Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The University of Washington, through its Office of Sponsored Programs, received a $647,235 Project Grant award dated July 1, 2026, from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) under the Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research program (CFDA 93.865). The award funds the DRIVE (Dynamic, Real World Learning, Innovative Mobility, and Versatile Exploration) initiative, a five-year study (through June 30, 2031) evaluating a developmental powered mobility (DPM) intervention for young children with cerebral palsy. The project will conduct a two-arm, dose-matched, randomized clinical superiority trial to assess whether DPM—utilizing the FDA-cleared Explorer Mini device—produces greater developmental improvements compared to standard motor-focused therapies in children aged 2-4 years with cerebral palsy in gross motor function classification levels II-IV.

The primary deliverable is a rigorous clinical research study addressing the significant developmental and experiential mobility gap affecting children with cerebral palsy, with fewer than 30 percent of toddlers in the target classification levels achieving independent self-initiated mobility by age four. The intervention integrates powered mobility with exploratory perceptual-motor experiences designed to trigger broader developmental cascades across cognition, communication, and motor function, regardless of walking potential. Study outcomes will generate evidence-based findings on the efficacy, fidelity, and clinical utility of powered mobility interventions for early intervention programs, potentially establishing new standards of care for non-mobile toddlers with cerebral palsy in the United States.