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Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems Centers

Agency: Administration for Community Living

Assistance Listings: 93.433 -- ACL National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research

Last Updated: September 5, 2025

Description

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.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants

Government

  • County governments
  • State governments
  • Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
  • Special district governments
  • City or township governments

Education

  • Private institutions of higher education
  • Public and state institutions of higher education

Nonprofit

  • Nonprofits non-higher education without 501(c)(3)
  • Other Native American tribal organizations
  • Nonprofits non-higher education with 501(c)(3)

Business

  • Small businesses
  • For-profit organizations other than small businesses

Miscellaneous

  • Other

Additional information

States; public or private agencies, including for-profit agencies; public or private organizations, including for-profit organizations; IHEs; and Indian tribes and tribal organizations.To be eligible for a SCI Model Systems grant, an applicant institution must provide a continuum of care for people with SCI, including emergency medical services, acute care services, acute medical rehabilitation services, and post-acute services. Foreign entities are not eligible to compete for, or receive, awards made under this announcement. Faith-based and community organizations that meet the eligibility requirements are eligible to receive awards under this funding opportunity announcement.

Grantor contact information

Description

--

Email

Brian.Bard@acl.hhs.gov

Brian.Bard@acl.hhs.gov

Documents

No documents are currently available.

Link to additional information

https://www.acl.gov/grants/applying-grants

Forecasted

Estimated Post Date:

February 24, 2026

Estimated Application Due Date:

April 24, 2026

Estimated Due Date Description:

Not available

Estimated Award Date:

September 1, 2026

Estimated Project Start Date:

September 1, 2026

Fiscal Year:

2026

Application process

This site is a work in progress. Go to www.grants.gov to apply, track application status, and subscribe to updates.

Award

$8,446,263

Program Funding

14

Expected awards

$560,000

Award Minimum

$640,000

Award Maximum

Funding opportunity number:

HHS-2026-ACL-NIDILRR-SIMS-0217

Cost sharing or matching requirement:

No

Funding instrument type:

Grant

Opportunity Category:

Discretionary

Opportunity Category Explanation:

--

Category of Funding Activity:

Science technology and other research and development

Category Explanation:

--

History

Version:

1

Forecast posted date:

September 5, 2025

Archive date:

September 30, 2026

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