Research Grants

---

The 2026 Call for Grants is now closed.

---

Background:

CSRS has funded over $5 million in research grants since 1990.

The mission of the Cervical Spine Research Society is to carry out research and exchange information on the cervical spine. Therefore, funding research projects that will impact the cervical spine field is paramount.

During stage 1 of the annual Call for Grants: LOIs, CSRS solicits Letters of Intent (LOIs). Submitted LOIs then undergo a rigorous peer review process by the three CSRS Research Subcommittees. There are separate subcommittees for each category of LOIs to ensure all applications are given proper consideration. After reviewing all LOIs in each category, selected LOIs are invited to proceed to submit a full grant manuscript in stage 2. Each subcommittee is given ample time to thoroughly review all submitted manuscripts and vote on which projects should be recommended for funding by CSRS.

Selection for CSRS research funding is always a highly competitive process as many high-quality proposals are received and reviewed every year.

If you have an idea for a project that would impact the cervical spine field, be sure to submit your LOI to the 2026 CSRS Call for Grants: LOIs. Click the button below to get more information on what information is needed in the LOI application.

LOI Application Guidelines

---

---

Benefits of receiving a CSRS Research Grant:

• Expedited publication of research results in the CSRS journal, Clinical Spine Surgery
• Complimentary CSRS Annual Meeting registration when you present your oral update
• All grant recipients are encouraged to apply for candidate membership with CSRS to stay involved with the society

---

Categories:

CSRS is open to reviewing and funding all submitted grant applications, even if they do not fall into one of the described categories below.
 

21^st Century Grants  (Basic Science and/or Clinical Research)

Goal of Grants: To fund the highest quality applications likely to make the greatest impact on cervical spine research.  
Project Length: 1-2 years
Budget: up to $75,000 USD annually, for a max of $150,000 USD over 2 years

Specifications: 

• Funding for key personnel (i.e. nurse, technician, clinical coordinator) must be included in the budget proposal & approved by CSRS
• If project is projected to take 2 years, funds will be split between the two consecutive years of the project

 

Seed/Starter Grants

Goal of Grants: To provide seed-starter funding for promising research for young primary investigators and attending surgeons within their first 10 years of practice. CSRS strives to provide funding to young primary investigators who have developed a research project that will impact the cervical spine field.
Project Length: 12-18 Months
Budget: up to $35,000 USD

Specifications:

• Funding for key personnel (i.e. nurse, technician, clinical coordinator) must be included in the budget proposal & approved by CSRS 
• Duration: Projects should be focused and capable of completion within 12-18 months.
• Priority will be given to proposals that are part of a research program with the potential to lead to other sources of fundi

Resident/Fellow Grants

Goal of Grants: To allow orthopaedic or neurosurgery residents/fellows to pursue avenues of interest to prepare them for a lifelong research career. Applicants should remain in residency/fellowship for the entire duration of their project and see it to completion at the same institution.
Project Length: 12 Months
Budget: up to $20,000 USD

Specifications:

• Funds may not be use for resident/fellow or personnel salary
• Applicants may be orthopaedic or neurosurgery residents/fellows
• Applicants should remain residents/fellows for the entire duration of their project and see it to completion at the same institution
• Projects should be focused and capable of completion within 12 months of funds being received

 

Spinal Cord Research Grants (Basic Science and/or Clinical Research)

Goal of Grants: To fund the highest quality research proposals to help understand, manage, and/or treat spinal cord injuries. Proposals should focus on improving the understanding and treatment of conditions that lead to acute and chronic cervical spinal cord compression. 
Project Length: 1-2 Years 
Budget: up to $40,000 USD

Specifications: 

• Funding for key personnel (i.e. nurse, technician, clinical coordinator) must be included in the budget proposal & approved by CSRS 

---

CSRS Grant Conditions:

• One member of the research team must be an Active Member of CSRS.
  • Note: Candidate Members, CSRS-EU, and CSRS-AP members cannot fulfill this requirement. All Candidate member applications must also include an Active CSRS member on the investigative team. 
• Primary Investigators/an Investigative team are eligible for only one grant per year, and may only apply for one grant in one category per year.
• All grant proposals will be subjected to a line-by-line budget analysis, which may results in an adjustment of the total dollar award.
• All future publications and presentations of work that has been the result of a CSRS funded project must acknowledge CSRS as a funding source. 
• Indirect costs, and travel will not be funded by CSRS awards.
• Investigators who have previously received a 21^st Century, Seed/Starter, or Spinal Cord Injury Grant must wait three years/three grant cycles from the date of prior funding before applying for another grant in the same category
• Investigators previously awarded a 21st Century Grant or Spinal Cord Injury Grant are eligible to submit a proposal in the Seed/Starter category the following year, provided the topic differs.
• Investigators previously awarded a Seed/Starter Grant are eligible to submit a proposal in the 21st Century category the following year.
• Investigators previously awarded a Resident/Fellow Grant are eligible to submit proposals in the 21st Century and Seed/Starter categories in subsequent years.
• The same resident or fellow cannot receive Resident/Fellow grants in consecutive years.