1. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): Program in Rehabilitation Research ̶ Overview & Funding Opportunities
Christopher A. Moore, Ph.D., Dean College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College Boston University
Disclosure: I have no relevant financial or nonfinancial relationship(s) within the products or services described, reviewed, evaluated or compared in this presentation.

2. Health Research Funding by Agency
Introduction to Grantwriting. Part IV: Veterans Affairs
Health Research Funding by Agency VA
DoD

3. Research Support in Veterans Affairs
Introduction to Grantwriting. Part IV: Veterans Affairs
Research Support in Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Office of Research & Development
Research Funding Services
Biomedical Laboratory R&D
Health Services R&D
Clinical Science R&D
Rehabilitation R&D

4. Research Areas Supported in Rehab R&D
Introduction to Grantwriting. Part IV: Veterans Affairs
Research Areas Supported in Rehab R&D
Rehabilitation Research & Development Patricia A Dorn, Ph.D., Interim Director
Brain Injury & Stroke
Spinal Cord Injury & Regenerative Medicine
Prosthetics & Orthotics & Rehabilitation Engineering
Musculoskeletal Medical Comorbidity
Aging & Neuro-degenerative Diseases
Career Development
Social Reintegration & Mental Health
Sensory Systems & Communication Disorders

5. Rehabilitation Research & Development
Introduction to Grantwriting. Part IV: Veterans Affairs
Rehabilitation Research & Development
Repair
Research to repair injured organs and tissues
Translational research to bring basic discoveries to clinical use
Replace
Research to replace functions that cannot be repaired
Restore
Physiological and Psychological well-being

6. Unique Aspects of the VA Research Program
Introduction to Grantwriting. Part IV: Veterans Affairs
Unique Aspects of the VA Research Program
VA Research is funded and administered as an intramural funding program
Researchers are VA employees working in VA facilities  PI or Co-PI must have VA appointment (5/8ths= 62.5% FTE)
Research occurs within the integrated healthcare system
Unparalleled availability of patient populations and protocols
Clinician-researchers and applied research are the norm

7. Support Mechanisms in Rehabilitation
Introduction to Grantwriting. Part IV: Veterans Affairs
Support Mechanisms in Rehabilitation
Career Development I
No more than two years beyond doctoral training (including Instructors)
Two yeas of training (salary support)
U.S. Citizens
Career Development II
No more than five years beyond doctoral training (including Asst Professors)
Up to five years of support (including research support)
Small Projects in Rehabilitation Research (SPiRE)
$100,000 per year; for two years
Uses SF424
Travel to scientific meetings is not supported
Merit
$275,000 per year; four years (waivers are allowed)
Uses SF424 (24-page limit on research plan)
Applications twice per year

8. Strong Applications to VA are…
Introduction to Grantwriting. Part IV: Veterans Affairs
Strong Applications to VA are…
… characterized by all of the usual features of a strong research application and, in addition:
Are Vet-centric
Have a clear path to translation and implementation
Are ultimately important to patient care

9. VA RR&D Publishes its own Journal
Introduction to Grantwriting. Part IV: Veterans Affairs
VA RR&D Publishes its own Journal

10. Websites Rehabilitation R & D
Introduction to Grantwriting. Part IV: Veterans Affairs
Websites
Rehabilitation R & D
Rehabilitation R & D Centers of Excellence
Health Services R & D
Career Development Program
Handbooks and General ORD Policies