MTABC SEED GRANTS

Deadline to receive submissions is Monday, March 1st , 2010 at 4 p.m. PST.

The purpose of this seed grant is to provide for research in the development of the art and science of massage therapy.

The aim is to add to the overall massage therapy body of knowledge as practiced by RMT's in BC. MTABC seed grant was established to further massage therapy research in BC.

Two grants a year for Massage Therapy research in BC, each worth $4000. The grants have to be expended within one year, and are none renewable.

This grant can be used to:

a) develop a full research proposal for submission to a granting body (such as the Massage Therapy Foundation Massage Therapy Fund)

or

b) conduct a small pilot project to test the efficacy of massage therapy (for example, but not limited to: collection of pilot data, recruitment of subjects and/or massage therapists to participate, development of methods for further research)

FUNDING PRIORITIES

Clinical trials which evaluate the effectiveness and safety of massage therapy as practiced by RMT's in BC. Research concerning all components of the BC RMT.s educational process including assessment of students, faculty and educational programs. Funding will be given to projects that investigate Massage Therapy as defined in The Health Professions Council of BC recommendations for RMT scope of practice statement: The practice of massage therapy is the assessment of the soft tissues and joints of the body and the treatment and prevention of dysfunction, injury, pain and physical disorders of the soft tissues and joints by manual and physical methods to develop, maintain, rehabilitate or augment physical function, to relieve pain and promote health.

Eligibility

  • Project grants are available to individual or research teams in B.C. affiliated with a research facility or associated with a non-profit group.
  • Applications can be submitted from any science or health discipline.
  • Applications will be accepted from graduate students enrolled at an accredited post-secondary institution in B.C. Inexperienced researchers are advised that collaboration with an associate investigator who has current experience in the relevant research area will enhance the likelihood of a project receiving MTABC funding.
  • Priority will be given to research teams that include MTABC members in their proposals. (for example as members of the research team, providers of the therapy)
  • The grants can be used for new or established clinical research projects, to extend an already established project or as matching funds for a project.
  • Applications will be judged on the basis of scientific merit

    Selection Criteria

    Funds will be allocated by the Directors of MTABC, whose decisions shall be considered final, on the recommendation of the MTABC Research Committee in relation to:

  • the significance of the project to knowledge/evidence base of massage therapy
  • the rationale of the project established from previous research
  • the appropriateness of the design, subject selection, intervention, outcome measures and proposed statistical analysis to the research question
  • the feasibility of the project and likelihood of the project meeting its objectives within the stated time and budget.

    HOW TO APPLY

    Applications for research grants must be received at the MTABC office

    180, 1200 - W. 73rd Avenue Vancouver, BC V6P 6G5

    by March 1, at 4 pm, PST, 2010. One signed original application (stapled not bound) and one electronic copy Applicants will receive e-mail notification of the Board's decision within 2 months of submission deadline. An applicant may submit up to two separate applications but will be eligible for a maximum of one grant per year.

    Project proposal

    Applications should be prepared in such a manner that they can be read and understood in a general way without reference to any further material that may be provided in the appendices.

    Take no more than 6 pages in size 11 font to outline your project proposal under the following specified headings; Background, Significance, Research question, Methods, Statistical analysis, Timelines, Feasibility, References. Provide sufficient detail to explain your proposal but please note that excess pages and/or explanatory appendices will not be included in the evaluation of the proposal.

    Please be aware that funding will be awarded at the discretion of the board of directors of the MTABC and all decisions are final.

    A final project report is required no later than 12 months from the completion of the project and should indicate any publications and presentations related to the project. All publications and presentations from research carried out with the assistance of a Massage Therapists Association of BC grant must be appropriately acknowledged. A copy of publications must be forwarded to the MTABC and/or the MTABC notified of conference presentations.

    Successful applicants are required to sign a formal agreement prior to receiving any grant monies.

    Please contact Bodhi Haraldsson RMT, MTABC research chair, for further information research@massagetherapy.bc.ca