MTF Research Support Award

The Massage Therapy Foundation (MTF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the art, science, and practice of massage therapy through high-quality research and education. The foundation prioritizes funding projects that directly relate to massage therapy practice and enhance its evidence base, sustainability, and integration into healthcare systems. MTF’s research support mechanisms aim to strengthen the scientific foundation of massage therapy and broaden its acceptance within the wider medical and health communities. The 2026 Research Support Award is designed to fund independent, high-quality research exploring various dimensions of massage therapy. These include its therapeutic applications, societal perceptions, and integration into health or mental health care settings. Eligible proposals may involve basic science, applied, or translational research that contributes new evidence or clarifies existing knowledge about the effectiveness, mechanisms, and best practices of massage therapy. This award is particularly focused on projects that are led or significantly involve trained massage therapists, aligning closely with the MTF’s commitment to advancing the massage therapy profession. The Research Support Award provides up to $30,000 in funding for a one-year project period. These funds may be used for a wide range of direct research expenses, including salary support, equipment, participant costs, supplies, and dissemination efforts. All awarded funds must be managed by a designated Sponsoring Organization—such as a university, health center, or research institute—that demonstrates sufficient institutional support, infrastructure, and IRB capacity. Funds must be used according to the approved proposal and budget; deviations exceeding 10% or changes in key personnel require prior MTF approval. To be eligible, applicants must be affiliated with or have secured collaboration from a qualified Sponsoring Organization. They must also have experience in the relevant research field and access to necessary resources and patient populations. Early-career investigators lacking direct research experience must involve an experienced mentor as a named collaborator. Applicants outside the U.S. are welcome, though award disbursement must occur in U.S. dollars. Individuals currently serving as Principal Investigators on another MTF-funded study are not eligible. Applications are due by February 28, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. CST. No pre-application is required. All applications must clearly articulate how the proposed research aligns with MTF’s mission and research agenda. Proposals will be reviewed for scientific merit, applicant qualifications, relevance to massage therapy, and budget justification. Notification of funding decisions will be made by June 1, and the earliest project start date is August 1. Proposal components must adhere to NIH formatting guidelines and include elements such as research plan, budget, dissemination plan, and letters of institutional support. Award recipients are required to register their projects on ClinicalTrials.gov, submit quarterly progress reports, and disseminate findings through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations. Additional outputs include short videos, blog posts, and a lay summary for the Massage Therapy Journal. The Massage Therapy Foundation and the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) may support further dissemination through events such as the International Massage Therapy Research Conference. All recipients must also adhere to MTF’s policy on ethical use of artificial intelligence, requiring full disclosure of AI tools used in application development.

Proposals should show how massage therapists are substantively involved in the research, even if not Principal Investigators. Consider budget allocations for dissemination and open access publishing.