Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems Centers

The Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems Centers grant is administered by the Administration for Community Living within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, specifically through the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research. This long-standing federal program originated in 1970 and has evolved into a national network of clinical and research centers dedicated to improving outcomes for individuals living with spinal cord injury. The program supports coordinated, multidisciplinary systems of care and research, positioning funded centers as leaders in advancing rehabilitation science and clinical practice for this population. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to generate new knowledge that improves health and function, community living and participation, and employment outcomes for individuals with spinal cord injury. Awarded centers must operate comprehensive care systems that span emergency response, acute care, rehabilitation, and post-acute services. These clinical capabilities are foundational, as they enable centers to conduct rigorous, longitudinal research and contribute to a centralized national database tracking long-term outcomes of individuals with spinal cord injury. The program emphasizes both scientific advancement and real-world application of findings. Funding supports a wide range of research and operational activities, including enrollment and long-term tracking of patients in the national database, execution of a single site-specific research project, and participation in collaborative multi-center research modules. Grantees are required to dedicate a portion of their budgets to collaborative module projects and to coordinate dissemination of findings through established knowledge translation channels. While funding may cover research and operational costs, certain restrictions apply, including prohibitions on construction and limitations on specific policy-related activities. There is no cost-sharing requirement for applicants. Eligibility is limited to organizations capable of delivering a full continuum of spinal cord injury care. This includes states, public and private agencies, institutions of higher education, tribal organizations, and for-profit entities, provided they meet the clinical and research infrastructure requirements. Individuals and foreign entities are not eligible. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to conduct high-quality, multi-site collaborative research, maintain data quality, and adhere to established research protocols. Applications that fail to meet these criteria or exceed budget or timeline limits will be disqualified. The application process requires submission through Grants.gov and includes multiple components such as a project abstract, detailed project narrative, budget justification, data management plan, and supporting documentation. The project narrative, which is limited to 75 pages, is the primary basis for evaluation and must address key review criteria including research design, collaboration, evaluation plans, and alignment with strategic priorities. Applications undergo an initial compliance review followed by a merit-based peer review using a 100-point scoring system. Key dates for this opportunity include an optional notice of intent due July 13, 2026, and a final application deadline of July 29, 2026. Awards are expected to be issued by September 1, 2026, with the project period spanning five years through August 31, 2031. An informational conference call is scheduled for July 6, 2026 to support prospective applicants. Selected applicants will receive a formal Notice of Award and must comply with ongoing reporting, administrative, and federal regulatory requirements throughout the project period.

Focus on strong research design and alignment with ACL priorities ensure clear methodology and demonstrate capacity for multi site collaboration and data quality compliance prioritize outcomes in health employment and community participation