Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers (RERC) Program: RERC on Rehabilitation Technologies for Children with Orthopedic Disabilities
This grant funds research and development of rehab technologies for kids with orthopedic disabilities, aiming to improve their health, function, and community living.
This grant is no longer accepting proposals
Administration for Community Living has archived this opportunity.
Funder: Administration for Community Living
Due Dates: February 18, 2025 (Letter of Intent) | April 18, 2025 (Full Application)
Funding Amounts: Up to $975,000 per year for 5 years (total project period: 60 months); one award expected.
Summary: Funds a national center to conduct advanced research and development of innovative rehabilitation technologies to improve health, function, and community living for children with orthopedic disabilities.
Key Information: No cost sharing required; applications exceeding $975,000/year or 60 months will not be reviewed.
Description
This opportunity supports the establishment of a Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) focused on developing, evaluating, and disseminating innovative rehabilitation and assistive technologies for children with orthopedic disabilities. The goal is to maximize independence, improve functional abilities, and enhance the quality of life for children affected by conditions such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, limb loss, scoliosis, club foot, and muscular dystrophy.
The funded RERC will conduct advanced engineering research, develop new products and strategies, and engage in knowledge translation, technical assistance, and capacity building. The center must involve children with orthopedic disabilities, their families, and other stakeholders throughout the research and development process, and address the needs of racially and ethnically diverse populations.
Research areas may include, but are not limited to:
- Virtual reality and interactive technologies for rehabilitation
- Robotic-assisted therapy and exoskeletons
- Functional electrical stimulation (FES)
- Artificial intelligence for personalized rehabilitation
- Advanced assistive devices (e.g., custom prosthetics, orthotics, wheelchairs, environmental control systems)
The RERC must also:
- Demonstrate and evaluate new technologies
- Facilitate service delivery system changes
- Stimulate production and distribution of new technologies in the private sector
- Provide training opportunities and disseminate findings
