Rehabilitation Research & Development Service (RR&D)

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Rehabilitation Research & Development Service (RR&D) Research Career Scientist Program

The objective of the Research Career Scientist Program is to provide a career track and salary support for outstanding non-clinician scientists who have shown their commitment to VA research through scientific productivity, committee participation, teaching and mentoring, supervising of shared resources, and other important research-related activities in areas of high relevance to the VHA healthcare system in fulfillment of its primary mission of patient care.

Details regarding the types of awards, eligibility, the application process, and evaluation criteria can be obtained from the RFAs and Program Announcements web page (note: this is a VA ORD Intranet site).

Purview

The RR&D purview includes research relevant to the rehabilitative needs of Veterans. Areas of emphasis are broad and expansive and may include preclinical, clinical or applied rehabilitation research with strong implications for translation into clinical practice to advance the rehabilitative health care of Veterans. RCS nominees appropriate for review by RR&D conduct research in areas that include: injuries, disorders and diseases with the potential to cause long term impairment and disability in the Veteran population; rehabilitation interventions, techniques, and devices designed to maximize motor, sensory, and psychological recovery; and endpoints that include functional outcomes of Veteran participants.

Letter of Intent

The application process for an RCS award begins with a Letter of Intent (LOI). A full RCS application may not be submitted without an approved LOI.

LOI deadlines for RR&D are May 1 (Summer review cycle) and November 1 (Winter review cycle). An LOI is required each review cycle, including resubmissions, and must be submitted electronically in a single PDF to the RR&D mailbox: rrdreviews@va.gov.