OpportunityTitle: DoD Spinal Cord Injury Qualitative Research Award
Description: The SCIRP Qualitative Research Award mechanism was first offered in FY10. Since then, 8 Qualitative Research Award applications have been received, and 2 have been recommended for funding. The intent of the Qualitative Research Award is to support qualitative research studies that will help researchers and clinicians better understand the experiences of individuals with SCI, and thereby identify the most effective paths for adjusting to disability and/or improving overall quality of life, health, and functional status after SCI. This mechanism is specifically focused on military and veteran populations in the first few years after SCI, examining the issues, barriers,and promoters of success for Service members during the transition from initial injury and acute care through rehabilitation and community reintegration; therefore, collaboration with military researchers and clinicians is encouraged. Factors that may affect the rehabilitation and reintegration of spinal cord injured soldiers include, but are not limited to, age, gender, ethnicity, family members/caregivers, psychological health, severity of injury, type of medical care (e.g., civilian versus military facility), and co-morbid conditions. Qualitative research is a form of social inquiry that uses open-ended variables and 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). Observations that drive a research idea may be derived from basic discovery, population-based studies, a clinician&#239;&#191;&#189;s firsthand knowledge of patients, or anecdotal data. Appropriate qualitative research topics include, but are not limited to, the explorative, descriptive, predictive, or explanatory study of: &#239;&#191;&#189; Barriers preventing soldiers with spinal cord injuries from returning to active duty, returning home, or reintegrating into the community. &#239;&#191;&#189; Impact of personal factors and co-morbid medical conditions that influence or mediate a patient&#239;&#191;&#189;s health or quality of life during hospitalization following SCI. &#239;&#191;&#189; Impact of cultural values and beliefs on the success of rehabilitation and community reintegration. &#239;&#191;&#189; Impact of medical care decisions (e.g., choice of civilian versus military facility, treatment type, etc.) on the success of rehabilitation and community reintegration. &#239;&#191;&#189; Impact of care provision on the spouse and/or families of the spinal cord injured to include career issues, physical strain and injury, intimacy, etc. &#239;&#191;&#189; Factors and strategies for improving psychosocial adjustment and adjustment to disability for patients and their family and friends; the influence of family and friends&#239;&#191;&#189; involvement in the SCI patient&#239;&#191;&#189;s life experiences on quality of life and health outcomes. Preliminary data relevant to SCI and the proposed project are encouraged, but not required. Research involving human subjects and human anatomical substances is permitted; however, clinical trials are NOT ALLOWED under this funding opportunity. A clinical trial is defined as a prospective accrual of human subjects where an intervention (e.g., device, drug, biologic, surgical procedure, rehabilitative modality, behavioral intervention, or other) is tested on a human subject for a measurable outcome with respect to exploratory information, safety, effectiveness, and/or efficacy. This outcome represents a direct effect on the human subject of that intervention or interaction. The SCIRP encourages clinical trials with a focus on rehabilitation through the FY11 SCIRP Clinical Trial Award &#239;&#191;&#189; Rehabilitation mechanism (Funding Opportunity Number: W81XWH-11-SCIRP-CTA). Use of Human Subjects and Human Anatomical Substances: All DOD-funded research involving new and ongoing research with human subjects and human anatomical substances must be reviewed and approved by the US Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC) Office of Research Protections (ORP), Human Research Protection Office (HRPO), in addition to the local Institutional Review Board (IRB) of record. Local IRB approval at the time of submission is NOT required. The HRPO is mandated to comply with specific laws and directives governing all research involving human subjects that is supported by the DOD. These laws and directives are rigorous and detailed, and will require information in addition to that supplied to the local IRB. Allow a minimum of 4 months for regulatory review and approval processes. Refer to the General Application Instructions, Appendix 5, for more information.
GrantorContactEmailDescription: CDMRP Help Desk
GrantorContactText: 301-682-5507