Federal Grant Award Summary

The University of North Florida received a $159,972 Project Grant award from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) under the Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research program (CFDA 93.865), effective June 1, 2026 through May 31, 2031. The award funds PRIME-PEDS (Proficiency in Research and Innovation for Multidisciplinary Education in Pediatrics), a structured 12-week research training program designed to immerse undergraduate and graduate students in interdisciplinary research focused on pediatric rehabilitation, safety, and assistive technology. Students from physical therapy, kinesiology, engineering, and biomedical sciences participate in small, cross-disciplinary teams conducting mentored research projects addressing real-world challenges in pediatric mobility, balance, diagnostics, and assistive technology development.

The program delivers comprehensive training components encompassing pediatric motor control, ultrasound imaging, biomedical research ethics, clinical assessments, adaptive toy design, 3D printing, computer modeling, and seizure detection. Participants engage in hands-on data collection and analysis guided by faculty mentors and supported by clinical partnerships with entities such as Mayo Clinic and UF Pediatrics, as well as industry collaborators including Johnson & Johnson and Medtronic. The training emphasizes scientific rigor, translational relevance, and interprofessional communication while exposing students to both clinical and community environments, preparing them for advanced careers in biomedical and rehabilitation sciences.