PHYS THER
Vol. 89, No. 1, January 2009, pp. 105-106
DOI: 10.2522/ptj.2009.89.1.105
Scholarships, Fellowships, and Grants |
News from the Foundation for Physical Therapy
 |
Foundation Awards $150,000 in Research Grants and Doctoral Scholarships
|
|---|
The Foundation for Physical Therapy recently awarded $120,000 in research grants to physical therapists to evaluate the effectiveness of physical therapy interventions. In October 2008, the Foundation's Scientific Review Committee reviewed grant applications; in December, the Board of Trustees awarded three $40,000 grants to the following individuals for research projects to begin in January 2009:
Susanne Morton, PT, PhD, University of Iowa, for her project "Motor Adaptation: A Novel Method for Retraining Locomotion Following Stroke." Morton will investigate the extent to which abnormal walking patterns can be improved by using motor adaptation in persons with stroke. Motor adaptation works by manipulating some aspect of the environment or the feedback given, producing a gradual adjustment of movements with practice. Results from this work may provide direct information about how walking is modified by visual information and may provide valuable insight for the development of novel rehabilitation interventions based on motor adaptation strategies for recovery of walking impairments, such as asymmetry, in individuals with stroke. This 1-year grant was generously funded by the 20th Marquette Challenge, co-sponsored by the University of Pittsburgh. The Marquette Challenge is an annual grassroots student fundraising effort coordinated by physical therapist students from across the country.
Michael Lewek, PT, PhD, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, for his project, "Biomechanical Influences on Motor Learning during Locomotor Retraining Post-Stroke." The overall goal of this 1-year pilot project is to gather preliminary evidence to test the hypothesis that using variable practice during training will maintain more consistent limb movements during training (aim 1) and result in improved coordination and overground gait speed during retention and transfer testing, respectively (aim 2), compared with training at a constant speed for individuals with chronic (>6 months) stroke. The grant awarded to Lewek was funded by the Geriatric Endowment Fund, made possible by generous gifts from APTA's Section on Geriatrics.
Jill Heathcock, PT, MPT, PhD, Ohio State University, for her project, "Training in Infants with Neonatal Stroke." The goal of this 2-year project is to determine the effects of a play-based physical therapy program on how babies who have had a stroke learn to reach out and touch a toy. This work will give clinicians, including physical therapists, occupational therapists, and pediatricians, an earlier and specific treatment protocol for young babies with reaching delay. Heathcock's grant was funded by the Pediatric Endowment Fund, made possible with generous gifts from APTA's Section on Pediatrics.
|
Foundation Announces Florence P Kendall Doctoral Scholarship Recipients
|
|---|
The Foundation for Physical Therapy's Board of Trustees recently awarded a total of $30,000 in doctoral scholarships to 6 physical therapists. Recipients of the $5,000 Florence P Kendall Doctoral Scholarships for the 2008–2009 academic year are: - Odessa Addison, PT, DPT, University of Utah
- Eric Anson, PT, MPT, University of Maryland, College Park
- Keith Avin, PT, MS, DPT, University of Iowa
- Michael Bade, PT, MPT, University of Colorado Denver Health Science Center
- Elisa Gonzalez-Rothi, PT, DPT, University of Florida
- Virginia Little, PT, MS, NCS, University of Florida.
|
Paris’ "Make Waves" Campaign Raises $52,000
|
|---|
Stanley Paris, PT, PhD, FAPTA, raised awareness of the Foundation and the need for physical therapy research through his attempt to swim the English Channel last summer. More than 500 people donated more than $52,000 in honor of his effort!
Paris gave numerous interviews for articles in magazines, newspapers, and health Web sites and blogs. According to Paris, "At each opportunity I have stressed that we are the profession of choice for the restoration, maintenance, and enhancement of human function. I have stressed that there is no need to slow down at middle age and that in fact by maintaining a fit, healthy, and productive lifestyle there is much more that can be enjoyed."
Paris, who successfully swam the Channel twice in the 1980s, made it past the halfway point on July 26 before ending his 7-hour, 40-minute swim because of severe leg cramps and nausea. A second attempt in September was canceled due to deteriorating weather conditions as the Channel swimming season came to a close.
You can read more about Paris’ journey to swim the English Channel at www.stanleyparis.blogspot.com. If you would like to make a donation in honor of Paris’ effort, visit the Foundation's Web site, www.FoundationForPhysicalTherapy.org and click "Donate Now."
|
Foundation Offers New Fellowship in Health Services
|
|---|
Applications are being accepting until January 27, 2009, for the Foundation for Physical Therapy's newly created fellowship in health services. The New Investigator Fellowship Training Initiative (NIFTI) in Health Services Research offers $72,000 in salary support for each of the 2 years of the program, half provided by the Foundation and half from the sponsoring institution. For guidelines and the online application, go to www.FoundationForPhysicalTherapy.com. Click on "Program Information" at left, then "Fellowships."
The fellowship is designed to enable the new investigator to develop research skills necessary to conduct high-quality, independent research to advance his or her capacity to examine optimal health services delivery outcomes in physical therapy, including cost analysis of various rehabilitation interventions. Training will focus on issues related to health care delivery, health services management, assessment of health care needs, evaluation of health markets and services, health economics, and the impact of health policies.
In addition to the new fellowship in health services, other grants currently open for applications until January 27 are the 2009 Promotion of Doctoral Studies (PODS) I and II and the 2009 NIFTI.
|
Session to Offer Advice on Applying for Foundation Funding
|
|---|
Members of the Foundation for Physical Therapy's Scientific Review Committee (SRC) will offer suggestions for preparing a successful grant, scholarship, or fellowship application during an educational session at the Combined Sections Meeting in Las Vegas on Tuesday, February 10, 10:30 AM to 12:15 PM in Coral C.
Grant seekers can meet in an informal, roundtable format to discuss any of the four Foundation's funding opportunities: Florence P Kendall Doctoral Scholarships; PODS I and II; NIFTI and NIFTI in Health Services; and research grants.
Scientific Review Committee members who will lead the discussions include: John Buford, PT, PhD, Linda Van Dillen, PT, Jeff Houck, PT, PhD, and Carolynn Patten, PT, PhD.
CiteULike 
Complore 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us 
Digg 
Reddit 
Technorati What's this?
Copyright © 2009 by the American Physical Therapy Association.
Top
Foundation Announces Florence P...
Paris' "Make Waves" Campaign...
