Academy Research Committee
About the Academy Research Committee
Goals
- Promote submission of the highest quality of research-based presentations at the ASCIP Annual Conference.
- Promote submission of SCI/D-related research in the JSCM by all the sections.
- Provide members with networking opportunities to facilitate the development of research ideas and the dissemination of research findings to the larger SCI/D professional community.
- Provide membership with information on valuable research resources (grants, funding, collaborations, etc.).
- Support research efforts for early career and trainees in SCI/D health care.
Objectives
1. Membership Support for Research Development
a. Provide consultation on issues related to research development, funding, and grant writing.
b. Conduct ASCIP membership surveys and focus groups as a method of periodic self-evaluation and a medium to identify member needs that will inform ARC’s activities.
c. Provide networking opportunities for research activities.
2. Education
a. Offer conference sessions on presenting research and promoting research.
b. Host a conference activity(s) that showcases and promotes research of early investigators and/or trainees in each discipline of ASCIP.
c. Consult with the Program Committee to ensure the selection of high-quality research presentations.
d. Recognize and award outstanding posters at the annual conference.
e. Provide sessions and consultation on effectively presenting research findings to the professional community.
3. Publications and Public Relations
a. Collaborate with JSCM editorial staff to promote submissions.
b. Develop and maintain information on the ASCIP website with resources related to various research activities.
Resource Resources
SCI Granting Agencies
Department of Defense, Spinal Cord Injury Research Program
National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR)
Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation | Quality of Life Grants
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
Paralyzed Veterans of America Research Foundation
Research Recruitment
The ASCIP Research Committee (ARC) initially reviews research recruitment applications. It makes recommendations to the Governance Board (GB), which makes the final decision on whether recruitment materials can be sent to the Listserv. Click here to make a recruitment request.
Submission Process
- Applicants submit their request directly to ARC or through the GB.
- Required materials include:
- Applicant's information
- ASCIP members on the research team (if any)
- Funding source (if applicable)
- Project summary: purpose, population, recruiting plan, intervention/data collection, privacy/confidentiality plan, relevance to ASCIP, IRB status, informed consent, and VA facility R&D approval (if applicable).
Review Process
- ARC assigns at least two members, including one focus area reviewer and one familiar with human subject protections.
- Reviewers may include ad hoc members if needed.
- Reviewers present the study at an ARC meeting, and all members review the materials in advance.
- The applicant may attend the ARC meeting to address concerns or questions.
- A consensus recommendation is made after the discussion.
- The ARC Chairperson communicates the GB's decision to the applicant.
Approval Timeline
The process typically takes 1-2 months from submission to approval.
Examples of Approachable Activities
- Study recruitment
- Professional interviews/surveys at ASCIP conferences
- Surveys distributed via ASCIP mailing list (handled by The FIRM staff)
- Online survey links distributed via ASCIP Newsletter
- Findings are encouraged to be reported at the ASCIP annual meeting or published in the Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine.
- An ARC member tracks recruitment requests and outcomes, providing quarterly updates to the committee.
Download the ARC Research Activities and Recruitment Policy here.
Fundamentals of Research
Definitions
Quantitative Research: an investigative method for examining trends or outcomes through the collection of measurable data, which can subsequently be analyzed using statistical, mathematical, or computational techniques.
Qualitative Research: an investigational method that involves gathering and analyzing non-numerical data to understand concepts, opinions, or experiences.
Quality Improvement (QI): an approach defined as systematic, evidence-based activities designed to bring about immediate improvements in a particular setting. Often flexible and incremental in design, employing strategies such as a plan-do-study-act cycle.
Case Study/Case Series: a collection of case reports involving patients who received similar treatment.
Randomized Clinical Trial (RCT): a study design that randomly assigns participants to either an experimental group or a control group and must include an intervention, randomization, and a control group.
Outcome Assessments
Shirley Ryan Ability Lab Rehabilitation Measures Database
NINDS Common Data Elements (CDEs)
International Spinal Cord Society (ISCoS) International Data Sets
Spinal Cord Injury Research Evidence (SCIRE)
SCI Community Engagement in Research
North American Spinal Cord Injury Consortium (NASCIC) Research Advocacy Course
Integrated Knowledge Translation Guiding Principles for Research Partnership
Other Research Resources
Committee Members
Join the Research Committee
Contact Rafer Willenberg (rwillenberg@mgb.org)