CDMRP Spinal Cord Injury Research Program: Investigator Initiated Award

The Spinal Cord Injury  Research Program challenges the scientific community to design innovative research that will foster new directions for and address neglected issues in the field of SCI-focused research.
Specific focus areas are:

• Preserving and protecting spinal cord tissue at time of injury for improved neurologic outcomes
• Identifying and validating biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and evaluation of treatment efficacies
• Developing, testing, and validating promising interventions to address bowel, genitourinary, neuropathic pain, cardiopulmonary, or autonomic dysfunction in people with SCI
• Investigating psychosocial issues relevant to people with SCI, their families, and/or their care-partners
• Rehabilitation and regeneration—maximizing the function of the residual neural circuitry, including harnessing neuroplasticity and recovery to improve function after SCI

The Investigator-Initiated Research Award is intended to support studies that have the potential to make an important contribution to SCI research and/or patient care. Applications may focus on any phase of research from basic through translational, including preclinical studies in animal models or human subjects, as well as ancillary studies associated with an existing clinical trial.

Collaboration with military and VA researchers and clinicians is encouraged.

It is expected that eight (8) awards will be granted. 

Funding: $500,000 total. $600,000 for early career option 
​Duration: 3 years 

Research Authority due date: 18.5.23
Pre application (required) due date: 24.5.23
Full proposal due date: 7.9.23