The State of Minnesota established the Spinal Cord Injury and Traumatic Brain Injury Grant Program effective July 1, 2015. The Office of Higher Education administers the Spinal Cord Injury and Traumatic Brain Injury Research Grant Program through Minnesota Statute 136A.901 which provides funding for research into new and innovative treatments and rehabilitative efforts for the functional improvement of people with spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries.
Eligible grant applicants are institutions/organizations located within Minnesota and fall into one or more of the following categories:
Eligible principal investigators must have the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research. This program is not for postdoctoral fellowships or residents (non-board eligible/board certified physicians); postdoctoral fellows and residents will not be considered as principal investigators. Post-doctorates, residents, or other individuals are eligible to be listed as key personnel or consultants.
Research topics may include, but are not limited to, pharmaceutical, medical device, brain stimulus, and rehabilitative approaches and techniques. The overall objective of this program is to foster and encourage innovative research for treatment and rehabilitative techniques for spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries
Three funding options are available:
In consultation with the Spinal Cord Injury and Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Council, the Minnesota Office of Higher Education is currently accepting proposals for the Spinal Cord Injury and Traumatic Brain Injury Annual Research Grant.
Please review the FY24 SCI-TBI Grant Request for Proposals before beginning the submission process.
FY24 SCI-TBI Grant Request for Proposals
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| March 27, 2024 | Request for Proposals available to applicants |
| May 22, 2024 | Deadline for receipt of intent to submit forms at 4:30 p.m. |
| May 29, 2024 | Deadline for receipt of full proposals at 4:30 p.m. |
| June 4, 2024 | Committee begins review of applications no later than June 4, 2024. |
| June 25, 2024 | Presentations and Q&A (hybrid in-person/virtual) |
| July 5, 2024 | Applicants Notified no later than July 5, 2024 |
Applicants must complete a Letter of Intent to Submit through this form:
Once submitted, applicants will be able to save their responses to the form, or may email GWI.OHE@state.mn.us to request a copy.
Once an applicant's Letter of Intent to Submit has been approved, they will receive instructions and materials from OHE via email to complete a full proposal.
Applicants may review full proposal requirements here: Full Proposal Reference Guide
Please Note: This is not the actual proposal - it is for reference purposes only.
Proposals must be submitted by 4:30 pm on May 29, 2024.
All applicants must be available on the day of the virtual proposal review (JUNE 25, 2024) to give a five-minute presentation on their proposed project and respond to reviewers' questions. A list of time slots will be sent to the applicants at least two weeks in advance.
For SCI-TBI questions, please contact the Minnesota Office of Higher Education at GWI.OHE@state.mn.us.
A: Yes, you may apply for parts of your project that were cut in prior years due to a lack of funding. In your proposal, please explain how this aspect of your project connects with its larger aims/goals, and how it improves the overall quality of the project. Also keep in mind any feedback that you may have received on this portion of your project during the initial review.
A: The Letter of Intent is required for submitting a proposal.
A: No, once the RFP is released, we cannot give feedback on project ideas. However, we can help you determine if you project is eligible for funding based on the guiding statute language.
A: Yes, we encourage collaboration between institutions both inside and outside the state of Minnesota. We strongly suggest that applicants establish formal partnerships in advance of proposal submission.
A: Yes, subcontracts are permitted. You may include subcontracts in the “Consultant Cost” line. Please include the name of the institution that you are subcontracting with on that line as well.
A: The total allowable indirect cost is 8% of the total request, including indirect costs for consultants/subcontracts.
A: You are only required to submit documents on behalf of the primary institution, or the institution that is acting as the fiscal agent for the project.
Researchers are permitted to apply even if they are not considered faculty, residents, or post-docs. This is has been consistent throughout the grant program's brief history. While not required, it may strengthen a proposal if they were to submit as a co-PI with faculty oversight.
There is no proposal scoring criteria that corresponds to needing/requesting a contract extension for current projects. The reviewers evaluate proposals based on the actual proposed project submitted with the background/context provided in the by the applicant.
Download reports to the Minnesota Legislature on the institutions receiving grants and their purpose.
