Applying to the DoD

A couple of weeks ago, we hosted a Know Your Agency lunch on the DoD, hosting Dr. Travis Taylor of Strategic Marketing Innovations (SMI), focusing largely on health research funding opportunities. Dr. Taylor has previously worked with the DoD and the NIH and offered great insight into how to apply to the DoD. Here were some of his key points!

• The DoD is focused on the Warfighter: The DoD includes all of the military branches and it funds research that benefits troops in the field, not veterans (that's the VA). So any health research you propose to the DoD must clearly focus on this population.

• The DoD is most interested in a product that works and is safe: They're less likely to fund exploratory research. They want research that is further along and close to implementation.

• Focus on the immediate benefits: The DoD is most interested in funding research where they will see benefits for troops very quickly.

• Attend conferences where DoD Program Officers will be: Make connections/discuss your research with POs to get advice and better hone your research for their needs.

• Write your proposal for a non-expert audience: Certain branches of the DoD will include patients or non-expert stakeholders in their review process, so you need to write your proposal for a lay audience.

The DoD is a unique funder with a unique mission and approach to research, so it can be a big shift for researchers who are used to applying to the NIH or other federal agencies. However, once you've figured out how to talk to the DoD and had some success getting funding, it gets easier to apply to and be funded by them.

Resources:
Grants.gov: Department of Defense
Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs
Coming soon: Video of the DoD talk