and Engineering Center Broad Agency announcement: warfighter Systems Technology program

Agency:        Natick

Deadline:       Proposals may be submitted at any time after the concept paper has been approved and up until the BAA closing date of 31 March 2011     

URL:             https://www3.natick.army.mil/nsrdecbaa.html

This Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) is intended to fulfill requirements for scientific study and experimentation directed toward advancing state-of the-art technologies, and/or increasing knowledge and understanding as a means of eliminating current technology barriers. 

Scientific and Technical Area of Interest:

Biomechanics

Biomechanical tools and data are currently being developed to inform the design of boots, individual body armor, and load carriage gear that reduce injuries, delay fatigue and enhance dismounted Soldier mobility.  There is a need for detailed information on the forces acting on the Soldier’s musculoskeletal system as well as how their gait, range of motion, rates of movement, energy expenditure, and stamina are affected by their load, its distribution on the body, the terrain and grade of the environment, and obstacles presented by the environment, such as in urban terrain.

Communication with the Technical POC prior to submission of a formal proposal is essential.  Technical POC: Dr. Jeffrey Schiffman, TEL: 508-233-4967, Jeffrey.Schiffman@us.army.mil.

Peer Reviewed Orthopedic Research Program- Career Development Award

Agency:        Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program

Number:        W81XWH-10-PRORP-CDA

Deadline:       Letter of Intent: September 10, 2010

                   Application:  September 28, 2010

URL:             http://cdmrp.army.mil/funding/pa/10prorpcda_pa.pdf

Established to address the leading burden of injury and loss of fitness for military duty by funding innovative, high-impact, clinically relevant research to advance optimal treatment and rehabilitation from musculoskeletal injuries sustained during combat or combat-related activities.

Qualifications: To be eligible for this award the PI must be a military active-duty researcher, physical therapist, occupational therapist, or physician-scientist at an early-career stage. PIs must have less than a total of 8 years of postdoctoral clinical or research experience (excluding clinical residency or medical fellowship training)

FY10 Spinal Cord Injury Research Program (SCIRP) **(4 separate awards)**

Agency:        Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program

Deadline:       Letter of Intent: August 5,2010

                   Application: December 1, 2010

Established to promote research into regenerating damaged spinal cords, arthritis research, and improving rehabilitation therapies that offer real promise for enhancing long-term care of wounded soldiers. The SCIRP focuses its funding on innovative projects that have the potential to make a significant impact on improving the function, wellness, and overall quality of life for military Service Members as well as their caregivers, families, and the American public.

1. Spinal Cord Injury Research Program, Clinical Trial Award – Rehabilitation

URL:             http://cdmrp.army.mil/funding/pa/10scirpctar_pa.pdf

Eligibility:       Independent investigators at any academic level (or equivalent) are eligible to submit applications. Refer to General Application Instructions, Appendix 1, for general eligibility information.

The CTA-R supports rapid implementation of Phase 0, I, or II clinical trials with the potential to have a significant impact on the understanding of spinal cord injury and amelioration of its consequences. All studies must be focused on rehabilitative aspects of SCI. All studies must also be applicable to the health care needs of the Armed Forces, their family members, and/or the U.S. veteran population.

Funding from this award mechanism cannot be used for preclinical (in vitro and/or in vivo laboratory animal) studies. Principal Investigators (PIs) seeking funding for a preclinical research project should utilize one of the other applicable FY10 SCIRP award mechanisms (for more information about those mechanisms, see http://cdmrp.army.mil ).

PIs must clearly specify in the Clinical Protocol which type of clinical trial is being proposed, and indicate the phase of trial and/or class of device, as appropriate. For descriptions of each type of clinical trial, please refer to http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. The proposed clinical trial is expected to begin within 12 months of the award date.

2. Spinal Cord Injury Research Program, Investigator-Initiated Research Award

URL:             http://cdmrp.army.mil/funding/pa/10scirpiira_pa.pdf

Eligibility:       Independent investigators at all academic levels (or equivalent) are eligible to submit applications. Optional Qualified Collaborator(s) must be at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent). Refer to General Application Instructions, Appendix 1, for general eligibility information.

The IIRA is intended to support studies that have the potential to make an important contribution to SCI research and/or patient care. Projects should be innovative, address an Area of Encouragement, and be applicable to the health care needs of the Armed Forces, their family members, and/or the U.S. veteran population. All applications must specifically and clearly address the military relevance of the proposed research. Collaboration with military researchers and clinicians is encouraged.

3. Spinal Cord Injury Research Program, Qualitative Research Award

URL:             http://cdmrp.army.mil/funding/pa/10scirpqra_pa.pdf

Eligibility:       Independent investigators at all academic levels (or equivalent) are eligible to submit applications. Refer to General Application Instructions, Appendix 1, for general eligibility information.

The Qualitative Research Award is intended to support qualitative research studies that make an important contribution to SCI research and/or patient care and quality of life. Qualitative research is a form of social inquiry that focuses on understanding the way that people interpret and make sense of their experiences and the world in which they live (i.e. seek to understand the human experience). Qualitative research projects using open-ended outcome variables must be directly applicable to the health care needs of the Armed Forces and combat veterans with spinal cord injuries, including family members and caregivers; therefore, collaboration with military researchers and clinicians is encouraged.

Observations that drive a research idea may be derived from laboratory discovery, population-based studies, a clinician’s first-hand knowledge of patients, or anecdotal data. The intent of the Qualitative Research Award is to improve the overall quality of life, health, and functional status after SCI, to inform the development of new outcome measures, and to advance knowledge about SCI patient populations, including issues concerning specific age groups, gender, ethnicity, and co-morbid health conditions. Insight gained from these studies should help researchers and clinicians better understand the experiences of individuals with SCI, and identify the most effective paths for adjusting to and/or improving life with disability.

4. Spinal Cord Injury Research Program, Translational Research Partnership Award

URL:             http://cdmrp.army.mil/funding/pa/10scirptrpa_pa.pdf

Eligibility:       Independent investigators at any academic level (or equivalent) are eligible to submit applications. Refer to General Application Instructions, Appendix 1, for general eligibility information.

The intent of the Translational Research Partnership Award (TRPA) is to promote multi-institutional, multi-disciplinary partnerships among clinicians and laboratory scientists that accelerate the movement of promising ideas in spinal cord injury research into clinical applications. This award is intended to support both new and established scientists across a broad spectrum of disciplines in research projects that are likely to have a major impact on spinal cord injury research. Training of the next generation of scientists and clinicians is encouraged; therefore, graduate and medical students, residents, postdoctoral fellows, and clinician-scientists are encouraged to be part of the application.