Research Resources
The research resources available for the neurologic physical therapist are vast. Many of these resources are supplied and supported by the APTA and Neurology Section and many by government agencies. Use the tabs to the left to explore the available resources.
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Federal Funding Sources
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEATLH
The National Institutes of Health, a part of the US Department of Health and Human Services, is the nation's medical research agency-making important discoveries that improve health and save lives. NIH offers several grant opportunities for career development as well as project support. More information can be found at the NIH website.
Through basic, translational, and clinical research, the National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research (NCMRR) aims to foster development of scientific knowledge needed to enhance the health, productivity, independence, and quality-of-life of people with physical disabilities. NCMRR supports rehabilitation research through several grant mechanisms including career development and project support.
NCMRR INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT SITES
The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), through the National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research (NCMRR), and the National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), have funded six grants to build research infrastructure by providing access to expertise, technologies, and resources from allied fields such as neurosciences, engineering, applied behavior, and the social sciences. Researchers in medical rehabilitation are invited to access these funded core infrastructure sites. Opportunities facilitated by this R24 funding mechanism include:
- Research training
- On site sabbaticals
- Pilot project funding
- Core services
For additional information on NCMRR funding opportunities, please see the NCMRR website.
Department Veteran's Affairs
VA is an intramural research program funding eligible VA clinician and non-clinician investigators to VA healthcare priorities. VA also supports education and career development for VA clinicians and non-clinician scientists through the VA Office of Research and Development.The VA Health Services Research and Development Service (HSR&D) pursues research that underscores all aspects of VA healthcare: patient care, care delivery, health outcomes, cost, and quality. The VA Rehabilitation Research and Development Service (RR&D) supports preclinical, clinical and applied research to prevent, eliminate, or reduce motor, sensory, and psychological disabilities among our nation’s Veterans allowing them to live full and productive lives.
NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DISABILITY, INDEPENDENT LIVING, AND REHABILITATION RESEARCH
The National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), a component of the Administration for Community Living in the US Department of Health and Human Services, is the main federal agency that supports applied research, training, and development to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities.
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency that supports basic science research. NSF's goals--discovery, learning, research infrastructure and stewardship--provide an integrated strategy to advance the frontiers of knowledge, cultivate a world-class, broadly inclusive science and engineering workforce, and expand the scientific literacy of all citizens.
Foundation Funding Sources
FOUNDATION FOR PHYSICAL THERAPY
The Foundation for Physical Therapy, like the physical therapy profession, is dedicated to the goal of improving the quality and delivery of patient care. The Foundation accomplishes this by providing support to emerging investigators to promote scientifically based and clinically relevant research related to the effectiveness of physical therapist practice.
The Foundation supports research projects in any specialty. The projects must be intervention studies in which the interventions are provided by physical therapists, or selected components of the interventions are provided by physical therapist assistants under the direction and supervision of physical therapists.
The maximum grant amount is $40,000 (salary, fringe benefits, and direct expenses only). The grant period of performance may be one or two years. Applications are generally due in mid-August of each year.
Please see the Foundation for Physical Therapy web site for further details.
AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
The American Heart Association funds research broadly related to cardiovascular function, cardiovascular diseases, and stroke. Research grants are available that target new investigators (e.g. Mentored Clinical & Population Research Award, Scientist Development Grant) as well as established researchers (e.g. Grant-In-Aid).
CRAIG H. NEILSEN FOUNDATION
The mission of the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation is to improve the quality of life for those with spinal cord injury and to support scientific exploration for effective therapies and treatments leading to a cure. The Foundation supports cutting-edge research that seeks to understand the biological basis for recovery of function after SCI, clinical research that will develop new treatments for those living with SCI, and innovative rehabilitation programs for people living with SCI.
CHRISTOPHER & DANA REEVE FOUNDATION
The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation is dedicated to curing to spinal cord injury by funding innovative research, and improving the quality of life for people living with paralysis through grants, information, and advocacy. The Foundation supports a variety of areas related to SCI including rehabilitation training.
NATIONAL MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society supports and funds research activities spanning all research stages, including discovery research, translational research that brings promising ideas forward into actual therapeutic solutions for testing, and clinical trials that are related to multiple sclerosis.
PARKINSON'S DISEASE FOUNDATION
The Parkinson's Disease Foundation funds research that identifies novel questions about, and answers to, the puzzle of Parkinson's. The Foundation funds Center Grants, Career Development Fellowships, Collaborative Research Endeavors, and International Research Grants.
KLINGENSTEIN-SIMONS FELLOWSHIP AWARDS IN THE NEUROSCIENCES
The Esther A. & Joseph Klingenstein Fund and the Simons Foundation provide competitive fellowships for young investigators in neuroscience research. Aimed at advancing cutting-edge investigations, the awards are presented to highly promising, early career scientists. The fellowship awards promote higher-risk, and potentially higher-reward, projects in several key areas including cellular and molecular neuroscience, neural systems, and clinical research. For more information, visit the fellowship website.
AMERICAN FEDERATION FOR AGING RESEARCH
The mission of the American Federation for Aging Research is to support and advance healthy aging through biomedical research. AFAR seeks to fund and nurture talented scientists and to encourage them to pursue a career in research focused on aging processes and age-related diseases. AFAR provides research funds to support both junior and established investigators.
ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION
The mission of the Alzheimer's Association is to eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. To meet his mission, the Alzheimer's Association supports research aimed at accelerating the global effort to eliminate Alzheimer's disease including disease-modifying treatments and preventative strategies.