Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems Centers
Closed Posted
- Opportunity number
- HHS-2026-ACL-NIDILRR-SIMS-0217
- Agency
-
Administration for Community Living
Department of Health and Human Services
- Applications due
- Award size
- $560,000 to $640,000
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
- Funding instrument
- Grant
- Category
-
- Science and Technology and other Research and Development
- Eligible applicants
-
- For Profit Organizations
- Small Businesses
- State Governments
- Other
- Tribal Governments (Federally Recognized)
- Tribal Organizations (Not Federally Recognized)
- Higher Education Inst. (Private)
- County Governments
- Non-501(c)(3) Nonprofits
- Higher Education Inst. (Public)
- 501(c)(3) Nonprofits
- City/Township Governments
- Special District Governments
- Points of contact
-
- Brian Bard brian.bard@acl.hhs.gov (202) 795-7298
- Full announcement
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Community Living through the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) is soliciting applications for Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems (SCIMS) Centers, with applications due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on July 29, 2026. SCIMS Centers must provide a multidisciplinary continuum of care for spinal cord injury patients, including emergency medical services, acute care, acute medical rehabilitation, and post-acute services; applicants lacking this infrastructure are ineligible.
Eligible applicants include states, public and private agencies and organizations (including for-profit entities), higher education institutions, Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and faith-based and community organizations. The program will distribute $8,446,263 across 14 awards. Award amounts vary based on the number of longitudinal database participants eligible for follow-up; existing centers with significantly larger participant cohorts receive higher funding within the range. Individual awards range from $540,000 to $640,000 per 12-month budget period.
The project period spans 60 months divided into five 12-month budget periods, running September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2031. Work is performed at applicant institutions and subordinate partner sites. Applicants must propose one site-specific research project and one module research project (collaborative research between two or more SCIMS Centers), enroll at least 30 participants annually into the SCIMS longitudinal database, allocate at least 15 percent of annual budget to module project participation, coordinate with the Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center for dissemination, and ensure Project Director participation in two annual face-to-face meetings in the Washington, D.C. area.
Merit review allocates 45 points to design of research activities, 15 points to importance of the problem, 10 points to project staff, 5 points each to alignment with ACL strategic priorities, design of dissemination activities, plan of operation, collaboration, plan of evaluation, and adequacy and accessibility of resources. CFDA 93.433. An optional notice of intent is due July 13, 2026.
Synopsis
The SCIMS program is designed to provide research-based knowledge to support a multidisciplinary system of rehabilitation care for people with spinal cord injury (SCI). For purposes of this program, SCI is defined as a clinically discernible degree of neurologic impairment of the spinal cord. SCIMS Centers must conduct site-specific and collaborative research. SCIMS Centers must also collect and contribute data to the SCIMS longitudinal database. SCIMS Centers will be funded at varying amounts up to the maximum award based on the numbers of database participants eligible for follow-up in the SCIMS longitudinal database. Existing centers with significantly larger numbers of database participants will receive higher funding within the specified range, as determined by NIDILRR after the applicants are selected for funding. The grant will have a 60-month project period, with five 12-month budget periods.
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| hhs-2026-acl-nidilrr-sims-0217_v1.pdf |
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