Background
Following the Global Educators Meeting (GEM) in 2018, a group of dedicated individuals serving as the Ongoing Activities Subcommittee of the GEM Subcommittee sought to create a space for collaborative educational activities to occur between GEM meetings. These individuals sought to connect prosthetics and orthotics (P&O) educators from around the globe through efforts to promote scholarship and progress in P&O education. During the GEM 2022, facilitators and researchers conducted a series of focus group meetings to identify priorities for education research and the resources faculty might need to participate in such research. Analysis of these discussions resulted in a prioritization survey, which was disseminated to educators around the globe. Results from this survey were shared with attendees at the 2023 ISPO World Congress in Guadalajara, Mexico, where individuals from a variety of backgrounds discussed the findings. One of the findings of the focus group, survey, and discussions was the need for financial support for discipline-based education research in P&O.
A full account of this effort was published in Prosthetics and Orthotics International in 2024. In order to promote education research in the profession, generous donations from the National Commission on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education, the American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics, and Pedorthics, and the School of Health Professions at Baylor College of Medicine resulted in the Education Research Fund, which sought proposals prior to the 2024 GEM. The results of this first funding effort were shared at the GEM 2026.
A second round of donations from GEM proceeds, the American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics, and Pedorthics, and Dan Blocka with the support of his company Boundless Biomedical Bracing, are supporting this second round of funding in 2026.
Mission of the Fund
The mission of the ISPO Education Research Fund is to support P&O program faculty in conducting collaborative education research, which will support evidence-based approaches to P&O education and training.
ISPO Education Research Fund Call for Proposals
The mission of the ISPO Education Research Fund is to support P&O program faculty in conducting collaborative education research, which will support evidence-based approaches to P&O education and training.
The Global Educators Meeting (GEM) Ongoing Activities Subcommittee seeks to provide funding of up to € 8,000 for up to 15 months to investigators exploring prosthetic and orthotic education. The Ongoing Activities Subcommittee creates a linkage between subsequent GEMs through the support of activities facilitating collaboration, innovation, and scholarly work focused on prosthetic and orthotic education.
All components of the proposal are due by September 1, 2026. Please send questions to education@ispoint.org.
Eligibility
- The PI must be a faculty member of a P&O education program.
- The research team must include faculty members from at least two (2) P&O educational programs.
- All other members of the research team must be listed on the application.
- The PI must provide a letter with written approval from their supervisor (department chair or dean) supporting the project.
- Funding cannot be applied toward salary support or indirect costs.
- It is recommended that project objectives or aims target at least one of the following categories:
– Providing feedback to students
– Curricula development
– Clinical education and internship practice
– Program evaluation and outcome
– Faculty development of P&O educators
– Education standards
– Instructional methods
– Academic preparation v. clinical practice (academic-practice gap)
– Program resources
Use of Funds
- This program is intended to launch collaborative educational projects which will be presented every two years at the Global Educators Meeting.
- The funds may only be used during the agreed upon period of 12-15 months according to the timeline in the grant application and the disbursement of funds.
- Cost extensions beyond the grant period are not allowed.
- The funds may be used to support project-related supplies, publication costs, technology costs, travel expenses, etc.
- The funds may not be used to cover faculty salaries.
- The fund may not be used for indirect costs.
Applicants must describe how personnel will manage the time commitment required to complete proposed project activities or whether the activities fall within the normal range of responsibilities.
GEM Presentation
Meeting registration expenses for the GEM following the award will be covered for two of the investigators. Investigators can choose to budget travel costs to the GEM as part of the proposed use of funds.
Report
Following completion of the funding period, the PI must submit a report to ISPO which includes a summary of the project and relevant findings, as well as a budget report. Any unused funds must be returned to ISPO.
Format of the Application
All documents must be uploaded together as a single PDF file in the order given in the Application Materials section. The application must include all of the materials requested.
Submission Information
Please submit your application via the form: https://s.alchemer.com/s3/5d0c42352fa3
Application Materials
An application must include the sections listed below (in the order listed). All pages must be numbered. Text should be single-spaced, 11-point Arial or Helvetica or 12-point Times font, with a minimum of ½” margins.
1. Cover Page: Please use the form provided.
2. Project Abstract: Maximum 300 words in the designated space on the cover page.
3. Budget: Provide a summary of the total request using the Budget Summary Form provided. Include a detailed budget narrative explaining how funds will be spent. The budget narrative may be up to one page, single-spaced.
4. Educational Research Project Rationale and Plan: This part of the application should be 1–2 pages, single-spaced. The following sections should be included.
- Goals and objectives or specific aims
- Significance, including potential for broader impacts (benefits beyond immediate project impacts) and relevance to O&P educatio
- Personnel, qualifications, and roles on project (PI and team members)
- Approach or proposed plan of work, including description of how the goals and objectives will be achieved (work to be carried out), methodologies, evaluation plan, dissemination of results, and deliverables.
- Timeline of project activities and milestones
5. Literature Cited. List any citations on a separate page. The list of literature cited does not count toward the 2-page limit of the Project Rationale and Plan.
6. Letters of Support. Please be sure to attach letters from department chairs or deans which support the faculty from each institution participating in the project. A letter of support for the PI is required.
NOTE: If a project involves human-subjects research, applicants will be required to have an IRB-approved human-subjects protocol (which must be in place or in progress before funds are released).
All components of the proposal are due September 1, 2026. Please send questions to education@ispoint.org.
Review Criteria
The Ongoing Activities Subcommittee of the GEM Subcommittee will convene a panel of reviewers to score each proposal. Proposals will be rated according to the criteria, which can be found HERE.
