The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation (CDRF) Individual Grants Program was founded on the understanding that effective treatments for acute and chronic spinal cord injury will involve carefully orchestrated multi-disciplinary interventions, each tailored to the individual patient. For this reason, the Individual Grants Program, the largest and most comprehensive of the CDRF research initiatives, supports investigator-initiated research on a variety of fronts, including
- axon growth and guidance,
- remyelination,
- cellular replacement,
- rehabilitation, and
- neuroprotection.

Two-year awards are available for senior scientists and young investigators with a maximum funding level of $75,000 per year (indirect costs limited to 10 percent of the direct). Two-year awards are made through one-year contracts. Second-year support is contingent upon the grantee submitting a continuation application that is favorably reviewed.

Postdoctoral fellowships are available with a maximum funding level of $60,000 per year (indirect costs limited to 10 percent of the direct).
Eligibility: Applications will be accepted from those with a Ph.D., M.D., or other equivalent professional degree, employed at a qualifying research institution. Senior scientists, young investigators, and postdoctoral fellows may serve as principal investigator.

Specific funding priorities include the following:
1. Studying strategies that may promote neuronal growth and survival, encourage the formation of synapses, enhance the production of myelin, restore conduction capabilities, or may otherwise lead to restoration of the compromised circuitry in the acutely and chronically injured spinal cord
2. Evaluating the efficacy of drugs or other interventions that protect against secondary neuronal injury or provide insight into the mechanisms causing such damage
3. Defining anatomical characteristics of spinal cord injury in well-defined animal models and in the human spinal cord, specifically documenting the neuronal systems that are most vulnerable to spinal cord injury and the functional losses occurring as a result
4. Elucidating the biological mechanisms underlying approaches to improve concomitant functions affected by spinal cord injury, (e.g., bladder function, sexual function) and alleviate chronic pain and spasticity

The development of treatments for chronic injury is a high priority for the organization; however, funding will also be provided for studies more relevant to the acute phase of injury. Basic research will be supported if it has clear potential to accelerate progress at the applied end of the continuum or if it reflects a research "change of direction."

http://www.christopherreeve.org/site/c.geIMLPOpGjF/b.1048711/k.6606/Individual_Research_Grants.htm