Since 2015, the Foundation for Physical Therapy Research funded the Center on Health Services Training and Research, or CoHSTAR, to build an evidence base showing the value of physical therapist services to patients, payers, and providers alike. The initial five-year, $2.5 million grant was made possible by the generous support of the American Physical Therapy Association and its components, in addition to many individual and corporate donors. The Foundation extended funding for an additional five years, committing a total of $3.75 million over 10 years to fund this important work.

Over the past 8 years, CoHSTAR has created a cadre of physical therapy researchers that have been mentored in conducting health services and implementation science research, resulting in the creation of many publications, abstracts, and presentations. CoHSTAR has created a new standard of excellence and expanded research capacity in the field by funding postdoctoral fellowships, hosting visiting scientists, and providing summer training sessions.

The Foundation’s Board of Trustees has made a new five-year commitment to award more than $600,000 through the Foundation’s funding process. The awards are geared to maintain the momentum in health services and implementation science research by funding multiple scholarships and grants. The first awards are expected to be made in 2025 as CoHSTAR approaches the final year of the 10-year grant.

“The Foundation continues to be committed to making health services and implementation science research a strategic priority for years to come,” said Paul A. Rockar Jr., PT, DPT, MS, FAPTA, president of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees. “We are incredibly proud of the work produced by CoHSTAR trainees and pilot awardees; they have set a new standard of excellence in this area of research. We are excited to see what the future holds with the Foundation’s continuing commitment through multiple scholarships and grants in this important area of research as well as continued support for training programs. This grant would not have been possible without the generous support of our donors and stakeholders.”

The Foundation has also committed to providing supplementary support to the Learning Health Systems Rehabilitation Research Network (LeaRRn) training and educational programs.  LeaRRn is an NIH-funded Rehabilitation Resource Center that extended CoHSTAR’s training and research efforts to be inclusive of all rehabilitation professions.

“The Foundation’s vision in funding CoHSTAR set the stage for physical therapy involvement in implementation science and health services research; helping move physical therapy to the forefront of transformative initiatives to improve rehabilitation care”, said Linda Resnik, PT, PhD, FAPTA, Director of CoHSTAR.  “In our final two years of CoHSTAR funding, we will continue our tradition of excellence by training a new cohort of three faculty fellows and selecting new pilot projects.  The profession is fortunate that the Foundation continues to recognize the importance of  physical therapy engagement and leadership in health services research and pledges to support new initiatives in this arena.”