Summary: The intent of the Epilepsy Research Program (ERP) Research Partnership Award is to support new or existing research partnerships focused on collaboratively addressing critical questions relevant to post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE) in a manner that would be unachievable through separate efforts. It is expected that investigators will utilize their distinct but complementary perspectives to synergistically address a central problem or question critical to PTE research and those living with PTE, their families and/or their care partners.

Distinctive Features: This funding mechanism requires that a minimum of two investigators partner in one overarching study. Only the Initiating Principal Investigator (PI) will submit a pre-application, but all PIs will need to submit full applications. The Partnering PI(s) application is an abbreviated package specific to their distinct portion of the research project. If recommended for funding, each PI will be named on separate awards to the recipient organization(s). Be advised, all associated applications for a research project may be withdrawn if the initiating or partnering application is rejected or administratively withdrawn.

**NEW for FY26** An investigator may be named on only one FY26 ERP Research Partnership Award application as a PI.