Mentored Pilot Research Grant

The O&P Foundation's Mentored Pilot Grant is a one-year award in the amount of $5,000. This award is 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. The Mentored Pilot Grant funds are intended to be used for the conduct of the proposed research project. The Mentored Pilot Grant is awarded annually, and awards are based on the scientific merit of the proposed research project.

Eligibility Requirements

• The PI must be a currently-enrolled masters or doctoral student, a current orthotics and/or prosthetics resident, or a practicing orthotics and prosthetics clinician.

• The selected mentor for this research must have attained a doctoral degree or have equivalent research experience.

• The proposed research must include a clinician trained in O&P as the PI, mentor, or co-investigator.

• The primary research site must be in the US.

• The proposed research must be clinically relevant to the O&P profession in the United States.

Review

Mentored Pilot Research Grant will be reviewed and scored by scientific and/or clinical experts selected by the O&P Foundation's Research Committee. All applications are scored based on criteria in three main areas: (1) Relevance of the research topic; (2) Merit of the research design; and (3) Appropriateness of the personnel and environment. The O&P Foundation Review outlines the scoring criteria.

How to Apply 

Create an account in The O&P Foundation Application Portal, then select the “Mentored Pilot Research Grant” program application and follow portal instructions.

1. Prepare and upload a Letter of Intent (LOI)

1. • The LOI should briefly describe the proposed research; list all key investigators; and name the institutions/organizations/companies involved in the study.

   • The LOI is used to verify eligibility and to assemble a review committee with appropriate topic area expertise; feedback will not be provided.

   • Applicants do not need to await an invitation to apply; however, applications will not be reviewed if an LOI is not submitted.

2. Complete and upload the Application Cover Letter 

3. Draft and upload a Full Proposal

1. • Applicants are responsible for ensuring the proposal adheres to the Mentored Pilot Research Grant Program Manual guidelines, proposals that do not adhere to the stated guidelines will not be reviewed.

   • A confirmation will be sent to applicants to confirm receipt of the application.

Award Cycle Information

The following are key dates and deadlines for the O&P Foundation's Mentored Pilot Award Program.  Application materials must be received by 5:00pm Central Time on the posted deadline. Applicants are responsible for ensuring all materials are received by the O&P Foundation by the dates listed below. 

• Letter of Intent: period closed

• Full Proposal: period closed

• Approximate Award Notification: 09/01/2024

Questions

If you have any questions about the Mentored Pilot Research Grant Award, please email info@oandpfoundation.org or email The O&P Foundation Research Chair directly at research@oandpfoundation.org