Opioid misuse, cardiovascular recovery for individuals with spinal cord injury, and wearable sensor technology are among the areas of research to be funded in the latest round of Foundation for Physical Therapy Research grants. Combined, the 10 grants announced by the Foundation provide $560,000 in funding.
APTA is the Foundation’s Pinnacle Partner in Research and has been a leading donor in funding major initiatives that include investing in research priorities to strengthen the physical therapy profession and supporting the Foundation's scholarship program each year.
This year's grant recipients:
John Magel, PT, PhD, DSc, was awarded the $100,000 Magistro Family Foundation Research Grant. The title of his project, supported through the Magistro Family Foundation Endowment Fund, is "Primary Care Providers’ Perceptions of Physical Therapists Addressing Opioid Misuse."
Soshi Samejima, PT, DPT, PhD, was awarded the $100,000 Paris Patla Physical Therapy Research Grant in support of a project that will explore transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation and arm crank exercises for cardiovascular recovery in cervical and upper thoracic spinal cord injury. Funding was made possible by the Paris Patla Endowment Fund.
Kirby Mayer, PT, PhD, named winner of the $80,000 Acute Care Research Grant, will investigate the development of a cardiorespiratory fitness test for acute illness. A donation from APTA Acute Care supported the grant.
Abigail Wilson, PT, DPT, PhD, recipient of the $40,000 Academy of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Research Grant, will research biopsychosocial contributors to irritability in individuals with shoulder pain. The grant is supported by the Academy of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy.
Guilherme Cesar, PT, MPT, PhD, recipient of the $40,000 Pediatric Physical Therapy Research Grant, will pursue a project titled "Impact on Balance Control After Intervention With Novel Stand-on Ride-on Power Mobility Devices for Children With Cerebral Palsy.” The grant is supported by the Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy Fund.
Dalerie Lieberz, PT, DPT, PhD, winner of the $40,000 Moffat Geriatric Research Grant and a board-certified clinical specialist in geriatric physical therapy, will investigate the feasibility of integrating PTs with primary care for evaluation of older adults' mobility. Funding was made possible through the Marilyn Moffat Endowment.
Kari Kretch, PT, DPT, PhD, received the $40,000 Pediatric Research Grant for a study titled "Development of Supported Overground Walking in Infants With Down Syndrome," with funding made possible by the Paris Patla Endowment Fund.
Melissa Moran Tovin, PT, PhD, awarded the $40,000 VCU-Marquette Challenge Research Grant, will lead a project titled "Access and Utilization of Rehabilitation Health Services Among Emerging Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorders." The grant is supported by the APTA Support the Profession Fund, with the award being named in honor of the Marquette Challenge.
Lisa Chiarello, PT, PhD, awarded the $40,000 McEwen School-Based Physical Therapy Research Grant, will pursue a project titled "Preschool and Family Partnership in Action (PFP-IA): Engagement and Collaboration to Optimize Adaptive Behavior of Children With Motor Disability." The grant is supported by the McEwen Family Fund for School-Based Physical Therapy Research.
Alison Miller, PT, DPT, PhD, recipient of the $40,000 Digital Physical Therapy Research Grant and a board-certified clinical specialist in neurologic physical therapy, will investigate the integration of wearable sensor technology in the rehabilitation clinical environment. This grant is supported through a donation from SWORD Health.
"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, " said Foundation President Paul A. Rockar Jr, PT, DPT, MS, FAPTA, in a Foundation news release. "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. "
In addition to the individual grant awards, the Foundation also announced that it will support the Center on Health Services Training and Research, aka CoHSTAR, with $250,000 in funding for the center's 10th and final year.