Federal Grant Award Summary

The University of Michigan received a $312,000 Project Grant from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) under the Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research program (CFDA 93.865), awarded June 1, 2026, with completion by May 31, 2028. The award supports development of a conceptual model and measurement instrument to assess the impact of fear of falling (FOF) in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). The project addresses a critical gap in existing FOF assessment tools by creating a disease-specific outcome measure that captures how FOF affects daily living activities and functional participation, rather than merely quantifying FOF severity in isolation.

The primary deliverable is a comprehensive FOF impact measure specifically designed for the MS population, developed through systematic input from persons with MS. Current assessment instruments, including the Falls Efficacy Scale International commonly used in MS research, do not adequately capture whether individuals actually avoid activities due to FOF versus simply reporting high fear levels. This new instrument will provide clinicians and researchers with a more holistic understanding of FOF's functional consequences and serve as a sensitive outcome measure for rehabilitation interventions and clinical trials. The project conducted at the University of Michigan's Ann Arbor campus will establish the foundational conceptual framework and psychometric properties necessary for clinical utility in advancing FOF research and treatment approaches for the MS population.