AOTF-ASHT-AHTF's Hand in Hand Grant
Funds early-stage research in hand and upper extremity therapy that centers community engagement and targets equitable, impactful outcomes, with priority for studies addressing health disparities and clinical effectiveness.
Funder: American Occupational Therapy Foundation
Due Dates (Anticipated): November 2026
Funding Amounts: $50,000 for one year (including indirect costs; one award per cycle)
Summary: Supports early-stage research in hand and upper extremity therapy with a focus on robust community engagement and equitable, impactful outcomes.
Key Information: This is a forecasted opportunity; all dates are projected based on annual cycles.
Description
This collaborative grant, offered by the American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF) in partnership with the American Society of Hand Therapists (ASHT) and the American Hand Therapy Foundation (AHTF), funds early-stage research projects that advance hand and upper extremity therapy through strong community partner engagement. The program centers the perspectives and priorities of diverse communities—defined broadly by shared characteristics, geography, or social identity—to ensure research is relevant, equitable, and impactful. Projects should lay the groundwork for future large-scale studies, with priority given to research addressing health disparities, comparative effectiveness, clinical practice and outcome validation, and orthosis use and biophysical agents. Proposals must demonstrate strong collaborations among researchers, rehabilitation experts, and community partners, and include concrete plans for dissemination and sustainability.
