Clinical Research Network Receives Additional Support.

Recent donations from Empi Inc, Smith and Nephew Rehabilitation, and APTA's Sports Physical Therapy Section will help launch the Foundation for Physical Therapy's new Clinical Research Network. The Clinical Research Network will bring universities, hospitals, clinics, and other institutions together to share resources and answer questions that are important to the physical therapy profession.

Empi will donate $300,000 over 3 years. "Since our founding nearly 95 years ago, Empi's primary emphasis has been, and continues to be, partnering with the physical therapy community to improve the lives of patients in rehabilitation," Chief Executive Officer C Philip Vierling said. "We feel that the most important way that we can support the physical therapy profession and ensure support for appropriate clinical practice is to support the Foundation for Physical Therapy."

Smith and Nephew Rehabilitation will donate $75,000 over 3 years. "Smith and Nephew Rehabilitation values the importance of research, and we believe that an investment in the Foundation for Physical Therapy will serve to support the science and efficacy of the services physical therapists provide," Director of Marketing Steve Brown said. "Investing in physical therapy research will also provide a vehicle for exploring new technologies that will enable physical therapists to continually improve upon the quality of care they provide."

APTA's Sports Physical Therapy Section will donate up to $150,000 over 3 years. "For its 27 years of existence, the Sports Section has been committed to research and education," Section President Marc DeCarlo, PT, MHA, SCS, ATC, commented. "Providing funding to the Foundation's Clinical Research Network is a natural outcome of that commitment."

Foundation President Jayne L Snyder, PT, MA, said, "The Foundation is extremely grateful to these organizations for helping to support the Clinical Research Network. Their gifts to the profession will make it possible to conduct important research in physical therapy."

Donations from 3 APTA sections and 1 person were announced last month in Physical Therapy.

To receive a copy of the Clinical Research Network guidelines and application, e-mail the Foundation at [e-mail], or call 800/875-1378. Letters of intent to create a network are due by October 1.