The SCIRP CTA supports the rapid implementation of clinical trials with the potential to have a significant impact on the treatment or management of SCI. Applications should articulate both the short- and long-term impact of the proposed research on individuals with SCI and/or their care partners. The proposed intervention(s) to be tested should offer significant potential impact for individuals affected by SCI within the context of one or more of the FY24 SCIRP Focus Areas. The U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA) is soliciting applications to
the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Spinal Cord Injury Research Program (SCIRP) using delegated
authority provided by United States Code, Title 10, Section 4001 (10 USC 4001). The
Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) at the U.S. Army Medical
Research and Development Command (USAMRDC) is the program management agent for this
funding opportunity. Congress initiated the SCIRP in 2009 to provide support for traumatic
spinal cord injury (SCI)-related research of exceptional scientific merit that has the potential to
make a significant impact on improving the health and well-being of military Service Members,
Veterans, and other individuals living with SCI. Appropriations for the SCIRP from FY09
through FY23 totaled $437.85 million (M). The FY24 Defense Appropriations Act provides
$40M to the SCIRP through the appropriation for peer-reviewed spinal cord research.
The vision of the SCIRP is to advance the treatment and management of SCI and ameliorate its
consequences. The FY24 SCIRP challenges the scientific community to design research that
will advance the development or translation of health care solutions for people living with SCI.
Innovative research that fosters new directions or addresses neglected issues in the field of
traumatic SCI is also supported, although studies focused exclusively on target identification are
discouraged. The SCIRP encourages impactful research across the continuum of care from
time of injury and across the life span that is well reasoned and scientifically supported.
Applications from investigators within the military services and applications involving
multidisciplinary collaborations among academia, industry, the military services, the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and other federal government agencies are highly
encouraged. These relationships can leverage knowledge, infrastructure, and access to unique
clinical populations that the collaborators bring to the research effort, ultimately advancing
research that is of significance to Service Members, Veterans, their Families and/or care partners.