Our Grants Program

Research

An Urgent Research Need

Despite being the world’s most common lifelong physical disability and affecting 18 million people worldwide, cerebral palsy is one of the most underfunded conditions. Guided by our Scientific Advisory Board, Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Foundation (CPARF) will fund science that addresses every age and every stage of life, providing crucial insights for people with cerebral palsy, their families, and their care teams.

CPARF Funding Objectives

Cerebral palsy is a diverse disability that demands a diverse research portfolio, and we steadfastly support research that serves the whole community. We start at Day One with the earliest interventions to potentially lessen cerebral palsy’s severity or prevent the injury that causes it. We keep going with science that will make it more comfortable for children to get the therapies they need. We continue with research that will uncover new chronic pain treatments for adults. We proudly champion research for every age and every stage.

We will accept applications from individuals, groups of researchers, committees, or project-focused foundations. Principal Investigators must be employed by an institution (e.g., a hospital, university, or institute).

Please ensure your project relates to or addresses at least one of CPARF’s research priorities:

  • Early Detection & Early Intervention
  • Chronic Pain
  • Technology
  • Regenerative Medicine
  • Genomics

Next Application Cycle

Keep an eye on this page, sign up for our newsletter and follow our Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and X (formerly Twitter) accounts for information on the next application deadline.

Applications for 2020 grant round open in August/September 2020.

Our Research Grants

CPARF welcomes project grant applications from all researchers who want to move cerebral palsy research forward through their work, and who seek to build and expand their reputation in the cerebral palsy field.

We strongly encourage applicants to include junior researchers on their teams to foster new talent in the field.

Subject-Matter and Location Eligibility: The Principal Investigator must be based in the United States and the research topic must contribute to cerebral palsy research.

Indirect Costs: Indirect costs are capped at 25%, including the IDC charged by any sub-awardee or contractor.

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CPARF encourages fellowship grant applications from all emerging researchers who want to establish careers in cerebral palsy research. Applicants should demonstrate research capability and a desire to establish a career in cerebral palsy research, showcasing how this grant will support their upward trajectory as an independent researcher.

Professional Background, Subject-Matter, and Location Eligibility: The Principal Investigator must be based in the United States and must have earned their most recent postgraduate degree within the last five years. The research topic must contribute to cerebral palsy research. Individuals studying for a Ph.D. are ineligible.

Indirect Costs: Indirect costs are capped at 25%, including the IDC charged by any sub-awardee or contractor.

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This competitive grant aims to attract new and highly qualified graduates into the field of cerebral palsy research. These grants are internationally available for PhD research students who are committed to the same thing we are: accelerating progress to change what’s possible for cerebral palsy on several fronts by encouraging researchers to adopt cerebral palsy as their area of study.

Individuals completing non-research PhD study, such as a clinical doctorate, are ineligible for this grant.

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Conference, Training & Travel Grants are available on a competitive basis to help individuals travel to conduct fieldwork or take part in other collaborations, or to help people attend a training session or conference that’s significant for their work.

These grants are directly related to an applicant’s research or professional development. We prefer applications focused on individuals presenting a paper or poster at a conference, though it’s not required for eligibility.

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Small Equipment Grants aim to help scientists purchase essential research equipment and can be used for pieces of equipment, partial pieces of larger equipment, or basic lab items (excluding consumables). It can also be used for specialized IT equipment or software for specific research implementation.

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As of 2019, we no longer accept applications for the Career Development Grant. Instead, we encourage you apply for an Emerging Research Grant or PhD Grant.

Prior Career Development Grant recipients should refer to the following report templates for their ongoing research projects: