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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - DoD Spinal Cord Injury Qualitative Research Award (SCIRP QRA, FY2010)

What is the DoD Spinal Cord Injury Qualitative Research Award (SCIRP QRA)?

The SCIRP Qualitative Research Award (QRA) was a FY2010 funding opportunity from the Department of the Army (USAMRAA) under the DoD Spinal Cord Injury Research Program. It was created to support qualitative research focused on the lived experience of people with spinal cord injury (SCI), with a strong emphasis on service members, combat veterans, and the families and caregivers who support them.

What was the main purpose of this award?

The purpose was to generate qualitative insights that can directly improve patient care, quality of life, health, and functional outcomes for people living with SCI. It also aimed to help the field develop better outcome measures and improve understanding of different SCI patient populations, including differences related to age, gender, ethnicity, and co-morbid conditions.

What kinds of research methods were expected?

This mechanism was designed specifically for qualitative methods that help researchers understand how individuals interpret experiences and navigate life after SCI. Examples included interviews, focus groups, and other open-ended approaches.

Who was the research intended to benefit?

The program particularly emphasized research relevant to Armed Forces personnel and combat veterans with SCI, as well as the family members and caregivers involved in their care and recovery.

What types of research topics were considered a good fit?

Topics were broad, but needed to center on understanding barriers, influences, and coping strategies that shape recovery and long-term well-being after SCI. Example areas included obstacles to returning to active duty or re-integrating into civilian life, factors affecting health and quality of life during hospitalization and rehabilitation, and psychosocial adjustment and adaptation to disability.

Did the announcement encourage collaboration with military partners?

Yes. The announcement explicitly encouraged collaboration with military clinicians and researchers to keep projects grounded in military care settings and aligned with military and veteran health priorities.

What does "practical relevance to military and veteran health needs" mean in this context?

Projects needed to be clearly applicable to real-world health care challenges faced by Armed Forces personnel and combat veterans with SCI. The intent was that findings would be useful for improving care delivery, recovery support, and long-term outcomes in military- and veteran-relevant settings.

Were applicants required to have preliminary data?

No. Applicants were allowed to include preliminary or published data, but it was not required. This lowered the barrier for well-grounded qualitative studies that may be early stage but still highly relevant.

Was this award mechanism offered before FY2010?

No. The Qualitative Research Award mechanism was offered for the first time in FY2010.

Were clinical trials allowed under this funding opportunity?

No. Clinical trials were specifically prohibited under this mechanism.

If a project involves testing an intervention in people, is this the right award?

No. Investigators interested in prospective intervention testing (where an intervention is applied to human subjects and measured for safety and/or efficacy) were directed to use the SCIRP Clinical Trial Award - Rehabilitation mechanism instead.

What kinds of caregiver and family-related topics were specifically mentioned?

The announcement included examples such as the impact of caregiving and health care delivery on spouses and families, including career disruption, physical strain or injury, relationship and intimacy issues, and other family dynamics.

Did the award support research on psychosocial adjustment after SCI?

Yes. Identifying factors and strategies that support psychosocial adjustment and adaptation to disability was explicitly included, including how involvement of family and friends may influence quality of life and health outcomes.

What agency and administrative office were associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity was from the Department of the Army, administered through USAMRAA, and associated with CDMRP support contacts for access and submission help.

What was the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number was W81XWH-10-SCIRP-QRA.

What CFDA number was associated with this award?

This opportunity fell under CFDA 12.420, Military Medical Research and Development.

When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?

It was posted on June 18, 2010 and closed on December 1, 2010. It was archived on December 31, 2010.

How many awards were anticipated?

The opportunity anticipated about three awards.

What was the estimated total funding amount?

The estimated total funding amount across anticipated awards was $11,250,000.

Was cost sharing or matching required?

No. Cost sharing or matching was not required.

What types of funding instruments were used?

The opportunity used grant and cooperative agreement instruments.

What activity category did this opportunity fall under?

It fell under a science and technology/research and development activity category.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was listed as unrestricted, meaning it was open to any entity type, subject to any additional eligibility clarifications that may have been described in the full announcement.

What sources of ideas for strong research questions did the program recognize?

The program recognized that strong research questions can come from multiple sources, including clinical observation, population-based findings, laboratory discoveries that raise new human-centered questions, or anecdotal patterns that suggest unmet needs worth systematic qualitative exploration.

Where could applicants get help with access or submission?

The announcement provided CDMRP help contacts, including PA/eReceipt assistance through CDMRP help desk channels.