News from the Foundation for Physical Therapy

Recent Publications by Foundation Alumni

“Sparing of Descending Axons Rescues Interneuron Plasticity in the Lumbar Cord to Allow Adaptive Learning After Thoracic Spinal Cord Injury,” by Hansen CN, Faw TD, White S, Buford JA, Grau JW, and Basso DM, was published in Frontiers in Neural Circuits on March 2, 2016. Timothy D. Faw, PT, DPT, NCS, was awarded a Promotion of Doctoral Studies (PODS) I scholarship in 2014 and 2015 and the 2013 Florence P. Kendall Scholarship. John Anderson Buford, PT, PhD, was awarded a 1990 Doctoral Training Research Grant and has been serving on the Foundation's Scientific Review Committee (SRC) since 2008 and as SRC Chair since 2015. Faw's contributions to this research were supported in part by the Foundation.

“Which Children Are Not Getting Their Needs for Therapy or Mobility Aids Met? Data From the 2009–2010 National Survey of Children With Special Health Care Needs,” by McManus BM, Prosser LA, and Gannotti ME, was published in the February 2016 issue of PTJ (2016;96:222–231). Beth M. McManus, PT, PCS, MPH, ScD, was awarded the 2013 New Investigator Fellowship Training Initiative (NIFTI), a 2008 PODS II scholarship, a 2005 PODS I scholarship, and a 2004 Mary McMillan Doctoral Scholarship. Laura A. Prosser, PT, PhD, MPT, was awarded the 2012 Pittsburgh Marquette Challenge Research Grant. Mary E. Gannotti, PT, PhD, was awarded a Doctoral Training Research Grant in 1996.

“Variability of Anticipatory Postural Adjustments During Gait Initiation in Individuals With Parkinson Disease,” by Lin CC, Creath RA, and Rogers MW, was published in the January 2016 issue of the Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy (2016;40:40–46). Mark W. Rogers, PT, PhD, FAPTA, was awarded Doctoral Training Research Grants in 1983 and 1989.

“Associations Between Cystatin C-based eGFR, Ambulatory Blood Pressure Parameters, and In-Clinic Versus Ambulatory Blood Pressure Agreement in Older Community-Living Adults,” by Woodell TB, Hughes-Austin JM, Tran TV, Malhotra A, Abdelmalek JA, and Rifkin DE, was published in the April 2016 issue of Blood Pressure Monitoring (2016;21:87–94). Jan M. Hughes-Austin, PT, MPT, PhD, was awarded the Miami-Marquette Challenge Research Grant in 2014.

“Changes in Tibiofemoral Contact Forces During Running in Response to In-Field Gait Retraining,” by Willy RW, Meardon SA, Schmidt A, Blaylock NR, Hadding SA, and Willson JD, was published in the Journal of Sports Sciences on December 17, 2015. Richard W. Willy, PT, MPT, OCS, was awarded a PODS II scholarship in 2010 and PODS I scholarships in 2008 and 2009. John D. Willson, PT, PhD, MSPT, was awarded a PODS II scholarship in 2006 and PODS I scholarships in 2004 and 2005.

Current Funding Opportunities

Kendall Scholarships: The Foundation is now accepting applications for the $5,000 Kendall Scholarships. Students beginning their postprofessional doctoral programs are encouraged to apply.

Research Grants: The Foundation is offering a record number of $40,000 Research Grants to new and emerging investigators for either 1- or 2-year projects. Investigator-initiated grants in a variety of topic areas, including pediatrics, geriatrics, and orthopedics, as well as an award to evaluate the effectiveness of physical therapist interventions within any discipline, are now available.

An $80,000 Magistro Family Research Grant also is available to any physical therapist investigator. Letters of Intent to apply are required for this funding mechanism and must be submitted by 12 pm, noon, ET, on June 1, 2016.

To view these grants, visit http://Foundation4PT.org.

The application deadline for Research Grants and Kendall Scholarships is noon, ET, August 3, 2016. Application guidelines and instructions may be found at http://Foundation4PT.org/apply-for-funding.

APTA NEXT Conference and Exposition Events

Celebrate with the Foundation during our 2016 Gala at the Gaylord Opryland in Nashville, Tennessee, on Thursday, June 9, 2016. The evening event includes dinner and a brief program recognizing Foundation service award recipients and national student fundraising efforts for physical therapy research. DJ provided by Prime Source Entertainment Group. Please visit http://Foundation4PT.org for more information.

The Gala is graciously sponsored for the 16th consecutive year by our title sponsor HPSO/CNA.

Thank You for Your Support of the Pittsburgh-Marquette Challenge

The Foundation gives a special thanks to the Pittsburgh-Marquette Challenge coordinators who helped make this year a success: Katie Popovich, Rachel Sand, and Jackie Sokop of Marquette University and Margaret Acton, David Pastrana, Bethany Trotter, and Ryan Vietmeier of the University of Pittsburgh.

The Foundation also thanks all program directors and faculty of the participating schools for providing guidance and support in student fundraising efforts.

The Foundation also would like to thank Lawrence G. Pan, PT, PhD, FAPTA, and Sheila Schindler-Ivens, PT, PhD, of Marquette University, for steering the annual fundraiser. Thanks also to Susan L. Whitney, PT, DPT, PhD, NCS, ATC, FAPTA, of the University of Pittsburgh for her support as her students assumed leadership of this year's Challenge. Winning schools and the grand total raised by the Challenge will be listed on the Foundation's website after the 2016 Gala.

Now Accepting Nominations to Join SRC

The Foundation for Physical Therapy is currently accepting nominations to serve on the Scientific Review Committee, a group composed of physical therapists and other individuals that reviews applications and makes recommendations to the Foundation's Board of Trustees for final approval. This all-volunteer committee is vital to the awarding of more than 20 scholarships, fellowships, and grants each year. If you know of someone who could serve as an application reviewer, or if you have an interest in volunteering yourself, please email info{at}foundation4pt.org for the selection criteria and more information.

Foundation Shout-Out

Congratulations to Foundation alumna Fabrisia Ambrosio, PT, MPT, PhD, who became Co-Investigator at the Alliance for Regenerative Rehabilitation Research and Training (AR³T), a NIH-funded center at the University of Pittsburgh. (Ambrosio was guest co-editor of the Regenerative Rehabilitation and Genomics Special Series found in the April and May issues of PTJ.)

Share Your News and Announcements with the Foundation

To have your information posted in the Foundation News section of PTJ, please email Yaman Shalabi at YamanShalabi{at}foundation4pt.org.

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