Foundation for Physical Therapy Research Announces 2023 Research Grant Funding 

The Foundation for Physical Therapy Research is awarding $810,000 in funding: $560,000 to fund ten physical therapy research grants and $250,000 for the 10th year of The Center on Health Services Training and Research (CoHSTAR).

“Research funding is competitive. All of this year’s grant recipients should be commended for developing compelling projects that underwent a rigorous peer review by our Scientific Review Committee,” says Paul A. Rockar, Jr, PT, DPT, MS, FAPTA, President of the Foundation. “And thanks to the continued support of our donors, sponsors, and partners at APTA, we are thrilled to support these promising researchers in their early career work so that they can continue to grow.”

The 2023 research grant recipients are: 

John Magel, PT, PhD, DSc of the University of Utah:

Magel is awarded the $100,000 Magistro Family Foundation Research Grant for the proposed project, “Primary Care Providers’ Perceptions of Physical Therapists Addressing Opioid Misuse”. This grant is supported through the Magistro Family Foundation Endowment Fund.

Soshi Samejima, DPT, PhD of the University of Washington: 

Samejima is awarded the $100,000 Paris Patla Physical Therapy Research Grant for the proposed project, “Transcutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation Combined with Arm Crank Exercise for Cardiovascular Recovery in Cervical and Upper Thoracic SCI”. This grant is supported through the Paris Patla Endowment Fund.

Dalerie Lieberz, PT, DPT, PhD, GCS of the College of St. Scholastica:

Lieberz is awarded the $40,000 Moffat Geriatric Research Grant for the proposed project, “Feasibility of Integrating a Physical Therapist with Primary Care for Routine Evaluation of Older Adults’ Mobility”. This grant is supported through the Marilyn Moffat Endowment.

Abigail Wilson, PT, DPT, PhD of the University of Central Florida:

Wilson is awarded the $40,000 Academy of Orthopedic Physical Therapy Research Grant for the proposed project, “Biopsychosocial Contributors to Irritability in Individuals with Shoulder Pain”. This grant is supported by the Academy of Orthopedic Physical Therapy.

Melissa Moran Tovin, PT, PhD of Nova Southeastern University:

Tovin is awarded the $40,000 VCU-Marquette Challenge Research Grant for the proposed project, “Access and Utilization of Rehabilitation Health Services among Emerging Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders”. This grant is supported by the APTA Supporting the Profession Fund. The Foundation Research Grant is named in honor of the Marquette Challenge.

Kirby Mayer, PT PhD of the University of Kentucky Research Foundation:

Mayer is awarded the $80,000 Acute Care Research Grant for the proposed project, “A Cardiorespiratory Fitness Test for Acute Illness: Validity, Reliability, and Clinical Utility of Functional Incremental Stepping-in-Place Test”. A donation by APTA Acute Care made this award possible

Alison Miller, PT, DPT, PhD, NCS of the Washington University in St. Louis:

Miller is awarded the $40,000 Digital Physical Therapy Research Grant for the application, “Integrating Wearable Sensor Technology into the Rehabilitation Clinical Environment”.  A donation by SWORD Health made this award possible.

Lisa Chiarello, PT, PhD of Drexel University: 

Chiarello is awarded the $40,000 McEwen School-Based Physical Therapy Research Grant for the proposed project, “Preschool and family partnership in action (PFP-IA): Engagement and collaboration to optimize adaptive behavior of children with motor disability”. This grant is supported by the McEwen Family Fund for School-Based Physical Therapy Research.

Guilherme Cesar, PT, MPT, PhD of the University of North Florida:

Cesar is awarded the $40,000 Pediatric Physical Therapy Research Grant for the proposed project, “Impact on Balance Control after Intervention with Novel Stand-on Ride-on Power Mobility Devices for Children with Cerebral Palsy”. This grant is supported by the Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy Fund.

Kari Kretch, DPT, PhD of the University of Southern California:

Kretch is awarded a $40,000 Pediatric Physical Therapy Research Grant for the proposed project, “Development of Supported Overground Walking in Infants with Down Syndrome”. This grant is supported by Paris Patla Endowment Fund.

Funding for these awards follows a rigorous application and peer review process modeled after the National Institutes of Health – a process that sets the Foundation apart in physical therapy research funding. The Foundation’s volunteer scientific review committee is comprised of experts who review all eligible applications. The Foundation’s unique focus on funding physical therapy research that has been rigorously peer-reviewed helps ensure long-term growth of high-quality research in this field. To date the Foundation has awarded more than $23.4 million in grants, scholarships, and fellowships.

The Foundation is currently accepting applications for the 2024 scholarships. For more information, visit Foundation4pt.org.