Features Insurance Management
2010 research competition by HHRF

Feb. 4, 2010 – The
Holistic Health Research Foundation is pleased to announce its 2010 open
research competition in massage therapy. For 2010, there will be two funding competitions, the first with
a March 1, 2010 application deadline and the second with a Sept. 30, 2010 application
deadline.

Purpose

The purpose of the Massage Therapy Research Fund (MTRF) is to fund high quality research that investigates the efficacy, and clinical effectiveness of massage therapy and that contributes to our understanding of how massage therapy achieves its effects. A secondary goal is to increase research knowledge and capacity among massage therapists through their engagement in research practices at all levels.

Small pilot studies are particularly needed to provide foundational data on conditions and populations where massage therapy is efficacious and to indicate direction for larger research projects. Study design and methodological issues need consideration. The MTRF seeks innovative and thoughtful examination through small pilot efforts.

Our primary focus is on clinical research, with a secondary focus on mechanisms of action and policy issues.

The MTRF invites applications in areas indicated above. For both competition cycles, a total funding amount of $50,000 is offered. Grant applications up to $15,000 will be considered.

All properly submitted applications will be considered (Instructions for Applicants at http://www.holistichealthresearch.ca/massagefund.gk ). Studies may be qualitative, quantitative, or mixed method. Initially, funding preference will be given to smaller, pilot, or creative study designs. In this way, the MTRF aims to assist the scientific and massage communities in building a foundation for the eventual construction of more complicated research projects. The MTRF encourages applications that also seek funding from other sources.

The principal investigator must be affiliated with a Canadian charitable institution (university or hospital) that is willing to administer the finances of the grant. Funds are awarded to the charitable institution, not to an individual. The research team may include members affiliated with a non-Canadian institution. One member of the research team should be a massage therapist. Students at the Masters level and above are encouraged to apply.

Timelines

Deadline to receive submissions is Monday, March 1, 2010 at 5 p.m. ET. Applicants will be notified of the status of their applications by May 1, 2010.

Deadline for the second 2010 competition cycle is Thursday, September 30, 2010 at 5 p.m. ET. Applicants will be notified of the status of theis applications by November 30, 2010.

Assessment Process

All applications will undergo an independent peer review by the scientific committee of the HHRFC and external reviewers with knowledge and experience specific to the subject of the application. All decisions are final. Applicants whose projects are not selected for funding but which the committee deems of merit will be encouraged to resubmit. Feedback and guidance for improvement will be provided wherever possible. Reviewers’ names will be published at the time of announcing grant award recipients.

About the MTRF

The Massage Therapy Research Fund is administered by the Holistic Health Research Foundation of Canada and is supported by a generous annual donation from the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario, by donations from the Massage Therapy Association of British Columbia, and by individual massage therapists and other donors. To donate to this fund, as well as for more information and application procedures and forms, please visit www.holistichealthresearch.ca/massagefund.gk