Opportunity Information: Apply for W81XWH 11 SCIRP IIRA
Apply for W81XWH 11 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 1, 2011 and posted on Jun 1, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 1, 2011. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $2,400,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 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 (USAMRAA) Spinal Cord Injury Research Program (SCIRP) designed to support innovative spinal cord injury (SCI) research with clear, practical relevance to military communities. First introduced in FY09, the program has been competitive, with 104 applications received and 19 recommended for funding up to the point described in the announcement. The core purpose is to back studies that could meaningfully advance SCI science and/or improve patient care, especially in ways that address the health care needs of active-duty Service members, veterans, and also caregivers and family members.
A central requirement is military relevance: every proposal must specifically and clearly explain how the work matters to military populations or contexts. While the research topic can be investigator-initiated, it must also align with one of the program's stated Areas of Encouragement and be positioned as an innovative contribution rather than incremental work. The announcement also encourages collaboration with military researchers and clinicians, which can strengthen the connection to real-world military health needs and improve the likelihood that findings translate into practice.
The IIRA supports a wide range of research stages, spanning basic research through translational efforts. This includes preclinical studies using animal models, studies involving human subjects, and correlative studies that are linked to an existing clinical trial (for example, analyzing biomarkers, outcomes data, or other associated measures). Importantly, the program emphasizes that strong research ideas can come from multiple sources, including lab discoveries, population-based studies, a clinician's direct observations with patients, or even anecdotal evidence, as long as the application builds a credible scientific rationale around them. A firm requirement is that applications include SCI-relevant preliminary data tied to the proposed project, underscoring that this mechanism is meant for projects that already have an initial evidence base rather than purely speculative concepts.
Human subjects research and the use of human anatomical substances are allowed, but clinical trials are explicitly not permitted under this award. The announcement defines a clinical trial as prospective enrollment of human subjects to test an intervention (such as a drug, device, biologic, surgery, rehabilitation approach, behavioral intervention, or similar) in order to measure outcomes related to safety, effectiveness, efficacy, or exploratory endpoints, where the outcome reflects a direct effect of the intervention or interaction on the participant. Applicants who want to run clinical trials, particularly those focused on rehabilitation, are directed instead to a separate SCIRP mechanism (the FY11 SCIRP Clinical Trial Award - Rehabilitation).
For any project involving human subjects or human anatomical substances, there is a detailed regulatory pathway beyond typical institutional requirements. DoD-funded human research must be reviewed and approved not only by the applicant's local Institutional Review Board (IRB), but also by the US Army Medical Research and Materiel Command Office of Research Protections, Human Research Protection Office (HRPO). Notably, local IRB approval is not required at the time of application submission, but applicants should plan for the additional DoD-level regulatory requirements, which can be more demanding than standard IRB review and may require extra documentation. The announcement advises allowing at least four months for these approval processes, reflecting the rigor of DoD-specific laws and directives governing human research.
Administratively, this opportunity is listed as Funding Opportunity Number W81XWH 11 SCIRP IIRA and uses grant and cooperative agreement instruments under a science and technology/research and development activity category. Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning a broad range of organizations may apply unless additional eligibility clarifications appear elsewhere in the full announcement. The estimated total funding for the cycle is $2.4 million with an expectation of about three awards, and the posting indicates no cost sharing or matching requirement. The opportunity was posted June 1, 2011, with an application closing date of December 1, 2011, and an archive date of December 31, 2011. For access issues or assistance, the announcement provides the CDMRP Help Desk contact at 301-682-5507.
DoD Spinal Cord Injury Investigator Initiated Research Award (IIRA) FAQs
What is the DoD Spinal Cord Injury Investigator Initiated Research Award (IIRA)?
The IIRA is a funding opportunity under the Department of the Army (USAMRAA) Spinal Cord Injury Research Program (SCIRP) that supports innovative spinal cord injury (SCI) research with clear, practical relevance to military communities. The goal is to fund studies that can meaningfully advance SCI science and/or improve patient care, particularly for active-duty Service members, veterans, and also caregivers and family members.
What is the main purpose of this award?
The main purpose is to support innovative SCI research that has practical military relevance and the potential to improve outcomes, care, or understanding of spinal cord injury in ways that matter to military populations and contexts.
What does "investigator-initiated" mean in this program?
It means the research topic can be proposed by the investigator rather than being narrowly prescribed. However, the project must still align with one of the program's stated Areas of Encouragement and must be positioned as an innovative contribution rather than incremental work.
Is military relevance required?
Yes. A central requirement is that every proposal must specifically and clearly explain how the work matters to military populations or military contexts. Military relevance must be explicit, not implied.
Who is the research expected to benefit?
The opportunity emphasizes relevance to the health care needs of active-duty Service members and veterans, and it also highlights caregivers and family members as part of the community impacted by SCI-related health and care needs.
What types of research are supported (basic vs. translational)?
The IIRA supports a wide range of stages, from basic research through translational efforts. The announcement notes that supported work can include preclinical animal studies, studies involving human subjects (with appropriate approvals), and correlative studies linked to an existing clinical trial.
Are animal model studies allowed?
Yes. Preclinical studies using animal models are explicitly included as an example of the kinds of research stages this mechanism can support.
Are studies involving human subjects allowed?
Yes. Human subjects research is allowed under this award, provided the project follows the required review and approval processes described in the announcement (including DoD-level review).
Is research using human anatomical substances allowed?
Yes. The use of human anatomical substances is allowed, but it triggers additional oversight requirements beyond typical institutional processes, including DoD-level human research protections review.
Are clinical trials allowed under this award?
No. Clinical trials are explicitly not permitted under this award.
How does the announcement define a "clinical trial"?
The announcement defines a clinical trial as prospectively enrolling human subjects to test an intervention (such as a drug, device, biologic, surgery, rehabilitation approach, behavioral intervention, or similar) in order to measure outcomes related to safety, effectiveness, efficacy, or exploratory endpoints, where the outcome reflects a direct effect of the intervention or interaction on the participant.
If clinical trials are not allowed, what should applicants do if they want to run one?
The announcement directs applicants who want to run clinical trials, particularly rehabilitation-focused trials, to a different SCIRP mechanism: the FY11 SCIRP Clinical Trial Award - Rehabilitation.
Are correlative studies tied to clinical trials allowed?
Yes. Correlative studies linked to an existing clinical trial are specifically mentioned as allowable, such as analyzing biomarkers, outcomes data, or other associated measures, as long as the proposed work itself is not a clinical trial.
Does this award require preliminary data?
Yes. Applications must include SCI-relevant preliminary data tied to the proposed project. This requirement indicates the mechanism is intended for projects with an initial evidence base rather than purely speculative ideas.
What kinds of sources can justify a strong research idea for this award?
The announcement indicates that strong research ideas may come from multiple sources, including laboratory discoveries, population-based studies, clinician observations with patients, or even anecdotal evidence, as long as the application builds a credible scientific rationale and includes SCI-relevant preliminary data tied to the proposed work.
Is collaboration with military researchers or clinicians encouraged?
Yes. Collaboration with military researchers and clinicians is encouraged as a way to strengthen the connection to real-world military health needs and improve the likelihood that findings translate into practice.
What approvals are required for DoD-funded human subjects research?
DoD-funded human research must be reviewed and approved by both the applicant's local Institutional Review Board (IRB) and the US Army Medical Research and Materiel Command Office of Research Protections, Human Research Protection Office (HRPO).
Is local IRB approval required at the time of application submission?
No. The announcement states that local IRB approval is not required at the time of application submission. However, applicants should plan for the additional DoD-level requirements and timelines.
How long should applicants plan for the human research approval process?
The announcement advises allowing at least four months for the approval processes associated with human subjects research and/or human anatomical substances due to DoD-specific laws and directives and the additional documentation that may be required.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this award?
The Funding Opportunity Number listed in the announcement is W81XWH 11 SCIRP IIRA.
What type of funding instrument does this opportunity use?
The opportunity uses grant and cooperative agreement instruments.
How much total funding is estimated for this cycle, and how many awards are expected?
The estimated total funding is $2.4 million, with an expectation of about three awards.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The posting indicates there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning a broad range of organizations may apply unless additional eligibility clarifications appear elsewhere in the full announcement.
When was the opportunity posted, and what were the key dates?
The opportunity was posted on June 1, 2011. The application closing date is December 1, 2011, and the archive date is December 31, 2011.
What should applicants do if they have trouble accessing the announcement or need assistance?
The announcement provides the CDMRP Help Desk contact for access issues or assistance: 301-682-5507.
What kind of work is this opportunity trying to avoid funding?
Based on the announcement, the award is intended for innovative contributions rather than incremental work, and it does not support clinical trials under its definition of prospective intervention testing in human subjects.
Does the program have a competitive history?
Yes. The announcement notes that since it was first introduced in FY09, the program has been competitive, with 104 applications received and 19 recommended for funding up to the point described.
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