Researcher–Practitioner Collaboration Grant

The Researcher–Practitioner Collaboration Grant, offered by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation, supports collaborations between researchers and practitioners focused on improving services for individuals with communication disorders. Grants of $35,000 are available for studies that address clinical problems and enhance evidence-based practices. This funding opportunity encourages partnerships aimed at translating research into practical applications, thereby fostering innovative solutions in communication sciences and disorders within healthcare and educational settings.

NOTE: The Letter of Inquiry deadline represents the submission time to submit the Intent to Submit Form.
Supports collaborative studies that will increase knowledge to improve services for individuals with communication disorders.
Background
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation (ASHFoundation) invites investigators to submit proposals in competition for up to four research grants of $35,000 for each partnership. The Researcher-Practitioner Collaboration Grant supports partnerships between academic or organizational researchers and clinical practitioners to conduct collaborative studies designed to enhance evidence for improving communication sciences and disorders (CSD) services. The funding can be applied to one- or two-year studies.
Applying evidence to enhance assessment and treatment practices for addressing the needs of individuals with communication disorders is critical in health care and educational settings. The ASHFoundation recognizes the value of strong collaborations between academic or organizational researchers and clinical practitioners to accelerate evidence-based practices. The goal of this grant is to encourage collaborative research that will be conducted in practice settings with the explicit aim of increasing knowledge that will improve services to individuals with communication disorders.
Proposed studies must address a clinical problem/question that has direct application and is compatible to practice. This grant is designed to support preliminary research that will lead to a larger-scale study. The collaborative effort is central to this unique funding opportunity.
Who Should Apply
Investigators/collaborators include the following:
Academic or organizational researchers who can demonstrate how the proposed research contributes to their program of research, both in content and future funding possibilities.
Clinical practitioners who can demonstrate experience with and access to the clinical population and the proposed research. Practitioners must demonstrate organizational support and appropriate leadership roles to allow for participation in the research.
Both the researcher and practitioner must be able to articulate their commitment to the research topic, describe their role in the collaboration process, and demonstrate that they have adequate time for participation.
Research Focus
Studies should have significant importance for clinical practice, as well as the discipline, and be aimed toward improving services to children and adults with communication disorders. For all studies, the research focus must be of significance to both the researcher and practitioner, and reflect their mutual areas of expertise. Research questions may originate in the following ways:
Researcher-driven research: This type of research will be an extension of efficacy findings that are being translated into practice. The collaboration will be to investigate the process of implementing a proven protocol into practice. The research question and methodology will typically explore identification and resolution of challenges to implementing and sustaining an evidence-based protocol into practice.
Practitioner-driven research (practice-based research): This type of research will answer questions of significance to practice, including studies about practice needs, practice conventions (predispositions), or practice outcomes. Studies can be retrospective (examining existing practice-based data) or prospective (collecting new practice-based data). These research questions will typically address practice needs, monitor service delivery trends, or document outcomes.

Eligibility

Investigators must meet the following criteria to be eligible for the Researcher-Practitioner Collaboration Grant.The researcher must have received a PhD or equivalent research doctorate in communication sciences and disorders or a related discipline. The researcher should have demonstrated expertise in research design and execution, along with interest in the proposed research topic.
The practitioner must have received a degree in audiology, speech-language pathology or a related field, and be in an environment that encourages and supports research. The practitioner should have demonstrated practical experience with the target population and the proposed research topic.
The researcher and practitioner must demonstrate their experience of working together and their mutual interest around the proposed research topic. They must establish the viability of their professional relationship in the context of their common interest in the research question and the potential for success in their collaboration.
Either the researcher or practitioner must be designated as the principal investigator, but the principal investigator must demonstrate the ability, time and institutional support necessary to successfully conduct the research. The principal investigator will manage the design and implementation of the study, including human subject considerations, budget responsibilities, and personnel supervision.
The proposal submitted to the current Researcher-Practitioner Collaboration Grant competition cannot be submitted to other current ASHFoundation grant competitions. However, the investigators remain eligible to submit to other ASHFoundation grant competitions in the same year, if proposing to investigate a different topic.Funding will be disbursed in U.S. currency to investigators in the United States or Canada.Investigators must be employed in a U.S. or Canadian institution.The study may be completed with collaborators who are in sites outside of the United States. The case must be clear on how the funds are essential to conduct the research in light of other resources or support available to the investigators.

Ineligibility

Funding will not cover institutional overhead, indirect costs, or travel costs for conventions or meetings.