“Change is Possible for CP” Grant Program

United Cerebral Palsy (UCP), a leader in supporting individuals with disabilities, is offering the 2026 “Change is Possible for CP” grant program to promote clinical and translational research that meaningfully improves care for individuals with cerebral palsy and related neurodevelopmental disabilities. UCP's mission centers on advancing opportunities for children and adults with cerebral palsy, and this grant program serves as a key vehicle for accelerating progress from discovery to real-world impact. The 2026 grant cycle is managed by the UCP Research Council, a multidisciplinary body that includes medical professionals, people living with cerebral palsy, UCP affiliate leaders, and community advocates. The Council seeks projects that bridge science and service delivery—especially research that facilitates early diagnosis, early treatment, and rehabilitation. Applications are encouraged from researchers and clinicians based in the U.S. and Canada. The program offers two categories of grants: Pilot Grants and Extension Grants, each awarding $20,000 USD. Pilot Grants are intended to help generate preliminary data or analyze existing datasets, while Extension Grants support the expansion of current research projects. Applicants must submit a letter of intent (LOI) between January 12 and February 13, 2026. Submissions are open to researchers and clinicians regardless of UCP affiliation; however, proposals involving UCP affiliates or collaborative centers will receive preference. Finalists will be notified on March 25, 2026—National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day—and invited to submit full proposals by May 29, 2026. Funding announcements will be made in September 2026, and awards will begin in October. The UCP Research Council uses a structured review process to evaluate submissions. Criteria include the significance and innovation of the research question, investigator qualifications, methodological soundness, and environmental support for the proposed project. Proposals must use SMART design principles—Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely—and include plans for data collection, progress reporting, and compliance. Projects with sustainable and scalable outcomes that can be adopted by other organizations are particularly encouraged. The program does not require UCP affiliation, but preference is shown to applicants collaborating with or part of UCP centers. Multicenter projects are also welcomed, with a requirement for unified applications across sites. Eligible applicants must demonstrate appropriate infrastructure, including facilities, patient recruitment capacity, and qualified staffing. The program supports a broad range of research topics but gives priority to studies that focus on early intervention and care transitions for youth with cerebral palsy. Previous grant recipients include teams from the University of Southern California and Northwestern University. One funded project expanded early detection training for California-based primary care providers, while another validated a clinical assessment tool (BabyOSCAR) to improve early diagnosis of cerebral palsy in infants. These examples highlight the program’s commitment to practical research with direct implications for improving the lives of people with cerebral palsy. Through the “Change is Possible for CP” grant program, UCP continues to champion research that pushes boundaries and delivers tangible improvements in care. Researchers and clinicians are invited to submit compelling, evidence-based proposals aligned with the program’s goals of advancing health equity and fostering transformative care pathways for individuals with cerebral palsy.

Use SMART goals and ensure projects are realistic and collaborative. Multicenter applications are encouraged.