The Foundation for Physical Therapy, Alexandria, Va, is accepting letters of intent to apply for the new $300,000 Clagett Family Research Grant. The grant was recently established to fund researchers investigating exercise interventions for older adults living with multiple chronic conditions.
 
“The Clagett Family Research Grant is an exciting opportunity for researchers to investigate a high-impact clinical research topic. Older adults with chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and arthritis are at greater risk for disability and limitations to their activity, and could potentially benefit from exercise interventions,” said William G. Boissonnault, PT, DPT, DHSc, FAAOMPT, Foundation board of trustees chair.
 
The 2-year grant is the Foundation’s largest funding initiative since the launch of the Physical Therapy Clinical Research Network (PTClinResNet) in 2002. The grant encourages collaborative, multidisciplinary teams to apply,
 
The online application system for the research grant is available as of January 19 . A letter of intent must be submitted by March 1, 2010 at noon, ET. Completed applications are due May 5, 2010 at noon, ET.
 
The grant is named for Lansdale and Gladys Clagett from Upper Marlboro, Md, who made a bequest to the Foundation in June 2009 in gratitude for the physical therapy Lansdale received. Lansdale Clagett, a former member of the Maryland House of Delegates and Prince George’s County Commissioner, contracted polio as a young adult and was confined to a wheelchair for almost 30 years. After 20 years of physical therapy at a local hospital and with the help of a visiting physical therapist, he was able to walk again using crutches.

The Foundation for Physical Therapy was established in 1979 as a national, independent nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality and delivery of physical therapy care by providing support for scientifically based and clinically relevant physical therapy research and doctoral scholarships and fellowships.

Contributions to the Foundation for Physical Therapy are tax deductible and can be made online at www.FoundationforPhysicalTherapy.org, or sent to The Foundation for Physical Therapy, PO Box 1017, Merrifield, VA 22116-9767. For more information, e-mail [email protected], or call (800) 875-1378.

[Source: Foundation for Physical Therapy]