FPTR AWARDS $325,000 IN 2022 SCHOLARSHIP AND FELLOWSHIP FUNDING

The Foundation for Physical Therapy Research (FPTR) awarded 22 scholarships in this funding cycle and extended funding for a new combined scholarship/fellowship mechanism.

ALEXANDRIA, VA (July 8, 2022) – The Foundation for Physical Therapy Research (FPTR) recently awarded $325,000 in scholarship and fellowship funding. FPTR awards kickstart the careers of new investigators and provide the support needed to complete doctoral studies. Since 1979, FPTR has awarded more than $20 million to advance the physical therapy profession through critically needed research grants, fellowships, and scholarships.

FPTR Promotion of Doctoral Studies (PODS) I Scholarships ($7,500) are awarded to physical therapists or physical therapist assistants who have completed at least two full semesters or three full quarters of their coursework toward a post-professional doctoral degree.  This cycle, $105,000 was awarded in PODS I Scholarship funding to 14 researchers.

The 2022 PODS I Recipients are:

• Gregory Edwards, PT, DPT, of The Ohio State University. Edwards’ project, “scientific inquiry to clinical applications: postural control following concussion,” is supported by a generous donation from Beth Whitehead, PT, MPH;
• Adam Janowski, PT, DPT, of the University of Iowa, recipient of the Charlene Mae Nelson Award. Janowski’s project, “the validation of metabolic biomarkers, malate and fumarate, using animal and human research designs in chronic pain,” is supported through the Charlene Mae Nelson Endowment Fund;
• Lindsey Jubina, PT, DPT, of the University of Kentucky. Jubina’s project, “the impact of social determinants of health on utilization of rehabilitation after ICU admission,” is supported by APTA Acute Care, an Academy of the American Physical Therapy Association;
• Morgan Kelly, PT, DPT, of the University of Southern California. Kelly’s project, “the impact of post-stroke cognitive impairment on locomotor learning,” is supported through a generous donation from Beth Whitehead, PT, MPH;
• Sean Kennedy, PT, DPT, of Memorial Hermann Health System. Kennedy’s project, “dynamic, in-vivo analysis of the elbow joint – a controlled laboratory series utilizing model-based tracking,” is supported through a generous donation from PhysicalTherapy.com to the Legacy Scholarship Fund;
• Jamie Kronenberg, PT, DPT, of The Ohio State University. Kronenberg’s project, “movement as a complex adaptive system in athletes following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction,” is supported by a generous donation from Beth Whitehead, PT, MPH;
• Anne Lorio, PT, DPT, of Georgia State University, recipient of the Mildred Wood Award. Lorio’s project, “what are the best practices for teaching physical therapy students how to educate patients with limited health literacy?” is supported through the Mildred Wood Fund;
• Chelsea Parker, PT, DPT, of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the recipient of the Patricia Leahy Award. Parker’s project, “enhanced motor learning of gait behaviors in Parkinson’s disease,” is supported through the Neurology Endowment Fund made possible through the generosity of the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy;
• Hayley Smitheman, PT, DPT, of the University of Delaware. Smitheman’s project, “insertional achilles tendinopathy: optimizing individualized treatment strategies,” is supported by a generous gift from the Academy of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy;
• Katherine Smulligan, PT, DPT, of the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, recipient of the Florence Kendall Award. Smulligan’s project, “predictors of lower extremity injury risk following sport-related concussion,” is supported by the Florence Kendall Doctoral Scholarship Fund;
• Jennifer Supowit, PT, DPT, of the University of Washington. Supowit’s project, “examining vestibular contributions to Balance and Gait Impairments in Parkinson’s Disease,” is supported through the Academy of Geriatric Physical Therapy Fund made possible through the support of APTA Geriatrics;
• Jessica Swartz, PT, DPT, of San Diego State University, recipient of the Pelvic Health Award. Swartz’s project, “physical therapy for postpartum healing and health equity,” is supported through the Academy of Pelvic Health Fund made possible through the support of APTA Pelvic Health;
• Ashley Troutman, PT, DPT, of Indiana University/Purdue University, the recipient of the Scot C. Irwin Award. Troutman’s project titled: “musculoskeletal and cardiovascular dysfunction in CKD,” is supported through the Cardiovascular and Pulmonary fund, made possible through the support of APTA Academy of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy.

FPTR also awards PODS II Scholarships of up to $15,000 to physical therapist or physical therapist assistant researchers who have been formally admitted to post-professional doctoral candidacy. This cycle, $120,000 was awarded in PODS II Scholarship funding to eight researchers.

The 2022 PODS II Recipients are:

• Meredith Chaput, PT, DPT, of Ohio University, recipient of the Phoebe Rhomberger Award. Chaput’s project, “neural activity and postural control associated with experimentally induced knee joint deafferentation,” is supported through the Phoebe Rhomberger Fund;
• Chris Lane, PT, DPT, of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the recipient of the VCU-Marquette Challenge Award. Lane’s project, “preventing disability after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury: examining opportunities in those at greatest risk,” supported through the APTA Scholarship Fund;
• Andrew Post, PT, DPT, of the University of Iowa, recipient of the Viva J. Erickson Award. Post’s project, “identification of inflammatory biomarkers and adaptations after a tendon loading exercise program in individuals with chronic achilles tendinopathy,” is supported through the Viva J. Erickson Endowment Fund;
• Michelle Rauzi, PT, DPT, of the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, recipient of the Academy of Geriatric Physical Therapy Award. Rauzi’s project, “telehealth for medically complex older veterans,” is supported through the Academy of Geriatric Physical Therapy Fund made possible through the support of APTA Geriatrics;
• Gaura Saini, PT, DPTS, of the University of Minnesota, the recipient of the Karen St. John Award. Saini’s project, “scapular mechanisms of movement-related shoulder dysfunction,” is supported through the FPTR General Research Fund;
• Ashwini Sansare, PT, MS, of the University of Delaware, recipient of the Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy Award. Sansare’s project, “neuromotor control of walking balance in children with cerebral palsy,” is supported through the Pediatric Physical Therapy Endowment Fund, made possible through the generous support of APTA Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy;
• Corri Stuyvenberg, PT, DPT, of the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, recipient of the Bella J. May Award. Stuyvenberg’s project, “importance of parent-infant relationships in pediatric physical therapy,” is supported by the Bella May Fund;
• Jenna Zajac, PT, DPT, of Boston University, the recipient of the Mary Lou Barnes Award. Zajac’s project, “does a personalized music-based digital therapeutic increase walking performance and automaticity in people with Parkinson’s disease,” is supported through the Neurology Endowment Fund made possible through the generosity of the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy.

This year, FPTR will also continue support of the $100,000 portion of the Combined PODS II/New Investigator Fellowship Training Initiative (NIFTI) to Julia Mazzarella, PT, DPT, of The Ohio State University. Mazzarella’s project, “hippotherapy for children with cerebral palsy: upper extremity activity, participation, and engagement”, is supported through the APTA PODS Fund, Legacy Research Fund, and the General Research Fund. The new combined PODS II/NIFTI is modeled after the NIH K99/R00 mechanisms to support post-doctoral students while they pursue a mentored research position.

“These investments are helping to pave the way for the future of the profession,” said FPTR CEO, Barbara Malm, MBA. “We look forward to the contributions that these promising new investigators will make in their respective fields.”

FPTR awards all funding based on a peer-review process modeled after the National Institutes of Health (NIH). A volunteer scientific review committee comprises experts in research who review all applications. With a unique focus on physical therapy research, FPTR funds the most promising applicants and helps better prepare physical therapist researchers for long-term contributions to the profession. For more information, visit Foundation4pt.org.