Research Grants

Research should focus on creation and validation of improved outcomes measures for adult spinal deformity patients that can be readily applied globally and across the range of low- to high-resource healthcare systems. Priority will be given to multi-center and preferably multi-continent study applications. The successful applicant(s) will work with an SRS-appointed Steering Committee of experienced individuals. The Steering Committee will be available for guidance, provide input, and aid in assessment of progress throughout the project. To the extent possible, resulting work product will be expected to be branded or co-branded through the SRS, with negotiated ownership/co-ownership.
 
Publication of results in a high impact international clinical journal is anticipated.  Proposals will be adjudicated on scientific merit, feasibility, and ability to affect positive change in our profession through an important scientific contribution.

Topic: Creation and Validation of Improved Outcomes Measures for the Assessment of Adult Spinal Deformity Patients

• Preliminary data is not required but may be viewed favorably
• The quality and timeliness of the investigators’ previously funded SRS research and reports will be taken in consideration when evaluating applications for Directed Research grants
• Period of grant – up to 3 years
• Up to $150,000 per year for 3 years may be requested (max $450,000 total).

General Guidelines

• Up to 1 grant will be awarded each cycle
• Applications may be submitted by non-profit, public and private institutions of higher education, such as hospitals, medical schools, universities, and colleges.
• Applicants do not need to be members of the SRS but do need to have at least one SRS member as a co-investigator.
• Funds are for work to be performed, not works in progress or already completed.
• All correspondence will be sent to the primary investigator. It is the responsibility of the primary investigator to provide information to co-investigators.
• The SRS Research Grant program was not developed to support research for independent manufacturer, industry development or personal business financial gain. SRS will be sensitive to this issue and avoid funding these projects.

The Biedermann Innovation Research Award shall be designed to support innovative research by young clinical investigators in the field of spine deformity.

General Guidelines

• Up to 1 grant will be awarded each cycle
• The total grant award is $75,000 per approved proposal.
• The award will be given out in 2025, 2026, 2027, and 2028.
• Recipients should be young Active or Candidate SRS members (age 45 or younger at the time the award is given) who have demonstrated clinical or translational research promise and have submitted a research proposal designed to enhance innovation in spinal deformity treatment.
• Funds are for work to be performed, not works in progress or already completed.
• All correspondence will be sent to the primary investigator. It is the responsibility of the primary investigator to provide information to co-investigators.
• The SRS Research Grant program was not developed to support research for independent manufacturer, industry development or personal business financial gain. SRS will be sensitive to this issue and avoid funding these projects.
• Biedermann Award recipients are required to attend the SRS Annual Meeting of their award year.

New investigator research grants are meant to stimulate younger members into a career of investigation in spinal deformity.

• Open to SRS Candidate Fellows or investigators who have not previously received:
  • an SRS Standard Grant
  • ORS, OREF, NREF, or USA Federal grant or for non-US applicants governmental funding of >$200,000 USD as a principal investigator
  • A single award of non-governmental funding of >$200,000 USD as a principal investigator
  • and have completed 10 years or less of practice or at the committee’s discretion.
• Preliminary data is not required nor is it expected.
• The work must be both conceptualized and executed by the young investigator as the principal investigator. Reviewers will consider the extent of which the project seems to be the young investigator’s own work rather than that of a more senior collaborator. Involvement, however, of an experienced mentor in an advisory role is encouraged and will be viewed positively.
• Applications with achievable goals and clear direction for subsequent work after the completion of the project will be viewed favorably.
• Duration of research – 2 years
• Up to $30,000 ($15,000 per year) may be requested.
• US and Canadian applicants for the New Investigator Grant may also be interested in the US Bone & Joint Initiative's Young Investigator Initiative.

General Guidelines

• Up to 2 grants will be awarded each cycle
• Applicants do not need to be members of the SRS but do need to have at least one SRS member as a co-investigator
• Funds are for work to be performed, not works in progress or already completed.
• All correspondence will be sent to the primary investigator. It is the responsibility of the primary investigator to provide information to co-investigators.
• The SRS Research Grant program was not developed to support research for independent manufacturers, industry development, or personal business financial gain. SRS will be sensitive to this issue and avoid funding these projects.

The Resident/Fellow Research grants are meant to allow residents/fellows to pursue avenues of interest to prepare them for a lifelong research career.

• Open to all residents/fellows in good standing in an Orthopaedic or Neurosurgery training program.
• Preliminary data is not required nor is it expected.
• Duration of research – 1 year
• Up to $10,000 each.
• It is encouraged this funding opportunity be anticipated prior to the senior year for residents or prior to the start of fellowship for fellows such that the research can be completed prior to graduation.

General Guidelines

• Up to 3 grants will be awarded each cycle
• Applicants do not need to be members of the SRS but do need to have at least one SRS member/candidate member as a co-investigator.
• Funds are for work to be performed but can be for works in-progress.
• All correspondence will be sent to the primary investigator. It is the responsibility of the primary investigator to provide information to co-investigators.
• The SRS Research Grant program was not developed to support research for independent manufacturer, industry development or personal business financial gain. SRS will be sensitive to this issue and avoid funding these projects.

Exploratory Micro research grants are meant to promote the diversity of the SRS membership and encourage members who do not typically receive major research awards to advance their creative ideas.

• Open to all SRS Fellows and Candidate Fellows.
• Preliminary data is not required nor is it expected.
• Duration of research – 1 year
• Up to $5,000 each.
• Suggestions for types of projects that could be funded include:
  • Funding for a surgeon observership from an under-resourced country
  • Support a resident or student to perform research or travel on a medical mission
  • Projects from smaller institutions that do not typically obtain larger SRS grants
  • Non-traditional grants not necessarily for research – educational ideas, advocacy, quality and safety improvement, and outside-the-box ideas

General Guidelines

• Up to 2 grants will be awarded each cycle
• Applicants do not need to be members of the SRS but do need to have at least one SRS member/candidate member as a co-investigator or an SRS member as the host for the applicants observership/medical mission trip.
• Funds are for work to be performed but can be for works in-progress.
• All correspondence will be sent to the primary investigator. It is the responsibility of the primary investigator to provide information to co-investigators.
• The SRS Research Grant program was not developed to support research for independent manufacturer, industry development or personal business financial gain. SRS will be sensitive to this issue and avoid funding these projects.

The SRS-Cotrel Foundation basic science research grant is conceived to support projects that will be performing work in Pediatric Scoliosis. Projects investigating molecular and cellular mechanisms, medical imaging as well as characterizing biomechanical aspects underlying the disease are eligible.

Basic science research using human populations or animal models are highly encouraged.

• One award available per year.
• Preliminary data and an investigational team with a proven track record will be viewed favorably.
• Additional Considerations:
  • How closely the SRS member is involved in all aspects of the project. (ex. A project performed by an investigative team that includes an SRS member clinician whose role is on the periphery of the project or whose role is poorly defined will not score as highly.)
  • How much of the focus of the investigators other work is related to spinal deformity. (ex. A team of investigators whose careers have been dedicated to investigating gut motility will not be scored as highly.)
• These applications will be reviewed by the SRS Research Grants Committee and the Cotrel Foundation.

Application Notes

• Duration of research – up to 2 years
• Up to $25,000 per year may be requested (max $50,000).
• CV page limit – 4 pages per investigator
• Research plan page limit – 10 pages (text includes all figures, charts, tables, and diagrams)

General Guidelines

• Up to 1 grant will be awarded each cycle
• Applicants do not need to be members of the SRS but do need to have at least one SRS member as a co-investigator
• Funds are for work to be performed, not works in progress or already completed.
• All correspondence will be sent to the primary investigator. It is the responsibility of the primary investigator to provide information to co-investigators.
• The SRS-Cotrel Research Grant program was not developed to support research for independent manufacturer, industry development or personal business financial gain. SRS will be sensitive to this issue and avoid funding these projects.

The expectation for a standard research grant is that the successfully completed project would be of a quality of a well-received podium presentation at the SRS Annual Meeting. The Society expects that these grants will lay the foundation for a sustained avenue of investigation and allow the investigator(s) to seek larger grants from sources such as the NIH or OREF. Investigators who have been funded at this level should not plan on nor expect that the “next step” in a project will be funded by the SRS after completion of their initial work.

• Preliminary data is not required but may be viewed favorably.
• Investigators and consortia that have an ongoing study in this category will not be considered for additional funding until their funded project is complete, regardless of whether or not their new application is for a different avenue of investigation.
• The quality and timeliness of the investigators’ previously funded SRS research and reports will be taken in consideration when evaluating applications for standard research grants.
• Duration of research – up to 2 years
• Up to $37,500 per year may be requested (max $75,000 total). Applications requesting more than $25,000 per year should spend additional effort to justify the request.

General Guidelines

• Up to 2-3 grants will be awarded each cycle
• Applicants do not need to be members of the SRS but do need to have at least one SRS member as a co-investigator.
• Funds are for work to be performed, not works in progress or already completed.
• All correspondence will be sent to the primary investigator. It is the responsibility of the primary investigator to provide information to co-investigators.
• The SRS Research Grant program was not developed to support research for independent manufacturer, industry development or personal business financial gain. SRS will be sensitive to this issue and avoid funding these projects.

The 2025 Named Research Grant shall be designed to support innovative research in the field of growth modulation of the spine and/or vertebral body tethering (VBT). The 2025 Named Research Grant is funded, in part, by Highridge Medical. Materials from the sponsoring company are not required to be used in the study in order to be considered for funding.

General Guidelines

• For 2025 a total grant award of up to $75,000 may be requested
• Duration of research – up to 2 years
• Applicants do not need to be members of the SRS but do need to have at least one SRS member as a coinvestigator
• Funds are for work to be performed, not works in progress or already completed.
• All correspondence will be sent to the primary investigator. It is the responsibility of the primary investigator to provide information to coinvestigators.
• The SRS Research Grant program was not developed to support research for independent manufacturer, industry development or personal business financial gain. SRS will be sensitive to this issue and avoid funding these projects.

Selection Process

Research grant applications are reviewed by the Research Grant Committee. Applications are rated on the basis of their scientific merit and include the following criteria:

• Significance: Does the project address an issue that will advance the care of patients with spinal deformity?
• Approach: Are the aims of the project clear and reasonable with a strong scientific premise? Is the study design appropriate and adequately powered (if necessary)? Have the investigators identified potential problems and alternative strategies?
• Feasibility: Can the investigators deliver a meaningful result? Do the investigators and collaborators have complementary and appropriate experience to accomplish the goals of the project? Is there appropriate institutional support and physical resources for the project?
• Budget: Are the requested funds and period of support justified and reasonable?