Research Grants

Links to the guidelines and application instructions for each grant can be found underneath the name of each grant. Applications can be found on ProposalCentral.

Dates are subject to change.

*LOIs are required for the Magistro Family Foundation, Paris Patla Manual Therapy and the Paris Patla Physical Therapy grants. Please continue to monitor the website and sign up for the mailing list to recieve updates. 

U.S.-licensed PTs or PTAs who are APTA members are eligible to apply.

The list below reflects the 14 physical therapy research grants and their funding levels.

Any Physical Therapy Area

The Foundation does not provide examples of successful applications (i.e., ones that were awarded a grant) for two main reasons: (1) scoring functions in the context of that cycle, so a score that earns an award may not be successful in another cycle because requirements, review criteria, scoring guidance, quality of all applications received for that grant, and reviewers may vary; and (2) applications do not include reviewer comments, which remain confidential. Furthermore, within the cycle, regardless of the quality of the application and overall score for each grant, only one award is made.

Reviewers score proposals well that have all the characteristics expected of high-quality, significant proposals that will advance knowledge and evidence for practice, patient wellbeing, the profession, and further research. Here are examples of highly competitive characteristics:

• Have a high potential for successful completion within the time and budget available. Propose research that is justified by the research literature or by knowledge or evidence gaps in the literature;

• Include clearly described conceptual and analytical frameworks that are explicitly linked to design and variables;

• Use appropriate quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods that are well described and demonstrate competency to apply them;
• Have a well-developed recruitment strategy that explicitly identifies risks to timely recruitment and shows a plan for mitigating risks;
• Evaluate the clinical effectiveness of therapeutic acute care interventions;
• Have clearly defined and measurable outcomes;
• Consider social determinants of health and drivers of health disparities;
• Assess the interaction between patient characteristics and therapeutic methods;
• Have direct, real-world application to improve the evidence for clinical practice; and/or
• Have a strong likelihood of leading to funded larger impactful studies.

Visit our Application Review Process page for an overview of how applications are reviewed.