undertaken to facilitate sharing of resources developed from NFRP funding. For more information, please contact cdmrpwebmaster@cdmrp.org
