We support clinically relevant Research through a variety of funding opportunities
Research Priorities
Our research priorities focus on orthotics and prosthetics research that serves to improve clinical outcomes, enhance patient experiences, and optimize healthcare costs.
We support initiatives addressing key domains in the quality of patient care– safety, effectiveness, equity, timeliness, efficiency, and patient-centeredness- while fostering innovation that delivers measurable improvements in orthotic and prosthetic rehabilitation.
Research Funding Opportunities
Pilot Grant
Details Coming Soon
Spring Cycle OPENS March 3rd, 2025
Program Details
Early Career Grant
The Early Career Grant is intended to help early career investigators initiate lines of research that will be competitive for larger funding opportunities through funding agencies such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), or the Department of Defense (DOD).
This $30,000 grant is awarded annually and based on the scientific merit and clinical relevance of the proposed research project.
OPENS March 3rd, 2025
Program Details
Mentored Pilot Grant
The Mentored Pilot Grant program awards one year grants of $5000 intended to help trainees (e.g., masters/doctoral students, orthotics and prosthetics residents) or orthotics and prosthetics clinicians to complete a research project with the guidance of an experienced research mentor.
OPENS March 3rd, 2025
Program Details
Microgrants
The O&P Foundation’s Microgrant Program awards one-year grants of $2,000 to support clinically relevant activities and projects.
These microgrants aim to empower health professionals, researchers, students, and residents to pursue projects and activities that may contribute to clinical care in O&P.
Awarded biannually, once in the Spring and once in the Fall. Awarded based on the scholarly merit and clinical relevance of the proposed activity/project.
Spring Cycle OPENS March 3rd, 2025
Program Details
How it works
- Create an account in the O&P Foundation Application Portal, select the program application.
- Check program requirements
- Complete application when portal opens.
- Submit required attachments.
- If you have any questions, please contact [email protected].
What are recipients saying? Impact Stories
“Receiving the OPERF Fellowship Award had a profound impact on my career trajectory by providing the essential support to complete my MS degree, pursue a PhD, and establish myself as a scientist. Today, as an Assistant Professor and Program Director of the Master of Science in Orthotics and Prosthetics (MSOP) program at East Tennessee State University, I am uniquely positioned to mentor and inspire the next generation of O&P professionals. I strive to instill in my students the research skills, critical thinking, and passion for discovery that the Fellowship helped me develop."
Research Prosthetist-Orthotist
“Receiving research funding early in my career has provided me with valuable experience in drafting impactful grant proposals, a skill I will continue to utilize throughout my career as a researcher. Additionally, these awards have given me the confidence to pursue my research interests, with the support and recognition of the O&P community that these objectives will be valuable in shaping the future of O&P care for our patients."
Hanger - VP, Scientific Affairs
“The fellowship award was a springboard for my career. It was the first substantive award I was able to demonstrate on my CV that I could effectively manage an award and yield a deliverable from that money entrusted to me. As a result, I have now been a PI on multiple grants for which total funding exceeds $30M."
Kyle Leister
Program Director/Assistant Professor - East Tennessee State University