DoD Spinal Cord Injury Translational Research Award | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the DoD Spinal Cord Injury Translational Research Award (SCIRP TRA)?

The SCIRP Translational Research Award (Funding Opportunity Number W81XWH-14-SCIRP-TRA) is a Department of the Army/USAMRAA funding opportunity under the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP). It is designed to push promising spinal cord injury (SCI) research toward real-world clinical use by supporting translational research with a credible path to clinical application.

What is the main goal of this award?

The central goal is to accelerate movement from scientific observations into clinical applications for spinal cord injury. The program emphasizes research that is positioned to move forward along a clear translational trajectory rather than remaining at an exploratory or purely conceptual stage.

How does the program define "translational research" for this award?

Translational research is framed as a two-way, iterative exchange between basic science and clinical science. Clinical insights are expected to inform laboratory work, and laboratory findings are expected to feed back into development that is clinically meaningful. The intent is not a simple one-direction "bench to bedside" plan, but an integrated approach connecting discovery and clinical needs.

Where can project ideas originate under this funding opportunity?

Research ideas can begin from multiple starting points, including laboratory discoveries, population-based studies, or direct clinical experience and patient observations. The opportunity also notes that anecdotal clinical insights may be acceptable as a starting point as long as they are developed rigorously into testable and actionable strategies.

Are preliminary data required to apply?

Yes. Applications must include preliminary and/or published data that are directly relevant to spinal cord injury and the proposed project. This requirement signals that the award is not meant for purely speculative early-stage concepts.

Does the preliminary/published data have to be directly related to spinal cord injury (SCI)?

Yes. The announcement specifies that the preliminary and/or published data must be directly relevant to SCI and the proposed work, reinforcing that the project should already have an SCI-specific foundation.

Is this award intended for early-stage or speculative concepts?

No. The requirement for preliminary and/or published SCI-relevant data indicates the program is intended for projects with an established foundation that are ready to be advanced through a translational development plan.

Is there guidance on how to structure a translational development plan?

Yes. The announcement points applicants to established translational development frameworks, referencing the National Cancer Institute "Pathways to Clinical Goals" as a resource. This suggests proposals should be organized around a coherent pathway toward clinical endpoints rather than a set of disconnected experiments.

How competitive is this funding opportunity?

The announcement indicates selective outcomes at the time (21 applications received and 4 recommended for funding), which suggests a competitive program focused on clear translational trajectories supported by credible evidence.

How many awards were expected, and what was the estimated total funding?

The expected number of awards was 3, with an estimated total funding amount of $6.4 million.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The opportunity states that cost sharing or matching was not required.

Who is encouraged to collaborate on projects?

The FY14 announcement strongly encourages multidisciplinary collaborations across sectors, including academic researchers and clinicians, industry scientists, the military Services, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and other federal agencies.

Are collaborations with early career investigators encouraged?

Yes. Collaborations that include early career investigators in the SCI field are specifically encouraged.

What is the optional "Qualified Collaborator" feature?

The opportunity includes an optional "Qualified Collaborator" feature that allows an application to formally name a collaborator under that specific option, with defined expectations and documentation requirements.

How many Qualified Collaborators can be named under the option?

While multiple collaborators may participate in a project, only one collaborator can be named under the specific "Qualified Collaborator" option.

What documentation is required for the Qualified Collaborator option?

The application must include a formal Statement of Collaboration identifying the collaborator and explaining how the collaboration meets the program criteria. The collaborator must also provide a biographical sketch and a letter of collaboration describing their role.

What does the program expect from a Qualified Collaborator relationship?

The collaboration is expected to be substantive, with the project genuinely depending on complementary skills from both the Principal Investigator (PI) and the collaborator. The collaborator should contribute in a way that is essential to completing the work.

What types of collaborator contributions are described as insufficient?

The announcement explicitly states that simply providing tissue samples or access to patients is insufficient and does not meet the intent for the higher level of funding associated with the collaboration option.

Is there a minimum effort requirement for the Qualified Collaborator?

Yes. The collaborator must commit at least a 10 percent level of effort, and that effort should be reflected in the budget.

Does the Qualified Collaborator need to be independent?

Yes. The collaborator must be in an independent position with freedom to pursue research goals without formal mentorship, indicating they are expected to function as a true scientific partner rather than a trainee.

Which agency and program administer this opportunity?

The opportunity is administered under the Department of the Army/USAMRAA as part of the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP).

What are the key dates listed for this opportunity?

The opportunity was posted on June 4, 2014. The original closing date and the current closing date were both October 30, 2014. The archive date is November 29, 2014.

What type of program is this listed as?

It is listed as a discretionary program supporting science and technology and other research and development activities.

What funding instruments are used?

The opportunity supports grant and cooperative agreement funding instruments.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed as unrestricted (open to any entity type), subject to any clarifications that may appear in the full announcement.

What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA number associated with the program is 12.420 (Military Medical Research and Development).

Who should be contacted for access issues with the full announcement?

For access issues with the full announcement, the contact provided is the CDMRP Help Desk at 301-682-5507.