Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Fund Research Grant Program
The state of Indiana established the research fund known as the Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Fund effective July 1, 2007. This fund, established under Indiana Code (IC) 16-41-42-4, will consist of appropriations, gifts and bequests, fees deposited in the fund under IC 9-29-5-2, and grants received from the federal government and private sources. These funds will be utilized to 1) establish and maintain a state medical surveillance registry for traumatic spinal cord and brain injuries; 2) fulfill the duties of the board; and 3) fund research related to treatment and cure of spinal cord and brain injuries. The fund is expected to generate approximately $1.6 million per year, with the majority of money generated to be allocated to research projects.
This application package is designed for all researchers, including post-doctoral, wishing to submit proposals for research projects / programs to be funded under item 3 noted above. Final funding decisions for all proposals submitted under this program will be made by the Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Board, consisting of nine members as defined in section 5(a) of IC 16-41-42. The board will make these decisions after receiving input from an independent scientific advisory panel comprising scientists and clinicians who are not members of the board. This advisory panel will review proposals and make recommendations to the board.
The overall objective of this program is to foster and encourage research for the prevention, treatment, and cure of spinal cord and brain injuries, including acute management, medical complications, rehabilitative techniques, and neuronal recovery. Collaborations are encouraged with Indiana-based researchers as well as researchers located outside the state of Indiana, including researchers in other countries. Research must be conducted in compliance with all state and federal laws.
Because the nature and scope of the research proposed may vary, it is anticipated that the size of each award may also vary. Awards pursuant to this RFA are contingent upon the availability of funds and the receipt of a sufficient number of meritorious applications. Applications to this program are considered small grants and should have a maximum requested amount of $60,000 (per year, including indirect costs). All applications should be limited to a two-year duration. (Note: Second year funding dependent upon adequate progress report for first year.) The fund is willing to provide salary support for post-doctorate fellows for up to two years.
