DoW Spinal Cord Injury, Translational Research Award
🏛 Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA (DOD-AMRAA)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 29, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for research organizations and institutions conducting translational research on spinal cord injury. Eligible applicants include universities, medical institutions, nonprofits, and for-profit entities with research capacity. Projects must advance spinal cord injury treatment from bench to clinical application. The research must align with U.S. Army priorities and benefit service members or the general population. Geographic scope is limited to the United States and its territories.
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Program description
Summary: The fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Spinal Cord Injury Research Program (SCIRP) Translational Research Award (TRA) supports translational research that will accelerate the movement of promising ideas in spinal cord injury (SCI) research into clinical applications.
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 Be advised, all associated applications for a research project may be withdrawn if the initiating or partnering application is rejected or administratively withdrawn.
• Applications to this funding opportunity must name at least one SCI community partner (e.g., SCI Lived-Experience Consultant, representative of community-based organizations) who will provide advice and consultation throughout the planning and implementation of the research project.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project Narrative (aims, methods, timeline, transition plan)
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Curriculum Vitae (key personnel)
- Institutional Biosafety/IACUC Approvals (if applicable)
- Letters of Institutional Support
- Preliminary Data and Publications
- NIH Biosketch (if required by solicitation)
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
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$2,265,729,366
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$800,631,761
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$74,531,880
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$67,205,571
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$55,443,120
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$34,191,124
-
$24,783,894
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$21,394,379
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$19,100,256
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$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 is eligible to apply for this grant?
Universities, medical centers, research institutions, and some for-profits can apply. Your organization must have institutional capacity to conduct translational research.
What is the application deadline?
The deadline is November 12, 2026. Applications open May 5, 2026. Plan to submit 4-6 months before the deadline.
What types of research activities are supported?
Translational research moving spinal cord injury findings toward clinical use. Studies on diagnostics, therapeutics, rehabilitation, and recovery enhancement are typical.
How competitive is this funding?
DOD research grants are highly competitive. Strong preliminary data, institutional support, and alignment with military priorities strengthen applications.
What is the typical funding range?
DoD translational research awards typically range from $500,000 to $2 million over 2-5 years. Check the specific solicitation for award caps.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Use preliminary data to demonstrate feasibility. DOD reviewers want proof-of-concept evidence before funding full-scale research.
- Align your aims explicitly with Army priorities: treating service members, improving readiness, or advancing military medicine.
- Budget realistically for personnel and equipment. DOD reviewers scrutinize overhead and require detailed cost justifications.
- Include a clear transition pathway to clinical use. Translational awards must show how findings move toward patients or practice.
- Get institutional letters of support early. Demonstrate your facility's commitment to completing the research and supporting your team.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Lack of clear preliminary data or proof-of-concept undermines translational claims. Weak alignment with Army priorities or military benefit reduces competitiveness. Insufficient detail on team expertise or institutional capacity raises red flags.
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