+ More Filters

Reset Filters

Title

Funding Organization

Funding Type

Eligible Country

Deadline

Other (Select all that apply)

Show Expired Programs

Show Verified Programs

Not Verified

INTERVENTIONAL TESTING

Craig H. Neilsen Foundation

Overview: This funding is intended to support work that leads to the creation, adaptation, and/or refinement of an intervention to address psychosocial challenges for those affected by SCI. Studies in this category must extend to initial efficacy testing of the developed intervention. Activities such as focus groups to define the target of the intervention must be justified based on a demonstrated gap in current literature.

Applicants must have a doctoral degree or other equivalent terminal professional degree, be beyond the postdoctoral level (i.e., Instructor, Assistant Professor, or equivalent research position) at the time of the FGA submission, and demonstrate appropriate experience to serve as an independent PI.

Criteria for these grants include the readiness and design of the interventional approach, the intervention’s potential value to people with SCI, and qualifications of the investigative team. Future plans for the intervention being developed must be specified.

Funding for Interventional Testing is for up to three years, for a maximum total cost of $350,000. While yearly budget totals may vary over the three-year period, the justification and distribution of the budget should reflect the costs needed to complete the scope of work within the proposed timeline.

DETAILS FOR INTERVENTIONAL TESTING CATEGORIES

• PIs can be at any stage of their research career, must be actively employed at the grantee institution at the time of FGA submission, and should provide evidence of a strong research background relevant to the proposed study. o For Applicants who are not in a tenure track position (e.g., Instructor, Research Assistant), a Letter of Assurance from the institution’s Director or Department Chair is recommended at the LOI and FGA stage. Such a letter should confirm the Applicant’s position as independent and affirm that all needed space and equipment are available to the PI.

AI Based Application Success Predictor

🧠 1. Strict Focus on Spinal Cord Injury (Non-Negotiable)

All funded projects must directly address:
- Spinal cord injury (SCI)—acute, chronic, or rehabilitation phases
Includes:
- Mechanistic, preclinical, clinical, and psychosocial research

👉 Non-SCI topics are not eligible

🔄 2. Strong Translational Continuum (Top Predictor)

The foundation explicitly supports:

Research across the “translational spectrum”
- Basic → preclinical → clinical → implementation

👉 Projects must show:
Clear pathway toward improving treatment, function, or care

🎯 3. Clear Impact on Function & Quality of Life (Most Critical)

Successful proposals demonstrate:

Improvements in:
- Functional recovery
- Complication management
- Independence and participation

👉 Central evaluation question:
“Will this improve life outcomes for people with SCI?”

🔬 4. High Scientific Merit & Innovation

Funded projects must show:

Novelty + strong scientific rationale
Potential to advance understanding or treatment

👉 Required across all portfolios (basic to clinical)

🧪 5. Feasible, Milestone-Driven Research Plan

Typical grants:
- 2–3 years
- ~$200K–$800K
Must include:
- Clear aims
- Achievable timeline
- Defined deliverables

👉 Overly ambitious or vague proposals are commonly rejected

🤝 6. Inclusion of People with Lived SCI Experience (Unique Predictor)

Increasing emphasis on:
- Patient involvement in research design and execution

👉 Meaningful engagement strengthens proposals

🧬 7. Broad Portfolio Alignment (Choose the Right Track)

Higher success when aligned with one of the foundation’s key programs:

Research

Translational SCI research
Psychosocial research

Programs

Community independence
Accessibility & inclusion

👉 Correct program fit significantly affects success

👩‍🔬 8. Investigator Development (Early-Career Advantage)

Supports:
- Postdoctoral fellowships
- Early-stage researchers

👉 Strong mentorship + career trajectory improves success

🌍 9. Real-World Applicability & Scalability

Preference for:
- Interventions usable in clinical or community settings
Includes:
- Rehabilitation
- Assistive technologies
- Community integration programs

👉 Practical implementation is highly valued

📑 10. Competitive, Two-Stage Review Process

Typical process:
1. Letter of Intent (LOI)
2. Invited full proposal

👉 Only top LOIs proceed → clarity and alignment early is critical

📊 Summary: Key Predictors (Ranked)

Highest impact factors:

SCI-specific focus
Translational pathway
Patient/functional impact

Moderate predictors:
4. Scientific merit & innovation
5. Feasibility
6. Program alignment

Supporting factors:
7. Patient involvement
8. Investigator strength
9. Real-world applicability

💡 Insider Insight

Compared to NIH or general neuroscience funders:

Craig H. Neilsen Foundation is:
👉 highly mission-driven (SCI only)
👉 strongly translational + quality-of-life focused

👉 Winning formula:
SCI relevance + translational pathway + real-world impact

Specialties

Clinical Trials

Pulmonology

Eligibility Requirements

The following applies to all funding categories:

• Applicants must have a doctoral degree or equivalent professional degree (e.g., PhD, MD, DVM). Postdoctoral applicants should follow instructions in the "PSR POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS” section regarding degree completion.

 Non-fellowship applicants must demonstrate appropriate experience to serve as an independent PI. The Neilsen Foundation encourages eligible PIs who represent a wide range of disciplines to apply; however, it is required that relevant SCI and psychosocial expertise be represented on the proposed research team.

• The grantee organization must be a nonprofit academic/research institution or rehabilitation facility located in the United States or Canada with the capability to conduct grant-funded research.

 The Applicant named in a grant application must be employed by and deemed eligible by the grantee organization to apply for a grant and is expected to be responsible for conduct of the research. The Applicant is not required to be a citizen of the United States or Canada.

 Each application must include the appropriate endorsement of an institutional official who is responsible for the administration of grant funds (hereafter known as the “Grants Administrator”).

• Neilsen Foundation grants are not awarded to individuals, private foundations, or non-functionally integrated Type III supporting organizations.

• A PI may submit only one application in each cycle in this portfolio (see PART 3, Section A., Concurrent Grants Across Neilsen Foundation Portfolios).

• The Neilsen Foundation does not recognize Co-Principal Investigators—if two or more investigators are working together on a research project, name only one as the Applicant; the other(s) should be listed as collaborator(s). Collaborators and/or consultants do not need to be affiliated with the same institution as the PI; a subcontract may be used to support a domestic or international collaborator or consultant.

• Multiple PIs from an institution may submit concurrent, independent applications in a given grant cycle. In such cases, each must be distinct, with non-overlapping Aims.

• The Neilsen Foundation discourages Postdoctoral Fellows and their mentor(s) from submitting concurrent applications with overlapping Aims to multiple funding categories within this portfolio.

• It may not be necessary to provide preliminary data. Neilsen Foundation funding may be sought to allow the Applicant to obtain data to establish a line of research if the proposal provides strong rationale (i.e., support from the literature or use in an indication other than SCI) that justifies testing the hypotheses with the proposed experimental design. However, if feasibility issues add an unacceptable risk of failure, reviewers may note that preliminary data to address this risk should have been provided.

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Craig H. Neilsen Foundation

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: 18653 Ventura Blvd. #753 Tarzana, CA 91356

Legal & Affiliation Disclaimer

Affiliation Disclaimer: Trialect operates independently and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or supported by any sponsors or organizations posting on the GrantsBoard platform. As an independent aggregator of publicly available funding opportunities, Trialect provides equal access to information for all users without endorsing any specific funding source, content, organization, or sponsor. Trialect assumes no responsibility for the content posted by sponsors or third parties.

Subscription Disclaimer: Upon logging into Trialect, you may choose to SUBSCRIBE to GrantsBoard for timely notifications of funding opportunities and to access exclusive benefits, such as priority alerts, reminders, personalized recommendations, and additional application support. However, users are advised to contact sponsors directly for any questions and are not required to subscribe to engage with funding opportunities.

Content Ownership and Copyright Disclaimer: Trialect respects the intellectual property rights of all organizations and individuals. All content posted on GrantsBoard is provided solely for informational purposes and remains the property of the original owners. Trialect does not claim ownership of, nor does it have any proprietary interest in, content provided by third-party sponsors. Users are encouraged to verify content and ownership directly with the posting sponsor.

Fair Use Disclaimer: The information and content available on GrantsBoard are compiled from publicly accessible sources in alignment with fair use principles under U.S. copyright law. Trialect serves as an aggregator of this content, offering it to users in good faith and with the understanding that it is available for public dissemination. Any organization or individual who believes their intellectual property rights have been violated is encouraged to contact us for prompt resolution.

Third-Party Posting Responsibility Disclaimer: Trialect is a neutral platform that allows third-party sponsors to post funding opportunities for informational purposes only. Sponsors are solely responsible for ensuring that their postings comply with copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. Trialect assumes no liability for any copyright or intellectual property infringements in third-party content and will take appropriate action to address any substantiated claims.

Accuracy and Verification Disclaimer: Trialect makes no warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information provided by sponsors. Users are advised to verify the details of any funding opportunity directly with the sponsor before taking action. Trialect cannot be held liable for any discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies in third-party postings.

Notice and Takedown Policy: Trialect is committed to upholding copyright law and protecting the rights of intellectual property owners. If you believe that content on GrantsBoard infringes your copyright or intellectual property rights, please contact us with detailed information about the claim. Upon receipt of a valid notice, Trialect will promptly investigate and, where appropriate, remove or disable access to the infringing content.

View Funding Opportunity