Sandra Wilson Memorial Dissertation Grant Awards

The Sandra Wilson Memorial Dissertation Grant Awards, provided by the EMDR Research Foundation, support doctoral students in social work, psychology, and nursing conducting research on the effectiveness of EMDR therapy. With grants up to $8,000, the initiative honors Dr. Sandra Wilson's contributions to EMDR research and prioritizes areas such as advancing evidence-based practice, addressing global trauma, and building clinical evidence. This funding aims to enhance research quality and address pressing mental health issues globally.

EMDR Research Foundation
The Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Research Foundation story began in 2006 when it was formed to raise funds to support research in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy. For nearly 20 years, the EMDR Research Foundation has been dedicated to promoting quality, unbiased research in EMDR. With the support of EMDRIA (EMDR International Association) and Dr. Francine Shapiro, the EMDR Research Foundation became an independent 501c (3) non-profit organization.
About EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapy approach that has proven effective for the treatment of trauma by approximately 24 randomized controlled trials and has been recommended as a first-line trauma treatment in the international practice guidelines of numerous organizations, including the American Psychiatric Association (2004).
Controlled research studies are needed to evaluate EMDR therapy’s effectiveness with other disorders, as suggested by preliminary research and anecdotal reports.The EMDR Research Foundation recognizes this need with the following research priorities: Advancing Evidence-Based Practice; Addressing the Global Burden of Trauma; and Building Clinical Evidence
Sandra Wilson’s 1995 dissertation research was the basis for the first validating study of Shapiro’s original research. To honor Dr. Wilson, the Dissertation Award has been renamed. The publication of her dissertation research was so pivotal for EMDR therapy that it seems like a fitting tribute and, for any award recipient, an appropriate inspiration.
Areas of Priority
Eligible doctoral students may apply for a grant of up to $8,000 to support dissertation expenses related to research to study the effectiveness of EMDR in one of the following priority areas.
1st Priority – Advancing Evidence-Based Practice: Increase the availability of quality EMDR research in areas where we already have a foot-hold in the literature but where more evidence is needed. Specifically, those areas are in the use of EMDR therapy to treat anxiety, depression, military PTSD, phantom limb pain, and to enhance recovery from the impact of cardiac events and the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
2nd Priority – Addressing the Global Burden of Trauma: Investigate the use of EMDR in natural or man-made disaster responses, by determining the effectiveness of the following protocols: early intervention protocols, the child or adult group protocols, or the use of EMDR standard protocols in disaster response.
3rd Priority – Building Clinical Evidence: There are several areas where EMDR therapy is being used, clinical observations are positive, and there are some research indicators of success. However, more research is needed to build a body of literature in these populations or diagnostic categories, including but not limited to addiction, eating disorders, dissociative disorders, additional medical/somatic conditions, and suicide prevention and to address the impact of suicide.
These priorities apply to research across the lifespan so that a study might address, for example, adolescent addiction, or geriatric depression.

Eligibility

Doctoral students in social work, psychology, and nursing who have completed their course work and have an approved dissertation proposal are eligible to apply for this grant. As an international organization, the EMDR Research Foundation supports applications from students who are citizens of any country who are studying in any country within the fields specified. Applications, however, must be submitted in English.