OSOT Research Fund

Update: Applications Now Closed

Thanks to everyone who submitted a grant application for 2025. We’re thrilled to share that we received a record of 16 applications - more than double of last year’s total! This includes five applications for the Occupational Therapy Research grant for up to $2,000, and 11 applications for the Strategic Priorities grant for up to $10,000.

We appreciate the effort put into each submission, with most applicants spending approximately 24 minutes to complete their proposal. This year, we introduced a more streamlined application process and updated the requirements for the Occupational Therapy Research Grant to make it easier to apply.

Applications are now closed. Applicants can expect to hear from OSOT in the coming months.

The OSOT Research Fund (OSOTRF) was created in 1982 to support the profession's evidence base through occupational therapy research in Ontario, to contribute to the advocacy and strategic efforts of the association and to promote the dissemination of knowledge gained through this research. The OSOTRF offers two annual grants: 

Occupational Therapy Research Grant - up to $2,000

  • An annual grant of up to $2,000 to support original/applied research that will provide an evidence base for clinical or practice related challenges or opportunities.
  • Focused on support of OT clinician-researchers.
  • Applications now closed.

Strategic Priorities Research Grant - up to $10,000

  • An annual grant of up to $10,000 to support clinical research that promotes the positioning and evolution of occupational therapy practice in Ontario and addresses policy and practice priorities identified by the OSOT Board of Directors.
  • Priority will be given to projects that seek to provide evidence of the value of occupational therapy to clients, families/caregivers, and the health care system particularly as this relates to:
    • Return on Investment of Occupational Therapy
    • Healthcare Human Resource Challenges  
    • The role of OT in Primary Care  
    • The Need for OT in Long-term Care (LTC)  
  •  Applications now closed.

Eligibility

  • Principal investigator must be an OSOT member for at least six months prior to application, and a COTO registrant in good standing.
  • Recipients of an OSOTRF Research Grant are eligible to re-apply in subsequent years, however, generally the OSOTRF will not be awarded to any one researcher more than once every three years.  

Apply Now

Grant Recipients
Support Occupational Therapy Research in Ontario - Make a Donation to the OSOTRF

Support occupational therapy research in Ontario - consider a donation to the OSOT Research Fund today. The Canadian Occupational Therapy Foundation (COTF) administers OSOT's Fund whereby you can make a secure online donation. Select "OSOT Fund" when asked where to direct your donation.