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Rehabilitation Research

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The U.S. National Science Foundation invests in research to address challenges faced by persons with disabilities and patients undergoing rehabilitation after illness or injury. This work includes the development of assistive and rehabilitative technologies to enhance quality of life and provide greater opportunities for gainful employment, as well as fundamental research to understand human-machine interactions.

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What we support

Assistive technologies and devices

NSF supports the development of technology to help improve the quality of life for people with disabilities.

Rehabilitation robotics

NSF supports research on the use of machines to help patients in rehabilitation.

Biomedical engineering

NSF supports fundamental and transformative research that integrates engineering and life sciences to solve biomedical problems.

Human-machine interfaces and communication

NSF supports research to explore how the human brain can interact and connect with machines in ways that can help patients and individuals with disabilities.

Biomechanics

NSF supports research on the mechanical function of cells, organs, tissues and organisms and the effects of physical forces on living things.

Featured funding

Program

Biomechanics and Mechanobiology (BMMB)

Next Required Due Date: Proposals Accepted Anytime
Supports fundamental research on the mechanics of living systems. The program emphasizes multiscale mechanics approaches that integrate across molecular, cell, tissue and organ domains in the study of organisms.
Posted June 11, 2018
Program

Disability and Rehabilitation Engineering (DARE)

Next Required Due Date: Proposals Accepted Anytime
Supports engineering research to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities. This involves developing new technologies, devices or software and advancing knowledge of human motion and injury mechanisms.
Posted June 16, 2023
Program

Engineering of Biomedical Systems

Next Required Due Date: Proposals Accepted Anytime
Supports research projects that integrate engineering and life sciences to solve biomedical problems. Projects use an engineering framework to understand physiological processes and provide long-term benefits to humanity.
Posted June 16, 2023
Program

Mind, Machine and Motor Nexus (M3X)

Next Required Due Date: Proposals Accepted Anytime
Facilitates research on the dynamic interactions between humans and intelligent machines, focusing on the emergence of behavior from such interactions.
Posted June 11, 2018

More related funding

Program

Cognitive Neuroscience (CogNeuro)

Next Required Due Date: February 3, 2025
Posted October 11, 2023
Program

Collaborative Research in Computational Neuroscience (CRCNS)

Next Required Due Date: November 12, 2025
Promotes collaboration to enhance understanding of the structure and function of the nervous system, mechanisms that lead to nervous system disorders and the computational strategies used by the nervous system.
Posted December 7, 2023
Program

Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS)

Next Required Due Date: May 31, 2025
Supports research on engineered systems with a seamless integration of cyber and physical components for physical and cognitive rehabilitation.
Posted June 3, 2024
Program

Foundational Research in Robotics (FRR)

Next Required Due Date: Proposals Accepted Anytime
Supports research to enhance the capabilities of robots or robotic systems with significant levels of both computational ability and physical complexity.
Posted February 11, 2020
Program

IIS: Human-Centered Computing (HCC)

Supports interdisciplinary research in human-computer interaction.
Posted August 21, 2013
Program

Integrative Strategies for Understanding Neural and Cognitive Systems (NCS)

Supports innovative proposals that advance understanding of complex aspects of neural and cognitive systems through integrative approaches.
Posted October 22, 2020
Program

Perception, Action & Cognition (PAC)

Next Required Due Date: February 3, 2025
Posted September 30, 2002
Program

Science of Learning and Augmented Intelligence

Next Required Due Date: February 12, 2025
Supports research on learning in humans, animals and machines. It also focuses on augmented intelligence, which enhances human cognitive function through interactions with others, through contextual variations and through technology.
Posted September 18, 2019
Program

Smart Health and Biomedical Research in the Era of Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Data Science (SCH)

Next Required Due Date: October 3, 2025
Supports diverse teams pursuing a wide range of science and technology to address health issues related to rehabilitation, going beyond a focus only on quality of life.
Posted August 10, 2023

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