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Call for Proposals: Research Grant Program

Deadline: 28-Feb-2026

The Massage Therapy Foundation (MTF) Research Grant Program provides significant funding between $30,000 and $300,000 for high-quality, independent scientific research. These grants support projects lasting up to three years that contribute to the evidence-based application of massage therapy. The program requires a Letter of Intent (LOI) and favors projects with strong institutional support and a commitment to open-access dissemination.

The Massage Therapy Foundation (MTF) Research Grant is a premier funding opportunity designed to advance the clinical and scientific understanding of massage therapy. By supporting rigorous data collection and analysis, the MTF aims to integrate massage therapy into the broader healthcare landscape through validated research.

Why It Matters: Advancing the Evidence Base

For massage therapy to be recognized by insurers, medical practitioners, and policy makers, it must be supported by robust scientific evidence.

  • Clinical Validation: Provides proof of efficacy for specific conditions and populations.

  • Informed Practice: Helps therapists apply techniques based on proven physiological and psychological outcomes.

  • Healthcare Integration: Facilitates the inclusion of massage therapy in standard multi-disciplinary treatment plans.

  • Strategic Investment: Offers substantial capital—up to $300,000—to allow for large-scale, multi-year longitudinal studies.

Key Concepts and Definitions

  • Sponsoring Organization: A legally recognized entity (university, hospital, or research center) that manages the grant funds. Grants are never awarded to individuals directly.

  • Institutional Review Board (IRB): An administrative body established to protect the rights and welfare of human research subjects. All MTF projects must have IRB approval.

  • Letter of Intent (LOI): A mandatory preliminary document outlining the research goals. Only the top five LOI submissions are invited to submit full proposals.

  • Dissemination: The public sharing of results through peer-reviewed journals, conferences, and the clinicaltrials.gov registry.

Who is Eligible?

The MTF Research Grant is open to global researchers who can demonstrate a high level of institutional support.

Eligible Applicants:

  • Global Scope: Researchers outside the United States are welcome to apply, provided their institution can receive funds in USD.

  • Institutional Affiliation: Applicants must be connected to a university, health center, or independent research organization with adequate lab facilities.

  • Professional Standing: Lead researchers must not be a Principal Investigator (PI) on a currently funded MTF project at the time of application.

Ineligible Applicants:

  • Individual practitioners not affiliated with an institution.

  • Current MTF-funded Principal Investigators.

Funding and Budget Guidelines

The grant supports a wide range of research-related costs, provided they are strictly justified.

  • Grant Range: $30,000 to $300,000.

  • Maximum Duration: Up to 3 years.

  • Approved Expenses: Salary support (aligned with current professional stipends), participant compensation, specialized equipment, supplies, and dissemination/publishing fees.

  • Unspent Funds: Any remaining balance at the end of the project must be returned to the MTF.

How to Apply: The Two-Stage Process

The MTF uses a competitive screening process to identify the most promising research.

Stage 1: The Letter of Intent (LOI)

  1. Develop a Hypothesis: Align your project with the knowledge and evidence base of massage therapy.

  2. Draft the LOI: Provide a high-level summary of your significance, methods, and expected outcomes.

  3. Institutional Review: Ensure your Sponsoring Organization supports the preliminary plan.

Stage 2: Full Proposal (By Invitation Only)

  1. Detailed Protocol: If invited (one of five teams), submit a comprehensive technical and scientific plan.

  2. Budget Justification: Provide a granular breakdown of how the requested funds will be utilized.

  3. Compliance Documentation: Submit proof of IRB resources and ethical safety protocols.

Project Management and Reporting

Awarded teams must adhere to a strict accountability schedule:

  • Quarterly Payments: Funds are released only after the approval of quarterly financial and progress reports.

  • Mandatory Registration: All clinical studies must be registered on clinicaltrials.gov.

  • Final Reports: Upon completion, teams must provide scientific, financial, and “public-facing” (accessible) reports.

  • Dissemination: Researchers are required to present findings at conferences and publish in peer-reviewed journals, ideally via open access.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Missing the LOI Phase: You cannot submit a full proposal without an invited Letter of Intent.

  • Weak Institutional Support: Proposals often fail if the institution lacks the necessary IRB resources or lab facilities.

  • Inaccurate Budgeting: Research teams that request funds for activities not directly related to the approved project are disqualified.

  • Lack of Originality: The MTF prioritizes research that provides new insights rather than replicating existing, well-known data.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Can a private massage clinic be a Sponsoring Organization? Generally no, unless they have a dedicated research arm and access to an Institutional Review Board (IRB). Most applicants use universities or medical centers.

2. Is there a limit on salary support? Salary support must be “commensurate with current stipends or salaries” for researchers in that specific field and region.

3. Does the grant cover international research? Yes, the program is global. However, the Sponsoring Organization must be able to accept payments in U.S. dollars.

4. What happens if I need to change my research plan mid-project? Significant changes to personnel, budget, or the research plan require prior written approval from the Massage Therapy Foundation.

5. How many full proposals are accepted each year? Only up to five teams are invited to submit a full proposal after the LOI stage, but the number of final awards depends on funding availability and scientific merit.

6. Who makes the final decision on funding? The Research Proposal Review Committee evaluates the science, but the AMTA Board of Directors makes the final funding decisions.

7. Is open access publishing required? It is highly expected. The Foundation aims to make research findings as accessible as possible to the global therapy community.

Conclusion

The Massage Therapy Foundation Research Grant is a catalyst for professionalizing the industry through hard science. By offering substantial multi-year funding, it allows research teams to move beyond small pilot studies into impactful, large-scale research. Dedicated investigators should focus on building strong institutional partnerships and a clear LOI to succeed in the 2026 application cycle.

For more information, visit MTF.