Apply for AOTF Intervention Research Grant (United States)

Deadline: 18-Sep-2026

The American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF) Intervention Research Grant (IRG) supports early-career investigators and occupational therapy faculty in the United States conducting pilot, feasibility, and intervention research planning studies. Grants provide up to $100,000 for one year, including limited indirect and mentor costs, to generate preliminary evidence and build research capacity for larger occupational therapy intervention studies. What Is the AOTF Intervention Research Grant? The Intervention Research Grant (IRG) is offered by the American Occupational Therapy Foundation to support early-stage research in occupational therapy. The grant addresses a common challenge for emerging researchers: obtaining funding and preliminary evidence needed to compete for larger research awards. Rather than primarily funding large clinical trials, the IRG supports projects that establish the groundwork for future intervention research.

Funded studies may generate:

Preliminary research data. Evidence about study feasibility. Information needed to design future trials. Research partnerships. Collaborative research agendas. Experience for emerging investigators. Why Does the Intervention Research Grant Matter? Early-career researchers often need pilot data before they can obtain substantial extramural research funding. The IRG helps address this gap by supporting smaller, early-stage studies that can lead to larger intervention research projects. The programme particularly values research that examines the effectiveness of occupational therapy interventions in relation to: The programme also encourages research involving underserved and diverse populations. What Types of Research Does the Grant Support? The IRG supports three main types of projects. Pilot Studies Pilot studies can test whether research processes and procedures work as intended before a larger study is conducted.

A pilot project might examine:

Recruitment procedures. Data collection methods. Intervention delivery. Research protocols.

Participant retention

Study logistics. Feasibility Studies Feasibility studies help researchers determine whether a larger intervention study can realistically be conducted. They may estimate important parameters such as: Recruitment rates. Retention rates. Intervention adherence. Variability in outcomes. Data collection requirements. Resources needed for a future trial. Intervention Research Planning Grants Planning grants can help researchers develop collaborative research agendas and establish the foundation for future intervention studies. These projects can be particularly useful for building interdisciplinary research teams and preparing future large-scale proposals. What Research Approaches Are Encouraged? The Foundation emphasises research that is: Client-centred. Occupation-based. Theory-driven. Intervention-focused. Interdisciplinary. Relevant to occupation, participation, or health. Inclusive of underserved and diverse populations. Applicants are also encouraged to consider how findings can eventually be disseminated and translated into practice. Who Is Eligible to Apply? The principal investigator must meet specific educational, professional, employment, and career-stage requirements. Eligible principal investigators generally must: Hold a doctoral degree such as a PhD, ScD, OTD, or EdD with advanced research training. Be a credentialed occupational therapist with a full-time faculty or equivalent research position, or Be a non-occupational therapy investigator with a primary appointment in an occupational therapy department. Be employed by a U.S. nonprofit organisation. Meet the applicable U.S. citizenship or residency requirements. Be an early, emerging, or early-mid career investigator. Not have substantial extramural research awards. Have an experienced research mentor committed to the project. What Are the Citizenship and Residency Requirements?

Eligible applicants must generally be:

U.S. citizens. Non-citizen U.S. nationals. Permanent residents. Applicants who have applied for permanent residence, where permitted under the programme requirements. The applicant must also be employed by a qualifying U.S. nonprofit organisation. Is a Research Mentor Required? Yes. An experienced research mentor is required for an eligible early-career principal investigator. Mentorship is a central component of the IRG because the programme is intended not only to generate preliminary research evidence but also to strengthen the research capacity of emerging investigators. Ensure that the project can meet applicable ethical and institutional requirements, including IRB approval where required. What Makes a Strong Application? A strong IRG proposal should clearly demonstrate that the project is an appropriate early-stage study rather than an attempt to fund a full-scale intervention trial.

The proposal should explain:

The research problem. The occupational therapy intervention or approach. The study’s theoretical basis. The pilot or feasibility question. The methodology. The expected preliminary evidence. The role of the mentor. The research team’s expertise. The future larger-scale study. The potential impact on occupation, participation, or health. Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

Proposing a project that is too large for a one-year pilot or feasibility grant. Failing to identify a clear future research pathway. Applying without an appropriate experienced mentor. Lacking a strong theoretical foundation. Designing research unrelated to occupational therapy intervention outcomes. Ignoring underserved or diverse populations where they are relevant. Failing to address dissemination. Exceeding allowable indirect or mentor compensation limits. Applying despite having substantial extramural research awards. Failing to meet U.S. employment, citizenship, or residency requirements. Tips for Early-Career Investigators Applicants can strengthen their proposals by mak