DoD Spinal Cord Injury, Translational Research Award | W81XWH 21 SCIRP TRA

FAQs: DoD Spinal Cord Injury Research Program (SCIRP) Translational Research Award (TRA)

What is the SCIRP Translational Research Award (TRA)?

The SCIRP Translational Research Award (TRA) is a discretionary Department of Defense funding opportunity administered through the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA). It supports translational spinal cord injury (SCI) research intended to move promising discoveries closer to real-world clinical use.

What is the main goal of this award?

The central goal is to fund translational research that actively accelerates progress from an observation or prototype toward a clinical application that could improve care for people with SCI. The emphasis is on generating actionable evidence that helps justify and inform the next stage of development.

What does the program mean by “translational” research?

In this opportunity, “translational” is broader than a simple bench-to-bedside pipeline. Applicants are encouraged to design projects that support two-way learning between laboratory and clinical settings, where patient- and clinician-informed insights can shape preclinical work, and preclinical findings can directly guide clinical approaches.

What types of projects are considered a fit for the TRA?

Representative examples described include demonstration studies of pharmaceuticals or medical devices in preclinical systems, and clinical research on therapeutics, devices, or clinical practices that uses human tissues, human data, or other human resources. Across these examples, projects should produce results that reduce uncertainty and speed clinical introduction of healthcare products, enabling technologies, or practice guidelines.

Is this award intended for basic science or exploratory projects?

No. The TRA is intended to fund projects that do more than explore basic mechanisms. It is not aimed at purely exploratory ideas without supporting data. Instead, it supports concepts that already have relevant evidence and can be advanced toward clinical impact within the scope of the project.

What kind of supporting evidence is required in an application?

Applications must be grounded in relevant evidence and include preliminary and/or published data related to SCI that directly support the feasibility and rationale for the proposed work.

How should applicants describe where their project fits on the translational spectrum?

Applicants are expected to clearly map the project onto the translational spectrum by addressing three points: (1) where the field currently stands, (2) where the field will be after the project is successfully completed, and (3) what the next step will be once the project ends.

What does “where the field currently stands” mean in this context?

It refers to explaining the present state of knowledge, capability, or unmet need that motivates the proposed work.

What does “where the field will be after the project is completed” mean?

It means describing the concrete advance the project will deliver if successful, such as validated proof-of-concept, improved safety or performance data, a clinically usable protocol, or evidence supporting a subsequent trial.

What does “what the next step will be once the project ends” refer to?

It refers to identifying the specific follow-on step enabled by the project results, such as a follow-on preclinical milestone, a regulatory step, a clinical trial phase, a commercialization pathway, or an implementation study.

Does the opportunity encourage use of human-based resources?

Yes. The program’s examples include clinical research and studies that use human tissues, human data, or other human resources, especially where those inputs strengthen translational relevance and decision-making.

Who should benefit from the proposed research?

The work must be relevant to the Department of Defense community and the broader public. Proposed research should have clear applicability to active-duty Service Members, Veterans, military beneficiaries, and/or the American public affected by SCI.

Which agency administers this funding opportunity?

The opportunity is run through the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA) under the Department of Defense Spinal Cord Injury Research Program (SCIRP).

What is the funding opportunity identifier?

The funding opportunity is identified as W81XWH 21 SCIRP TRA.

What type of funding instrument is offered?

The posting indicates the award may be offered as either a grant or a cooperative agreement.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is listed under CFDA 12.420.

How is the activity category described?

The listing places it within the “Science and Technology and other Research and Development” activity category.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning it is open to any type of applicant entity, subject to any additional eligibility clarifications in the full announcement.

How many awards are expected?

The posting indicates an expected number of awards of five.

Is there a stated maximum (ceiling) award amount?

The listing shows an award ceiling of 0. This typically indicates that the ceiling is not specified in the summary record and that applicants should consult the full funding announcement for budget constraints and details.

When was the opportunity created and when did it close?

The opportunity was created on March 29, 2021, and the original closing date was September 3, 2021.

What kinds of outcomes does the program emphasize?

The program emphasizes actionable results that reduce uncertainty and speed clinical introduction of healthcare products, enabling technologies, or practice guidelines for SCI.

What are examples of “next-stage” readiness this award aims to support?

Examples described include readiness for a first-in-human study, refinement of a device or therapy for clinical testing, or clinical research that changes how an intervention is used or evaluated.