Overview: This funding supports research to improve understanding of psychosocial issues, characterize barriers and facilitators to therapy and community living, and provide insights needed to develop approaches that improve the lives of people affected by SCI. Studies in this category may involve the development and early testing of an intervention, although this is not a requirement.
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 scientific merit of the study design, the innovative nature of the proposed psychosocial research, and the likelihood that success will move the SCI field forward. Future application of the intended results must be specified.
Funding for Investigational Grants is for up to two years, for a maximum total cost of $300,000. While yearly budget totals may vary over the two-year period, the justification and distribution of the budget should reflect the costs needed to complete the scope of work within the proposed timeline.
The Foundation does not publicly publish a formal “success predictor score”, but the following factors are clear from application guides and program descriptions:
🧩 Mission Fit
Proposals must clearly align with the Foundation’s funding priorities, such as translational SCI research, psychosocial impact, independence programs, or clinical training.
🧬 Scientific & Programmatic Merit
Especially for SCIRTS and PSR research, proposals are reviewed for:
Scientific rigor and innovation
Translational potential (for research)
Feasibility and research design
Clear anticipated impact on SCI care or quality of life
🤝 Organizational Capacity
Applicants must demonstrate the capacity to administer funds effectively, operate the proposed program, or conduct the research competently.
👩🔬 Expert Peer Review
Full applications are typically reviewed by panels of external experts and Foundation staff, emphasizing quality and relevance.
🗓 Competitive Timeline
The review process can be lengthy (often 6–8 months from LOI to award). Preparation timing and responsiveness to guidelines can influence competitiveness.
The Craig H. Neilsen Foundation funds spinal cord injury research and programs across diverse portfolios through a competitive LOI→FGA review process.
Success predictors are not formally published as scoring rubrics, but strong alignment with mission, scientific merit, organizational capacity, and expert review outcomes are key drivers of funding decisions.
Applicants must be registered nonprofits in the U.S. or Canada, and most reviews involve external scientific and programmatic evaluation.
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. OTHER REQUIREMENTS AND CONSIDERATIONS
• All application materials and communications (including IRB/IACUC approvals) must be in English, and budgets must be in U.S. dollars.
• The Neilsen Foundation values inclusion and accessibility to foster equitable opportunities and diverse points of view, and encourages grantees to promote them within their organization and the communities they serve.
• Applicants should carefully review each funding category to ensure they meet the requirements before submitting a Letter of Intent (LOI).
• Annual funding for multi-year awards is contingent on acceptance of annual progress and expenditure reports. Acceptance of final research and final expenditure reports is required at the end of the grant term to receive final payment.
• Perceived or real conflicts of interest (e.g., company shareholder providing a device for a study or program) must be disclosed in both the LOI and FGA.
• The grantee organization retains title to Intellectual Property developed with this funding
• Human interventional studies funded by the Neilsen Foundation must be registered on ClinicalTrials.gov.
• Rigor, transparency, and reproducibility in research are fundamental to scientific progress. Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate how the proposed experimental design, methodology, and analysis ensure well-controlled and unbiased results (see Appendix 5). Applicants should address the rigor of the research upon which the proposed study is based.
The Neilsen Foundation strongly encourages data sharing consistent with FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Re-useable) Data Principles (https://www.go-fair.org/fairprinciples/) and open access (see PART 2, Section C., Publication and Data Sharing). Grantees should describe plans to make all reports and datasets openly accessible no later than one year after publication and will be required in any future applications to provide links to all reports and datasets from funded studies.
• Childcare cost reimbursement should adhere to the Grantee’s institutional guidelines or, in the absence of such guidance, may include expenses for the care of children up to age 13, or children up to age 18 who are physically or mentally incapable of self-care. The Neilsen Foundation does not review the eligibility of dependents or caregivers.
Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Craig H. Neilsen Foundation
Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit
Address: 18653 Ventura Blvd. #753 Tarzana, CA 91356
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Jul 10, 2026
Jul 10, 2026
$300,000
Affiliation: Craig H. Neilsen Foundation
Address: 18653 Ventura Blvd. #753 Tarzana, CA 91356
Website URL: https://chnfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/PSR-2027-Application-Guide_FINAL-12.12.25_a11y.pdf
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