Support for a new program of research projects in Missouri that promote and advance knowledge in the areas of spinal cord injuries and congenital or acquired disease processes affecting the spinal cord has been provided by the State of Missouri for research grants to be awarded by the Board of Curators of the University of Missouri to investigators who are employees or staff members of public or private educational, health care, voluntary health associations or research institutions. Based on the recommendation of the Spinal Cord Injury Research Program Advisory Board, a maximum of up to $50,000 per year will be available for exceptional projects.
The Advisory Board’s objectives for the grants are (1) to bring new investigators, and investigators who are experienced in other areas, into research on spinal cord injuries and diseases, and (2) to enable investigators, particularly junior investigators, to test new ideas on a small scale and then use the pilot data to develop subsequent competitive applications for long term funding from other sources. "Junior investigators" may include persons conducting dissertation projects, as well as postdoctoral research appointments for recent graduates. In addition to studies of traumatic injuries to the spinal cord that lead to paralysis, research focusing on acquired abnormalities such as Friedreich's ataxia and paralysis due to multiple sclerosis, polio, etc., as well as birth defects affecting the spinal cord are eligible for support. Grants of up to $50,000 for one year will be awarded. Costs for overhead are not allowed, and the research projects are to be conducted in Missouri. A final report must be submitted to the Advisory Board at the end of the project. Recipients may apply the following year for one additional year of funding. Continuation of funding will depend on results of the project during the first year and the availability of funds.
The Spinal Cord Injury Research Program Advisory Board will accept proposals at any time. The awards will be announced following an expedited review, which normally takes about two to three months. Further information about the program, guidelines for proposals, and application forms are available at our website:
http://www.umsystem.edu/ums/departments/aa/spinalcord/
Requests for printed application forms and guidelines may be sent to:
SCI Research Program
521 Clark Hall
University of Missouri
Columbia, MO 65211-4440
or fax [573] 882=3722 or e-mail to KanatzarS@umsystem.edu.