Congratulations, IPTF 2025 Research Grant Recipient!

Through the generous donations of our members the IPTF was able to award a $1,000 research grant to support the following research project in Illinois. Please join us in congratulating this year’s recipient:

Laura Rice, PT, MPT, PhD at the University of Illinois for her research project titled: “Meaningful Interpretation of Self-reported Concern About Falling Measures in Community-Dwelling People Who Use Wheelchairs and Scooters Full-time: Implications for Clinical Research and Practice."

If you have a research project in mind you think you might want to submit for a grant, watch next fall for the submission window!

Introducing the Innovation Showcase!

Celebrating Emerging Research and Future-Focused Ideas in Physical Therapy

We’re excited to unveil a new chapter in how we spotlight the future of our profession. Formerly known as the Virtual Poster Hall, this space has been reimagined and renamed the Innovation Showcase — a dynamic hub for exploring the next generation of physical therapy research and visionary projects transforming patient care.

The Innovation Showcase goes beyond traditional poster presentations. It’s a platform to highlight forward-thinking studies, pilot programs, and innovative solutions that are pushing boundaries in clinical practice, education, technology, and community health. By focusing on what’s next, we aim to foster dialogue, collaboration, and inspiration among physical therapists, students, and researchers across Illinois and beyond.

Call for Abstracts: 2026 Innovation Showcase

The Innovation Showcase welcomes submissions from physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, and students of physical therapy. Participants may apply individually or as part of a group, with or without affiliation to a physical therapy academic program.

Selected abstracts will be featured in the Innovation Showcase that will be open April 1-30, 2026 in a virtual format, offering visibility among peers, recognition for your work, and the opportunity to inspire others through creative problem-solving and forward-focused thinking.

Abstracts will be reviewed and selected based on the quality of the abstract and its relevance to physical therapy and the global interests of the PT profession. All abstracts must be submitted no later than December 2nd, 2025.

To learn more about the submission process, criteria for selection, and expectations to help you prepare your submission click below.

Congratulations to our 2024 IPTF $1,000 IPTF Research Grant Recipients! 

Through the generous donations of our members on our 2023 Day of Giving, we were able to award two $1,000 research grants to two very deserving research projects.

Join us in congratulating: the 2024 Grant Recipients:

Dawn Brown, PT, DPT, EdD and Kristina Latva PT, for their research project:  "Examining New Doctor of Physical Therapy Faculty Motivation to Participate in Faculty Development."	Krista Van Der Laan, PT, DPT, for her research project: "Views of Faculty for Creation of a Contemporary and Inclusive Conceptual Framework for Assessing Professionalism and Professional Identity Formation in DPT Students."

We are looking forward to seeing great things come from these dedicated researchers. Thank you again to all who donated during the 2023 Day of Giving Campaign. We would not be able to continue to support our researchers without your generosity. Be on the lookout for the 2025 Day of Giving on August 16th so we can try to fund a record number of research grants in 2026!

If you have a research project in mind you think you might want to submit for a grant, watch next fall for the submission window!

Learn more about previous Research Grant recipients and their projects by visiting: https://iptfgives.org/research/iptf-1000-research-grant-application/

Congratulations to our 2023 IPTF $1,000 IPTF Research Grant Recipients! 

We had 5 great applications and through the generosity of all our members on our 2022 Day of Giving, we are able to award 3 $1,000 Research Grants this year.

Join us in congratulating: the 2023 Grant Recipients:

Samantha Pietrzak, PT & Alyssa Jones, PT for their research project:  "Comparison of intensity and step count in three gait training modalities in the inpatient rehabilitation setting post-stroke."	Mariah Balinski, PT, research project: "Transcranial direct current stimulation in conjunction with individualized physical therapy for individuals with chronic knee pain."	Elizabeth Holland, PT, research project: "Functional Neurological Disorder: Influence of continuing education courses on rehabilitation clinicians' knowledge and attitudes."

Thank you again for all of you who helped make this funding possible through our "Day of Giving" Campaign. It is only through these contributions that we are able to support physical therapy research conducted by our Illinois researchers.

Learn more about previous Research Grant recipients and their projects by visiting: https://iptfgives.org/research/iptf-1000-research-grant-application/

The IPTF would like to congratulate our 2022 $1,000 IPTF Research Grant Recipient:  Adam Wielchowski, PT, DPT.  Dr. Wielchowski is working on his research project:  "Physical Therapist Assessment of Yellow Flags in Clinical Practice: A National Survey". 

We are looking forward to learning more about his research at an upcoming Spotlight on Research webinar in 2024.

Thank you again for all of you who helped make this funding possible through our "Day of Giving" Campaign. It is only through these contributions that we are able to support physical therapy research conducted by our Illinois researchers.

Learn more about previous Research Grant recipients and their projects by visiting: https://iptfgives.org/research/iptf-1000-research-grant-application/

Congratulations to our 2021 IPTF $1,000 Research Grant Recipients!

Congratulations to the 3 research teams who are receiving the IPTF $1,000 Research Grants this year.  We received 5 great applications and the review committee had the difficult job of narrowing it down to the following 3 teams to receive the grants. 

Congratulations to the 2021 Grant Recipients:

Megan Lamphere, PT, DPT, Karla Wente, PT, DPT, WCS, CLT, and Emily Becker, PT, MPT for their project: "Logistical Characteristics of Early Professional Physical Therapy Mentorship Programs at Place of Employment."	Karen Stevens PT, DPT, MS, OCS, Judy Hess PT, DHS, OCS, CMPT, Cert. DN, and Janey Prodoehl PT, PhD, CCTT for their project:  "Intrinsic Foot Muscle Activation."	Mickey Shah, PT, DSc, Martha Cammarata, PhD, Matthew Smith, PT, DPT, MS, and Cameron Jaldali, PT, DPT for their project: "Using Electrophysiological Measures to Evaluate Brain Activity comparing Immersive Virtual Reality to Real-world Simulation: A Pilot Study."

This year, the IPTF was able to award 3 research grants this year due to the overwhelming generosity during our Day of Giving Campaign. Each research team will be awarded $1,000 to fund their respective projects.  Many thanks to all who supported this fundraising initiative.  It is only through these contributions that we are able to support physical therapy research conducted by our Illinois researchers.

Not only do our members support the IPTF, but I also wanted to give a special mention to our matching donor for the last 4 years:  Ruth and Chuck Dow are not members of the IPTA, nor are they even in the physical therapy profession.  They both have benefited from physical therapy and are true friends of the profession with their financial support.  They even issued a matching challenge for the IPTF #GivingTuesday Midwestern University Student Challenge in hopes of motivating more students to donate to their future profession.  Physical therapy truly helps people lead healthier lives and with less pain.  Thank you Ruth and Chuck for helping those who have helped you.

We look forward to learning more about our three team's research studies when they present their findings at future "Spotlight on Research" webinars.  Thank you again for all of you who helped make this funding possible.

Congratulations, IPTF Research Grant Recipients!

It is with great excitement to announce that the IPTF was able to award TWO $1,000 Research Grants this year.

Our ability to do so stems from the generosity of many donors who gave to the IPTF on #GivingTuesday —so many thanks to all of you. Our 2 research grant recipients are Christian Evans, PT, PhD and Breanna Reynolds, PT, DPT, FAAOMPT. 

Dr. Evans research project titled “Potential Sources of Infection in a Physical Therapy Outpatient Clinic:  Implications for Patient and Provider Safety”.  Dr. Reynolds is researching “Thrust Joint Manipulation to the Cervical Spine in Patients with a Primary Complaint of Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD): A Randomized Clinical Trial”. 

Information about these projects will be posted on the Current Research Page on the IPTF website, at iptfgives.org.

We are excited about these two research projects.
Researchers—it is not too early to be thinking about applying for a Research Grant for 2018.  Check out the application on the IPTF website.