Opportunity Information: Apply for W81XWH 14 SCIRP IIRA
Apply for W81XWH 14 SCIRP IIRA
- The Dept. of the Army USAMRAA in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "DoD Spinal Cord Injury Investigator Initiated Research Award" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.420 Military Medical Research and Development.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 4, 2014 and posted on Jun 4, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 30, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $5,200,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Opportunity Summary:
The DoD Spinal Cord Injury Investigator Initiated Research Award (IIRA) is a funding opportunity under the Department of the Army, U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA), within the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) Spinal Cord Injury Research Program (SCIRP). It was first offered in FY09, and by FY14 it had attracted substantial interest, with 211 applications submitted and 47 ultimately recommended for funding. The overall purpose of the award is to support investigator-driven studies that are positioned to make a meaningful contribution to spinal cord injury (SCI) research and, importantly, to improvements in patient care. The mechanism supports a wide range of research stages, from basic discovery work through translational and preclinical efforts, including studies in animal models and human subjects, as well as correlative studies that may be tied to an existing clinical trial. However, this award specifically does not allow clinical trials as part of the proposed work.
A central theme of the program is impact. Applicants are expected to spell out, in clear terms, why the research matters and what it could change. This includes both short-term impact (what the work could produce during or soon after the project, such as new mechanistic understanding, validated targets, biomarkers, refined protocols, or proof-of-concept data) and long-term impact (how the findings could eventually translate into better prevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation strategies, assistive technologies, or quality-of-life improvements for people living with SCI). Proposals are expected to align with an FY14 Area of Encouragement or otherwise fit within research areas relevant to SCI, reinforcing the idea that the science should be tightly connected to real needs in the SCI space.
Another defining requirement is military relevance. Every application must directly and explicitly explain how the proposed research will benefit spinal cord injured military Service Members, Veterans, and/or their family members and caregivers. This is not treated as a general statement of potential usefulness; the announcement emphasizes that applications must specifically and clearly address military relevance. Collaboration with military researchers and clinicians is encouraged, reflecting the program goal of ensuring that projects are grounded in the practical realities and priority concerns of military and Veteran populations affected by SCI.
The program also expects proposals to be supported by preliminary data. The rationale is that the research idea should be driven by observations or evidence that already suggest the approach is promising. The announcement recognizes that these observations can come from multiple sources, including laboratory discoveries, population-based studies, clinician experience with patients, or even anecdotal data, but it still requires that applications include preliminary and/or published data relevant to SCI and the proposed project. In practice, this means the application should demonstrate feasibility and a credible scientific foundation, rather than presenting a purely speculative concept.
FY14 also includes an optional "Qualified Collaborator" feature designed to promote true multidisciplinary teamwork. SCIRP strongly encourages collaborations across academic science and clinical practice, industry, the military Services, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and other federal agencies, and it also encourages involving early career investigators in the SCI field. While multiple collaborators can be part of the project, only one may be named under this specific option, which comes with documentation requirements and expectations about the collaborator's role. The principal investigator must provide a Statement of Collaboration, and the collaborator must submit both a biosketch and a collaboration letter describing their involvement. The collaboration is expected to be essential, not cosmetic: the success of the project should clearly depend on the complementary skills of the PI and collaborator, and the collaborator must contribute in a way that makes the project impossible to carry out without their involvement. The announcement is explicit that a collaborator who only provides tissue samples or access to patients does not meet the intent for the higher funding level. It also sets a minimum commitment level: the collaborator must devote at least 10 percent level of effort, and that contribution should be reflected in the budget. Finally, the collaborator must be positioned to pursue independent research goals without formal mentorship, signaling that this is meant to be a peer collaboration rather than a mentor-mentee arrangement.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity was posted June 4, 2014, with an original and final closing date of October 30, 2014, and an archive date of November 29, 2014. The funding opportunity number is W81XWH-14-SCIRP-IIRA, and it falls under CFDA 12.420 (Military Medical Research and Development). The award instrument type is listed as a cooperative agreement or grant, with an estimated total funding amount of $5.2 million and an anticipated six awards. Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning it is broadly open to many types of applicant organizations, subject to any clarifications in the full announcement. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement. For access issues or assistance, the notice points applicants to the CDMRP Help Desk at 301-682-5507.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): DoD Spinal Cord Injury Investigator Initiated Research Award (IIRA)
What is the DoD Spinal Cord Injury Investigator Initiated Research Award (IIRA)?
The Investigator Initiated Research Award (IIRA) is a Department of Defense funding opportunity within the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) Spinal Cord Injury Research Program (SCIRP). It is managed by the Department of the Army, U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA).
What is the main purpose of this award?
The award supports investigator-driven spinal cord injury (SCI) studies that are positioned to make a meaningful contribution to SCI research and, importantly, to improvements in patient care.
What types of research are supported by the IIRA mechanism?
The IIRA supports a wide range of research stages, from basic discovery through translational and preclinical efforts. This can include studies in animal models and human subjects, as well as correlative studies that may be tied to an existing clinical trial.
Are clinical trials allowed under this award?
No. Clinical trials are specifically not allowed as part of the proposed work under this award.
What does the program mean by "impact"?
Impact is a central theme of the program. Applicants are expected to clearly explain why the research matters and what it could change, including both short-term and long-term impacts related to SCI.
What are examples of short-term impact the proposal should describe?
Short-term impact refers to what the work could produce during or soon after the project, such as new mechanistic understanding, validated targets, biomarkers, refined protocols, or proof-of-concept data.
What are examples of long-term impact the proposal should describe?
Long-term impact refers to how the findings could eventually translate into better prevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation strategies, assistive technologies, or quality-of-life improvements for people living with SCI.
Does the proposed research need to align with specific SCI topics or priorities?
Yes. Proposals are expected to align with an FY14 Area of Encouragement or otherwise fit within research areas relevant to SCI, reflecting the expectation that the science is tightly connected to real needs in the SCI space.
What is meant by "military relevance" for this funding opportunity?
Every application must directly and explicitly explain how the proposed research will benefit spinal cord injured military Service Members, Veterans, and/or their family members and caregivers. The announcement emphasizes that military relevance must be specifically and clearly addressed, not handled as a general statement of potential usefulness.
Is collaboration with military researchers or clinicians required?
It is encouraged. The opportunity notes that collaboration with military researchers and clinicians is encouraged to help ensure projects are grounded in the practical realities and priority concerns of military and Veteran populations affected by SCI.
Is preliminary data required?
Yes. Proposals are expected to be supported by preliminary data. Applications must include preliminary and/or published data relevant to SCI and the proposed project to demonstrate feasibility and a credible scientific foundation.
What sources of preliminary observations or evidence are acceptable?
The announcement recognizes that observations can come from multiple sources, including laboratory discoveries, population-based studies, clinician experience with patients, or anecdotal data. Even so, the application is still expected to include preliminary and/or published data relevant to SCI and the proposed work.
What is the optional "Qualified Collaborator" feature?
FY14 includes an optional Qualified Collaborator feature intended to promote true multidisciplinary teamwork. SCIRP strongly encourages collaborations across academic science and clinical practice, industry, the military Services, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and other federal agencies, and it also encourages involving early career investigators in the SCI field.
How many Qualified Collaborators can be named under the specific option?
While multiple collaborators may participate in the project overall, only one person may be named under the specific "Qualified Collaborator" option referenced in the announcement.
What documentation is required for the Qualified Collaborator option?
The principal investigator must provide a Statement of Collaboration. The collaborator must submit both a biosketch and a collaboration letter describing their involvement.
What does the program expect from a Qualified Collaborator relationship?
The collaboration is expected to be essential, not cosmetic. The success of the project should clearly depend on the complementary skills of the PI and the collaborator, and the collaborator must contribute in a way that makes the project impossible to carry out without their involvement.
Does providing tissue samples or access to patients qualify someone as the "Qualified Collaborator"?
No. The announcement is explicit that a collaborator who only provides tissue samples or access to patients does not meet the intent for the higher funding level under this option.
Is there a minimum effort requirement for the Qualified Collaborator?
Yes. The collaborator must devote at least a 10 percent level of effort, and that contribution should be reflected in the project budget.
Does the Qualified Collaborator need to be independent (not mentored)?
Yes. The collaborator must be positioned to pursue independent research goals without formal mentorship, indicating the intent is a peer collaboration rather than a mentor-mentee arrangement.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning it is broadly open to many types of applicant organizations, subject to any clarifications in the full announcement.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement stated for this opportunity.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is W81XWH-14-SCIRP-IIRA.
What CFDA number applies to this program?
This opportunity falls under CFDA 12.420 (Military Medical Research and Development).
What type of award instrument is used?
The award instrument type is listed as a cooperative agreement or grant.
How much funding is available and how many awards are anticipated?
The estimated total funding amount is $5.2 million, and approximately six awards are anticipated.
When was this opportunity posted and what were the deadlines?
The opportunity was posted on June 4, 2014. The original and final closing date was October 30, 2014. The archive date was November 29, 2014.
Where can applicants get help with access issues or application assistance?
The notice points applicants to the CDMRP Help Desk at 301-682-5507 for access issues or assistance.
How competitive has this award been historically (based on the information provided)?
The opportunity was first offered in FY09, and by FY14 it had attracted substantial interest. In FY14, 211 applications were submitted and 47 were ultimately recommended for funding.
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