The Foundation for Physical Therapy will begin accepting letters of intent to apply for the new $300,000 Clagett Family Research Grant on January 19, 2010. 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 Foundation Board of Trustees Chair William G. Boissonnault, PT, DPT, DHSc, FAAOMPT. "Knowing the tremendous potential it has to impact the lives of so many people, we are excited to offer this award, which will support an outstanding team of researchers."

The two-year grant is the Foundation's largest funding initiative since the launch of the Physical Therapy Clinical Research Network (PTClinResNet) in 2002. The opportunity is unique to the Foundation because it encourages collaborative, multidisciplinary teams to apply, rather than just a single investigator.

The online application system for the research grant will be available starting January 19, 2010. 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, Maryland, 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.

Source
The Foundation for Physical Therapy