Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers (RERC) Program: RERC on AI-Driven Assistive and Rehabilitation Technologies
Closed Posted
- Opportunity number
- HHS-2026-ACL-NIDILRR-REGE-0212
- Agency
-
Administration for Community Living
Department of Health and Human Services
- Applications due
- Award size
- $970,000 to $975,000
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
- Funding instrument
- Grant
- Category
-
- Science and Technology and other Research and Development
- Eligible applicants
-
- Tribal Governments (Federally Recognized)
- 501(c)(3) Nonprofits
- Higher Education Inst. (Public)
- Special District Governments
- City/Township Governments
- For Profit Organizations
- State Governments
- Other
- Small Businesses
- Non-501(c)(3) Nonprofits
- Higher Education Inst. (Private)
- County Governments
- Tribal Organizations (Not Federally Recognized)
- Points of contact
-
- Thomas Corfman thomas.corfman@acl.hhs.gov (202) 795-7328
- Full announcement
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Community Living is soliciting applications for one Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) on AI-Driven Assistive and Rehabilitation Technologies with an application deadline of July 16, 2026, and a single award of $975,000 per budget period (funding range $970,000 to $975,000 annually).
Eligible applicants include states, public or private agencies (including for-profit organizations), nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher education (public and private), and Indian tribes and tribal organizations. No cost share is required.
The RERC will operate for 60 months across five 12-month budget periods from September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2031. The Center must conduct research, development, and evaluation of AI-driven assistive and rehabilitation technologies that improve health and function outcomes for people with physical disabilities affecting mobility, reaching, grasping, and manipulation. Applicants must involve people with disabilities and stakeholders in design and implementation, increase understanding of scientific and engineering principles related to human locomotion and movement, design technologies optimizing accessibility, affordability, usability, utility, acceptability, and wide use, and conduct both assistive and rehabilitation technology development. All websites and information products must comply with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0/2.1 AA. The RERC must conduct a state-of-the-science conference in year four and publish comprehensive findings in year five.
Merit review criteria total 100 points: responsiveness to priority (10 points), alignment with ACL strategic priorities (5 points), design of research activities (25 points), design of development activities (25 points), design of training activities (5 points), design of dissemination activities (5 points), plan of operation (10 points), project staff (10 points), and adequacy and accessibility of resources (5 points).
This opportunity is assigned CFDA 93.433 (ACL National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research). An optional notice of intent is due June 24, 2026, and an informational conference call is scheduled for June 17, 2026.
Synopsis
The purpose of the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers (RERC) program is to improve the effectiveness of services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act by conducting advanced engineering research on and development of innovative technologies that are designed to solve particular rehabilitation problems or to remove environmental barriers. The purpose of this RERC is to conduct research on, develop, and evaluate Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven assistive and rehabilitation technologies that enhance independence, participation, and quality of life for people with disabilities. Many existing assistive and rehabilitation technologies lack adaptability, personalization, and seamless integration into daily life. AI and machine learning (ML) offer trans-formative potential to address these gaps by enabling smarter, more responsive, and individualized assistive and rehabilitation technologies. AI-driven innovations in assistive and rehabilitation technology can shift them from static tools to dynamic, intelligent systems that continuously learn and adapt in real time to individual preferences, needs, and changing abilities. This grant will have a 60-month project period, with five 12-month budget periods.
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| hhs-2026-acl-nidilrr-rege-0212_v3.pdf |
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