Spinal Cord Injury Research Program Translational Research Partnership Award

Post Date

July 14th 2009

Application Due Date

December 10th 2009

Funding Opportunity Number

W81XWH-09-SCIRP-TRPA

CFDA Number(s)

12.420

Funding Instrument Type(s)

Cooperative Agreement
Grant

Funding Activity Categories

Science and Technology and other Research and Development

Number of Awards

5

Eligibility Categories

Unrestricted

Funding

• Estimated Total Funding:

  $6000000

• Award Range:

  $0 - $0

Grant Description

The intent of the SCIRP Translational Research Partnership Award is to encourage multi-institutional, multidisciplinary partnerships among clinicians and laboratory scientists that accelerate the movement of promising ideas in SCI research into clinical applications. Proposals that focus on research outcome measures are encouraged. This award is intended to support both new and established scientists across a broad spectrum of disciplines in research projects that are likely to make a major impact on SCI research. The SCIRP Translational Research Partnership Award supports the development of translational research partnerships among two to three independent investigators. Proposals are to address one of the areas of encouragement in SCI experimental research in a manner that would be less readily achievable through separate efforts. At least one partner must be a clinician, and at least one partner must have experience in SCI laboratory research. It should be clear that all partners have equal intellectual input into the design of the research project. A proposed project in which one of the partners merely supplies tissue samples or access to patients will not meet the intent of this mechanism. Observations that drive a research idea may be derived from a laboratory discovery, population-based studies, or a clinician’s firsthand knowledge of patients and preliminary data. While the ultimate goal of translational research is to move an observation forward into the clinical application, members of the partnership should view translational research as a two-way continuum between bench and bedside. Developing the research plan must involve a reciprocal flow of ideas and information within the partnership. Developmental pathways for translational research that may be useful for designing translational research studies for support under this mechanism may be found at (http://www.cancer.gov/aboutnci/trwg/Pathways-to-Clinical-Goals). These pathways are comprehensive and span the entire translational research continuum from discovery of a target to clinical trials. Please be aware that the Translational Research Partnership Award does not support clinical trials, but may support correlative studies that are DOD Spinal Cord Injury Translational Research Partnership Award 4 associated with an existing clinical trial and projects that develop clinical endpoints for clinical trials. Refer to the Application Instructions & General Information, Appendix 6, for helpful information about distinguishing clinical trials and clinical research. Research projects may also include preclinical studies in animal models and human subjects and human anatomical substances. Proposals must include preliminary data (originating from the PI, research team or collaborator) and/or published data relevant to the topic area and the proposed project. Important aspects of the SCIRP Translational Research Partnership Award are as follows: 1. Translational: The application should provide evidence for the reciprocal transfer of ideas between basic and clinical science in developing and implementing the research plan. 2. Partnership: The success of the project depends on the unique skills and contributions of each partner. Of the two to three partners, at least one partner must be a clinician, and at least one partner must have experience in SCI laboratory research. 3. Multi-institutional: At least two distinct institutions must be involved. 4. Impact: The proposed research should have a significant impact on the concepts or methods that are likely to accelerate the movement of promising ideas in SCI research into clinical applications. 5. Transition Plan: Each PI must provide a transition plan (including funding and resources) showing how the product will progress to clinical trials and/or delivery to the military or commercial market after the successful completion of this SCIRP award. Use of Human Subjects and Human Biological Substances: All DOD-funded research involving human subjects and human biological substances must be reviewed and approved by the USAMRMC Office of Research Protections (ORP), Human Research Protection Office (HRPO), in addition to local IRBs. The HRPO is mandated to comply with specific laws and directives governing all research involving human subjects that is conducted or supported by the DOD. These laws and directives are rigorous and detailed and will require information in addition to that supplied by the local review board. Allow a minimum of 6 months for regulatory review and approval processes for studies involving human subjects. Refer to the Application Instructions & General Information, Appendix 6, for additional information. Encouraged Department of Defense (DOD) Collaboration and alignment: Military relevance is a key feature of this award. Therefore, PIs are strongly encouraged to collaborate, integrate, and/or align their research projects with military and/or VA research laboratories and programs. The following websites may be useful in identifying information about ongoing DOD areas of research interest within the FY09 SCI Research Program topic areas: DOD Spinal Cord Injury Translational Research Partnership Award 5 Defense Technical Information Center http://www.dtic.mil Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs http://cdmrp.army.mil U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command https://mrmc.amedd.army.mil Air Force Research Laboratory http://www.wpafb.af.mil/afrl Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center http://www-nehc.med.navy.mil/ U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Research and Development www.research.va.gov Office of Naval Research http://www.onr.navy.mil/ U.S. Army Research Laboratory http://www.arl.army.mil U.S. Naval Research Laboratory www.nrl.navy.mil Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency http://www.darpa.mil/ U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity http://www.usamraa.army.mil Naval Health Research Center http://www.nhrc.navy.mil/ Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics http://www.acq.osd.mil/

Contact Information

• Agency

  Department of Defense

• Office:

  Dept. of the Army -- USAMRAA

• Agency Contact:

  PA HELP: 301-619-7079; cdmrp.pa@amedd.army.mil
  eReceipt HELP: 301-682-5507; help@cdmrp.org
  
  

• Agency Mailing Address:

  CDMRP Help Desk

• Agency Email Address:

  cdmrp.pa@amedd.army.mil