Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP) Program: Burn Injury as A Lifelong Condition
Can you apply?
This grant is for research organizations, universities, medical centers, and nonprofits conducting disability and rehabilitation research focused on burn injuries as a chronic, lifelong condition. Applicants must be able to conduct rigorous research, typically including academic medical centers, rehabilitation research centers, and organizations with existing research infrastructure. The program supports projects that advance understanding of long-term outcomes, functional recovery, psychosocial impacts, and rehabilitation interventions for burn survivors across the lifespan. Geographic scope is nationwide, and funding supports applied research that translates to improved care and quality of life for individuals with burn injuries. Organizations must have demonstrated capacity for conducting federally-funded research and compliance with regulations governing human subjects research.
Key dates
- Apr 22, 2026 Applications open
- Jun 24, 2026 Application deadline in 23 days
- Sep 1, 2026 Award announced
- Sep 1, 2026 Project start
This grant is for research organizations, universities, medical centers, and nonprofits conducting disability and rehabilitation research focused on burn injuries as a chronic, lifelong condition. Applicants must be able to conduct rigorous research, typically including academic medical centers, rehabilitation research centers, and organizations with existing research infrastructure. The program supports projects that advance understanding of long-term outcomes, functional recovery, psychosocial impacts, and rehabilitation interventions for burn survivors across the lifespan. Geographic scope is nationwide, and funding supports applied research that translates to improved care and quality of life for individuals with burn injuries. Organizations must have demonstrated capacity for conducting federally-funded research and compliance with regulations governing human subjects research.
Program description
Under this particular DRRP priority, the objective is to improve long-term health and function or community living outcomes among people with burn injury. The grantee may conduct research at the intervention-development, intervention efficacy, or scale-up evaluation stage of research. The grantee will conduct this research toward the development and testing of interventions, services, and supports to address the complex and varied life-long needs of people with burn injury. This grant will have a 36-month project period, with three 12-month budget periods.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- City / Municipal Government
- County Government
- Hospital
- Nonprofits
- Private University
- Public University
- Small Business (SBA-defined)
- Special District
- State Government
- Tribal Nation
- Tribal Organization
Demographic focus
Details
This grant is for research organizations, universities, medical centers, and nonprofits conducting disability and rehabilitation research focused on burn injuries as a chronic, lifelong condition. Applicants must be able to conduct rigorous research, typically including academic medical centers, rehabilitation research centers, and organizations with existing research infrastructure. The program supports projects that advance understanding of long-term outcomes, functional recovery, psychosocial impacts, and rehabilitation interventions for burn survivors across the lifespan. Geographic scope is nationwide, and funding supports applied research that translates to improved care and quality of life for individuals with burn injuries. Organizations must have demonstrated capacity for conducting federally-funded research and compliance with regulations governing human subjects research.
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project narrative (typically 15–25 pages, including specific aims, significance, approach, and timeline)
- Budget and budget justification
- Biographical sketches and CV of key personnel
- Institutional assurances and compliance certifications
- Letters of support from institutional affiliations and partner organizations
- Human subjects protection plan (IRB approval or pending status)
- Data management and sharing plan
- Conflict of interest disclosures
Program contact
- 👤 Radha Holavanahalli
- 📧 radha.holavanahalli@acl.hhs.gov
- 📞 (202) 795-7321
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.433 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$6,230,000
-
$6,230,000
-
$6,230,000
-
$6,230,000
-
$6,229,999
-
$5,560,825
-
$5,560,824
-
Transcen Inc MD$5,560,823
-
$5,557,344
-
$5,407,677
Top States by Funding
- IL 14 awards $60.6M
- PA 9 awards $35.6M
- NY 6 awards $30.8M
- MA 6 awards $21.3M
- CA 4 awards $20.8M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.433). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $112,987,188 | |
| 2025 | $112,711,817 | |
| 2026 est. | $110,762,762 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for this grant?
Universities, medical schools, research hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and 501(c)(3) nonprofits with established research capabilities and infrastructure. Some programs accept applications from unaffiliated researchers with institutional sponsorship.
What types of burn injury research does this program support?
Research on long-term medical, functional, psychosocial, and vocational outcomes; rehabilitation interventions; scar management; pain management; and quality-of-life improvements for burn survivors of all ages.
What is the typical funding range?
Disability research grants from ACL typically range from $100,000–$400,000 annually, though amounts vary by project scope and program year.
How competitive is this program?
Very competitive. Expect strong proposals from established research institutions. Success requires clear research questions, proven investigator expertise, feasibility plans, and demonstrated relevance to the burn survivor population.
When should I plan to submit?
Application opens April 22, 2026. Check Grants.gov for the specific submission deadline, which is typically 30–60 days after the opening date.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Focus on research questions that address a significant gap in burn rehabilitation science and have clear potential for improving outcomes or practice standards. Avoid purely basic science unless directly linked to clinical translation.
- Include a strong team with documented expertise in burn care, rehabilitation, and research methodology. Letters of support from burn centers or rehabilitation facilities strengthen applications.
- Develop a clear, feasible timeline and realistic budget that accounts for participant recruitment, retention, and potential attrition in longitudinal studies.
- Use preliminary data and pilot findings to demonstrate proof of concept. Reviewers want evidence that your approach is viable before committing federal funds.
- Align your project with ACL's mission of promoting independent living and community integration for people with disabilities—emphasize real-world applicability and potential policy or practice impact.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications often fail when they lack preliminary data or clear evidence of feasibility, pursue purely theoretical research without clear clinical relevance, or lack strong partnerships with burn centers or rehabilitation facilities needed for participant recruitment. Weak team qualifications, vague research aims, and failure to address the specific focus on burn injury as a lifelong condition (rather than acute recovery alone) are frequent reasons for rejection.
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