Cerebral Palsy Grants

Research Grant Program: Grants are awarded to institutions or organizations on behalf of a principal investigator in support of pilot studies in biomedical, behavioral and bioengineering research. These areas must have a significant relationship to cerebral palsy and closely related developmental brain disorders and can be in the basic and/or clinical sciences. This grant is generally awarded for up to 2 years at a maximum of $50,000 a year.

RESEARCH GRANT PROGRAM; 2007-2008

All Letters of Intent and Research Applications must be electronically in PDF Format to Mindy Aisen MD: maisen@ucpresearch.org.

The Foundation provides funding for pilot studies on research important to the prevention and treatment of cerebral palsy, including improvement in the quality of life of persons with disabilities due to cerebral palsy and closely related developmental brain disorders. This broad research agenda includes basic, clinical and applied (translational) research. Research grant applications are reviewed for scientific merit and relevancy to our mission by the Foundation's Scientific Advisory Council and then for funding by the Foundation’s Board of Directors. Grants are awarded on a competitive basis taking into account scientific merit, scientific and clinical significance and relevance to areas designated by the Foundation. Grants are generally awarded for up to 2 years at a maximum of $50,000 a year.

For 2007-2008, the following research areas have been designated for Foundation targeted attention. For 2006, research grant applications will be accepted for review in the following areas:
 The biology of factors and mechanisms which adversely affect the developing brain resulting in cerebral palsy and/or disorders often closely associated with cerebral palsy (e.g. visual system impairment).
 The development and evaluation of research methodologies for use in studies of the etiologies,
pathobiologies, prevention, diagnosis or therapy of cerebral palsy and the impairments or
disabilities associated with it.
 The development of interventions to prevent developmental brain damage associated with cerebral palsy including translational research on therapeutic strategies.
 The development and evaluation of interventions for improved diagnosis or clinical management
of the biological impairments or functional disabilities associated with cerebral palsy.
 The effects of aging on persons with disabilities due to cerebral palsy; the prevention and
treatment of increased disability.
 Other areas of relevance to cerebral palsy.

Investigators must submit a two page “Letter of Intent” describing the nature of their project and including as an addition a brief CV and proposed budget. On the basis of the summary, a decision will be made about whether a research grant application would be considered for review.

The Foundation’s research grant program is aimed primarily at studies being conducted in institutions in the United States. However, when an unusual opportunity is available for the initiation of a significant research endeavor not being pursued in the U.S., Foundation research grant support may be provided to institutions outside the U.S.

There are no deadline dates for the receipt of applications. Although reviewed on a continuing basis, research grants are only awarded twice a year following action by the Foundation’s Board of Directors in May and November. It generally takes 3-4 months prior to Board action to complete the scientific merit, relevance and administrative review process. Awards will usually begin on either July 1 or
January 1.
Instructions for the Letter of Intent can be obtained by visiting our website at or by contacting us at the following: Mindy Aisen MD; maisen@ucpresearch.org
UCP Research and Educational Foundation
1660 L Street, NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20036 Tel: 202-973-7140; Fax: 202-776-0414