Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) -- Spinal Cord Injury Research Program (SCIRP) -- Translational Research Award

Funding Agency:
Department of Defense

The SCIRP TRA is intended to support translational research that will accelerate the movement of promising ideas in SCI research into clinical applications. Although not all-inclusive, some examples include demonstration studies of pharmaceuticals and medical devices in preclinical systems and/or clinical research on therapeutics, devices, or practice using human tissues or resources.

The ultimate goal of translational research is to move an observation forward into clinical application and accelerate the clinical introduction of health care products, technologies, or practice guidelines. Observations that drive a research idea may be derived from a laboratory discovery, population-based studies, or a clinician’s first-hand knowledge of patients and anecdotal data. However, applicants should not view translational research as a one-way continuum from bench to bedside. The research plan is encouraged to involve a reciprocal flow of ideas and information between basic and clinical science.

Deadlines:

  • Pre-Application Deadline:   May 24, 2023
  • Invitation to Submit an Application: July 2023
  • Application Submission Deadline:  Sep. 7, 2023

Agency Website

Areas of Interest

Applications to the FY23 SCIRP Translational Research Award (TRA) must address at least one of the Focus Areas listed below. Applications may address more than one Focus Area. In particular, applications combining biomarker studies with studies in one or more of the other Focus Areas are encouraged. Applications using clinically relevant combinations of interventions within or across Focus Areas are also encouraged. The FY23 SCIRP Focus Areas are:

• Preserving and protecting spinal cord tissue at time of injury for improved neurologic outcomes ○ Responsive projects may include surgical and acute care management of SCI. ○ Therapeutics (devices and pharmacologic interventions) to stabilize SCI in the prehospital environment and during transport are encouraged. ○ Applications proposing neuroprotective interventions need to demonstrate a clinically feasible window for treatment and more than an incremental improvement over existing therapies.

• Identifying and validating biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and evaluation of treatment efficacies ○ Biomarkers must focus on diagnosis, prognosis, progression, and/or recovery of SCI. ○ Projects with a clear link between a biomarker and underlying physiology are encouraged. Projects can include imaging and other modalities. ○ Applications should demonstrate a clear path to clinical use. ○ Biomarker studies directed at identifying the best single or combination of treatments for individuals (personalized medicine) are encouraged.

• Developing, testing, and validating promising interventions to address bowel, genitourinary, neuropathic pain, cardiopulmonary, or autonomic dysfunction in people with SCI ○ Mechanism-focused studies must be specific to SCI and demonstrate a clear path from increased understanding to advancing treatments. ○ Studies addressing the needs of and treatments for individuals with SCI across the full lifespan from acute to chronic injury are encouraged.

• Investigating psychosocial issues relevant to people with SCI, their families, and/or their care partners ○ Applications should directly address, or show clear relevance to, the needs of Service Members and Veterans. ○ To be responsive to this Focus Area, psychosocial issues must be the primary focus of the research. ○ Projects should provide an understanding of critical factors promoting psychosocial wellbeing leading to implementation of potential treatments and interventions. ○ Studies addressing social isolation, loneliness, and depression, as well as resilience, selfefficacy, sexuality and intimacy, and interactions between people living with SCI and their care partners, are especially encouraged. ○ Preclinical animal studies are not responsive to this Focus Area.

• Rehabilitation and regeneration—maximizing the function of the residual neural circuitry, including harnessing neuroplasticity and recovery to improve function after SCI ○ Studies that address critical questions of dosing, targeting, or safety required to move the research toward clinical use are supported. ○ Applications studying mechanisms of regeneration or identifying novel therapeutic targets must include a feasible projected pathway for translation and clinical implementation. ○ Basic research projects designed to understand general mechanisms underlying axonal sprouting, regeneration, or neuroplasticity are discouraged unless they directly address translatable approaches.

Eligibility Requirements

Independent investigators at all academic levels (or equivalent) may be named by the organization as the PI on the application.

The Partnering PI must be an independent, early-career investigator within 10 years after completion of their terminal degree by the time of the application submission deadline (excluding time spent in residency or on family medical leave). Time spent as a postdoctoral fellow is not excluded. Lapses in research time or appointments as denoted in the biographical sketch should be explained in the application.

Amount Description

The anticipated direct costs budgeted for the entire period of performance for an FY23 SCIRP TRA should not exceed $1,250,000 or $1,350,000 for the Early-Career Partnering PI Option. Refer to Section II.D.5, Funding Restrictions, for detailed funding information.

Funding Type

Award
Grant

Eligibility

Faculty
Junior Faculty
Medical Fellow/Resident
Post Doctoral Fellows

Category

Engineering and Physical Sciences
Medical
Medical - Clinical Science
Medical - Translational

External Deadline

May 24, 2023