Opportunity Information: Apply for W81XWH 18 SCIRP IIRA
The Department of Defense Spinal Cord Injury Research Program (SCIRP) Investigator-Initiated Research Award (IIRA) is a funding opportunity designed to support spinal cord injury (SCI) studies that can meaningfully advance the field. The program is looking for projects with clear potential to improve SCI research knowledge, patient care, and/or quality of life. While the mechanism is investigator-initiated, applicants are expected to present a well-justified research plan that makes a strong case for why the work matters, what it could change in the near term, and how it could reshape longer-term outcomes for people living with SCI.
A central requirement of the IIRA is impact. Proposals are expected to explain both short-term and long-term benefits, such as how results could influence understanding of SCI biology, improve rehabilitation or clinical decision-making, reduce secondary complications, enhance independence, or otherwise lead to better day-to-day functioning and wellbeing. Importantly, projects must align with at least one of the FY18 SCIRP IIRA Focus Areas (the specific focus areas are referenced in the announcement and applicants would need to choose and justify the match). The expectation is that the research is not only scientifically sound, but also positioned to deliver outcomes that matter beyond the lab.
Military relevance is another defining feature. The proposed work must be relevant to spinal cord-injured Service members, Veterans, and/or their families, caregivers, and support networks. This does not mean the research must be conducted exclusively in military or VA settings, but it does mean applicants should be able to clearly connect the problem being studied and the anticipated benefits to the military and Veteran SCI community. The opportunity also encourages collaboration with military and Veterans Affairs (VA) researchers and clinicians, which can strengthen clinical relevance, facilitate access to real-world patient perspectives, and help with eventual translation into practice within systems that serve injured Service members and Veterans.
The IIRA also places emphasis on preliminary data. Applicants are expected to bring some level of supporting evidence that the idea is grounded and feasible. The announcement is flexible about what counts as the source of that preliminary foundation: it could come from laboratory findings, population-based analyses, a clinician's direct observations in patient care, or even credible anecdotal observations that have been organized into a testable rationale. Regardless of the origin, the application must include preliminary and/or published data that directly relate to the SCIRP mission and the proposed project, helping reviewers see that the work is ready to move forward and not purely speculative.
In terms of scope, the award is broad and can support studies across the research pipeline, from basic to translational. Permitted work includes preclinical research in animal models, studies involving human subjects, and research using human anatomical substances. It can also support correlative studies connected to an existing clinical trial, which is often a practical way to generate meaningful insights using established patient cohorts and data streams. This flexibility allows applicants to propose anything from mechanistic biological studies to clinically anchored investigations, as long as the project remains tied to SCI and meets the impact, military relevance, and preliminary evidence expectations.
Administratively, the opportunity is offered by the Department of Defense (Department of the Army, USAMRAA) under Funding Opportunity Number W81XWH 18 SCIRP IIRA. It falls under the Science and Technology/Research and Development category (CFDA 12.420) and may be supported through either a grant or a cooperative agreement, depending on the level of agency involvement required. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning the opportunity is generally open to a wide range of applicant organizations, subject to any additional eligibility details in the full announcement. The posting indicates an expected five awards. The original opportunity timeline shows a creation date of May 29, 2018 and an original closing date of October 15, 2018, which is useful context for understanding the specific cycle referenced, even though future cycles may update dates, focus areas, and funding details. The listed award ceiling is shown as 0 in the source record, which typically signals that the ceiling was not captured in that dataset field and applicants would need to consult the full program announcement for actual budget limits and guidance.Apply for W81XWH 18 SCIRP IIRA
- The Department of Defense, 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.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 29, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 15, 2018. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the SCIRP Investigator-Initiated Research Award (IIRA)?
The Department of Defense Spinal Cord Injury Research Program (SCIRP) Investigator-Initiated Research Award (IIRA) is a funding opportunity meant to support spinal cord injury (SCI) research studies that can meaningfully advance the field. It is designed for projects that can improve SCI research knowledge, patient care, and/or quality of life.
What is the main goal reviewers are looking for in IIRA proposals?
A central requirement of the IIRA is impact. Applications are expected to clearly explain why the work matters, what it could change in the near term, and how it could shape longer-term outcomes for people living with SCI. The research is expected to deliver outcomes that matter beyond the lab.
What does "impact" mean for this award?
Impact refers to both short-term and long-term benefits that could result from the project. Examples described in the opportunity include influencing understanding of SCI biology, improving rehabilitation or clinical decision-making, reducing secondary complications, enhancing independence, and improving day-to-day functioning and wellbeing.
Do projects have to align with specific focus areas?
Yes. Projects must align with at least one of the FY18 SCIRP IIRA Focus Areas. The opportunity notes that the specific focus areas are referenced in the announcement, and applicants would need to choose and justify how their project matches at least one focus area.
What does "investigator-initiated" mean in this context?
It means the research idea is proposed by the applicant rather than being a narrowly defined topic mandated by the funder. Even so, applicants are expected to provide a well-justified research plan and a strong rationale for relevance, feasibility, and impact.
What is meant by "military relevance" for the SCIRP IIRA?
The proposed work must be relevant to spinal cord-injured Service members, Veterans, and/or their families, caregivers, and support networks. Applicants should clearly connect the SCI problem being studied and the anticipated benefits to the military and Veteran SCI community.
Does the research need to take place in military or VA settings to be considered military relevant?
No. The opportunity states that the research does not need to be conducted exclusively in military or VA settings. The key expectation is the ability to clearly link the work and its anticipated benefits to Service members and Veterans affected by SCI.
Is collaboration with military or VA researchers required?
Collaboration is encouraged. The opportunity notes that collaboration with military and Veterans Affairs (VA) researchers and clinicians can strengthen clinical relevance, support real-world patient perspectives, and help with translation into practice in systems that serve injured Service members and Veterans.
Is preliminary data required for this award?
Yes. The IIRA places emphasis on preliminary data. Applicants are expected to provide supporting evidence showing the idea is grounded and feasible rather than purely speculative.
What types of preliminary evidence are considered acceptable?
The announcement is flexible about the source of preliminary foundation. Examples described include laboratory findings, population-based analyses, clinician observations from patient care, and credible anecdotal observations that have been organized into a testable rationale.
Do preliminary or published data need to be tied to the SCIRP mission and the proposed project?
Yes. The application must include preliminary and/or published data that directly relate to the SCIRP mission and the proposed project so reviewers can see the work is ready to move forward.
What kinds of research are allowed under the IIRA (basic vs. translational)?
The award is broad and can support studies across the research pipeline, from basic to translational research, as long as the project is tied to SCI and meets the expectations for impact, military relevance, and preliminary evidence.
Are animal studies allowed?
Yes. The opportunity states that permitted work includes preclinical research in animal models.
Are human subjects studies allowed?
Yes. The opportunity states that permitted work includes studies involving human subjects.
Can the award support research using human anatomical substances?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly includes research using human anatomical substances as allowable.
Can applicants propose correlative studies connected to an existing clinical trial?
Yes. The opportunity indicates it can support correlative studies connected to an existing clinical trial, which can be a practical way to generate insights using established patient cohorts and existing data streams.
Who is offering this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the Department of Defense, specifically the Department of the Army (USAMRAA), under the Spinal Cord Injury Research Program (SCIRP).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this IIRA cycle?
The Funding Opportunity Number listed is W81XWH 18 SCIRP IIRA.
What category does this opportunity fall under?
It is listed under the Science and Technology/Research and Development category, with CFDA 12.420.
What kind of award instrument is expected (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
The opportunity may be supported through either a grant or a cooperative agreement, depending on the level of agency involvement required.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning it is generally open to a wide range of applicant organizations, subject to any additional eligibility details in the full announcement.
How many awards are expected?
The posting indicates an expected five awards.
What are the dates listed for this opportunity posting?
The record shows a creation date of May 29, 2018 and an original closing date of October 15, 2018. These dates describe the specific cycle referenced in the provided information.
Does the information provided include the award budget ceiling?
The listed award ceiling is shown as 0 in the source record. This typically indicates the ceiling was not captured in that dataset field, and applicants would need to consult the full program announcement for actual budget limits and guidance.
Is the IIRA focused only on scientific merit, or also on real-world outcomes?
Based on the opportunity description, it emphasizes both scientific soundness and real-world outcomes, with a strong expectation that the proposed work is positioned to deliver meaningful benefits beyond the laboratory.
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| DoD Spinal Cord Injury Clinical Trial Award Apply for W81XWH 18 SCIRP CTA Funding Number: W81XWH 18 SCIRP CTA Agency: Department of Defense, Dept. of the Army -- USAMRAA Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Rocky Mountain CESU Apply for G18AS00048 Funding Number: G18AS00048 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $48,300 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Rocky Mountain CESU Apply for G18AS00050 Funding Number: G18AS00050 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $49,521 |
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| DoD Hearing Restoration Translational Research Award Apply for W81XWH 18 HRRP TRA Funding Number: W81XWH 18 HRRP TRA Agency: Department of Defense, Dept. of the Army -- USAMRAA Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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