The U.S. National Science Foundation is an independent federal agency that supports science and engineering in all 50 states and U.S. territories. NSF was established in 1950 by Congress to promote the progress of science, advance the national health, prosperity and welfare, and secure the national defense.
The Disability and Rehabilitation Engineering program aims to enhance the quality of life for persons with disabilities through the support of fundamental engineering research. It focuses on the development of new technologies, devices, and software, advancement in the understanding of healthy or pathological human motion, and understanding of injury mechanisms. Key interest areas include neuroengineering, rehabilitation robotics, new approaches to understand motion related to disability or injury, understanding injury mechanisms at tissue- or system-level for developing interventions, and the role of gut microbiota in modulating disability in rehabilitation contexts. The program seeks to advance fundamental engineering knowledge for transformative outcomes, emphasizing innovation beyond incremental improvements. Proposals should highlight the novelty and potential transformative impact of the research on engineering science, society, and/or industry. The program supports various types of proposals, including but not limited to faculty early career development (CAREER), conferences, workshops, and partnerships with industry. Clinical trials are not supported, but feasibility studies with human volunteers may be if they align with project objectives.