DoW Spinal Cord Injury, Investigator-Initiated Research Award
🏛 Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA (DOD-AMRAA)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 28, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for researchers conducting independent investigator-initiated research on spinal cord injury. Eligible applicants typically include academic institutions, research hospitals, medical centers, government laboratories, and nonprofit research organizations. Some funding mechanisms may support individual researchers at eligible institutions. The program supports basic, translational, and clinical research aimed at advancing understanding of spinal cord injury and developing new treatments. Applicants should have demonstrated research capability and appropriate institutional oversight structures (IRB, IACUC as needed). There are typically no geographic restrictions; U.S. and foreign institutions may be eligible if they meet other requirements. The award may include restrictions on indirect costs or require cost-sharing depending on applicant type.
Not the right fit? Find grants for your organization in 5 questions →
Program description
Summary: The fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Spinal Cord Injury Research Program (SCIRP) Investigator-Initiated Research Award (IIRA) supports studies that have the potential to make an important contribution to spinal cord injury (SCI) research, patient care and/or quality of life. May focus on any phase of research from basic through translational science, though studies that focus solely on identifying intervention targets are discouraged.
Distinctive Features:
• This funding opportunity contains an Early-Career Partnership Option, which allows for two Principal Investigators (PIs). If this option is selected, at least one of the named PIs must be an early-career investigator. Only the initiating PI will submit a pre-application, but all PIs will need to submit full applications. The partnering PI’s application is an abbreviated package specific to their distinct portion of the research project. If recommended for funding, each PI will be named on a separate award to the recipient organization(s). Be advised, all associated applications for a research project may be withdrawn if the initiating or partnering application is rejected or administratively withdrawn.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (R&R) federal grant application form
- Project narrative (typically 15 pages for research proposal)
- Detailed budget and budget justification
- Biographical sketches of key personnel (NIH format)
- Current and pending support documentation
- Letters of institutional support and commitment
- Research strategy (specific aims, background, preliminary data, methods)
- Timeline and milestones
- IRB and/or IACUC approvals (or evidence of pending review) if human or animal subjects involved
- Facilities and equipment documentation
Program contact
- 👤 Abigail Strock Contract Specialist
- 📧 help@eBRAP.org
- 📞 3016192342
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 12.420 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$2,265,729,366
-
$800,631,761
-
$74,531,880
-
$67,205,571
-
$55,443,120
-
$34,191,124
-
$24,783,894
-
$21,394,379
-
$19,100,256
-
$19,002,641
Top States by Funding
- MD 10 awards $3,150.1M
- NC 11 awards $132.3M
- CA 12 awards $107.3M
- FL 8 awards $99.8M
- MA 8 awards $83.2M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 12.420). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $1,483,968,520 | |
| 2025 | $1,201,153,417 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this spinal cord injury research award?
Typically, academic institutions, research hospitals, government labs, nonprofits, and other research organizations with appropriate institutional infrastructure can apply. Some awards may allow individual researchers if sponsored by an eligible institution. Check the specific FOA for details on eligibility of foreign institutions and small businesses.
What is the deadline and application window?
The application opens May 5, 2026 and has a fixed deadline of November 12, 2026. Applicants should submit well before the deadline to allow time for grants.gov processing and institutional approvals.
What types of research does this award support?
The program supports investigator-initiated research on spinal cord injury, including basic science, translational research, and clinical studies that advance prevention, treatment, or recovery outcomes. Applied research with clear clinical relevance is typically competitive.
How competitive is this award?
DoD spinal cord injury funding is moderately to highly competitive. Success rates typically range from 15-30% depending on the specific funding mechanism and fiscal year. Strong preliminary data, innovation, and clear clinical impact significantly improve competitiveness.
What is the typical funding range?
Award amounts vary by mechanism; investigator-initiated awards typically range from $200,000 to $600,000 over 2-3 years. Check the solicitation for specific cap amounts and allowable project periods.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Review the full FOA carefully for your specific research category (basic, translational, or clinical); tailor your approach accordingly and emphasize how your work addresses unmet clinical needs in spinal cord injury.
- Establish clear, measurable research milestones and timelines; DoD reviewers expect well-defined go/no-go decision points and realistic budget justification tied directly to specific aims.
- Include letters of support from your institution and any clinical or industry partners; demonstrate institutional commitment through cost-share where applicable and highlight access to relevant facilities or patient populations.
- Build a strong preliminary data section; competitive applications show published or preliminary evidence that your approach is feasible and that you have the expertise to execute the work.
- Address military relevance or dual-use applicability if possible; DoD priorities often include treatments applicable to service members with combat-related spinal cord injuries, though civilian research is also funded.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications often fail because they lack sufficient preliminary data or clear feasibility evidence, leaving reviewers uncertain whether the investigator can execute the proposed work on schedule. Additionally, many proposals underestimate the importance of clinical context and relevance—reviewers want to see how the research addresses real gaps in spinal cord injury prevention, treatment, or recovery. Finally, poor budget justification and unclear alignment with DoD strategic priorities (including military health relevance) significantly weakens competitiveness.
Similar grants
- OPEN DoW Spinal Cord Injury, Clinical Trial Award — Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA
- OPEN DoW Spinal Cord Injury, Translational Research Award — Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA
- OPEN DoW Spinal Cord Injury, Clinical Translation Research Award — Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA
- OPEN DoW Multiple Sclerosis Investigator-Initiated Research Award — Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA
- CLOSING SOON Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems Centers — Administration for Community Living