Disability and Rehabilitation Engineering
🏛 U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 27, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for researchers conducting fundamental engineering research on disability and rehabilitation. Eligible applicants include academic institutions, research organizations, and individual researchers with engineering expertise. Projects must focus on advancing knowledge about specific disabilities or pathological conditions through novel theories, technologies, or devices. Research directed toward characterization, restoration, rehabilitation, or substitution of human functional ability is supported.
Geographic scope is national. All U.S.-based research institutions and researchers are eligible to apply. International collaboration may be permitted under NSF rules.
Proposed work must advance fundamental engineering knowledge with transformative potential. Clinical trials are not supported, but feasibility studies with human volunteers may be eligible if appropriate to project goals. Commercialization-focused proposals are not appropriate for this program.
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Program description
The Disability and Rehabilitation Engineering program is part of the Engineering Biology and Health cluster, which also includes: 1) the Biophotonics program; 2) the Biosensing program; 3) the Cellular and Biochemical Engineering program; and 4) the Engineering of Biomedical Systems program.
The Disability and Rehabilitation Engineering program supports fundamental engineering research that will improve the quality of life of persons with disabilities through the development of new theories, methodologies, technologies, or devices. Disabilities could be developmental, cognitive, hearing, mobility, visual, selfcare, independent living, or other. Proposed projects must advance knowledge regarding a specific human disability or pathological motion or understanding of injury mechanisms.
Research may be supported that is directed toward the characterization, restoration, rehabilitation, and/or substitution of human functional ability or cognition, or to the interaction between persons with disabilities and their environment. Areas of particular interest are neuroengineering, rehabilitation robotics, brain-inspired assistive or rehabilitative systems, theoretical or computational methods, and novel models of functional recovery including the development and application of artificial physiological systems.
Emphasis is placed on significant advancement of fundamental engineering knowledge that facilitates transformative outcomes. The DARE Program encourages high-risk/high-reward proposals that surpass incremental technological improvements. The DARE Program also encourages participatory design and the inclusion of trainees with disabilities as part of the proposed research or broader impacts.
Innovative proposals outside of the above specific interest areas may be considered. However, prior to submission, it is recommended that the PI contact the Program Director to avoid the possibility of the proposal being returned without review.
NSF does not support clinical trials; however, feasibility studies involving human volunteers may be supported if appropriate to the project objectives. The development and application of artificial physiological systems that do not model functional recovery and instead improve fundamental understanding of physiological and pathophysiological processes would be appropriate for EBMS.
Furthermore, the DARE program does not support proposals having as their central theme commercialization of a product. Small businesses seeking early stage R&D funding for product development are encouraged to contact the NSF SBIR/STTR program in the America’s Seed Fund within the Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP).
INFORMATION COMMON TO MOST CBET PROGRAMS
Proposals should address the novelty and/or potentially transformative nature of the proposed work compared to previous work in the field. Also, it is important to address why the proposed work is important in terms of engineering science, as well as to also project the potential impact of success in the research on society and/or industry. The novelty or potentially transformative nature of the research should be included, as a minimum, in the Project Summary of each proposal.
The duration of unsolicited proposal awards in CBET is generally up to three years. Single-investigator award budgets typically include support for one graduate student (or equivalent) and up to one month of principal investigator time per year (awards for multiple investigator projects are typically larger). Proposal budgets that are much larger than typical should be discussed with the Program Director prior to submission. Proposers can view budget amounts and other information from recent awards made by this program via the “What Has Been Funded (Recent Awards Made Through This Program, with Abstracts)” link towards the bottom of this page.
Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) program proposals are strongly encouraged. Award duration is five years. The submission deadline for Engineering CAREER proposals is in July every year. Learn more in the CAREER program description.
Proposals for Conferences, Workshops, and Supplements: PIs are strongly encouraged to discuss their requests with the program director before submission of the proposal.
Grants for Facilitation Awards For Scientists And Engineers With Disabilities (FASED), EArly-concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER), and Rapid Response Research (RAPID) are also considered when appropriate. Please note that proposals of these types must be discussed with the program director before submission. Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI) proposals that integrate fundamental research with translational results and are consistent with the application areas of interest to each program are also encouraged. Please note that FASED, EAGER, RAPID, and GOALI proposals can be submitted anytime during the year. Details about FASED, EAGER, RAPID, and GOALI are available in the Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG), Part 1, Chapter II, Section E: Types of Proposals.
Compliance: Proposals that are not compliant with the Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) will be returned without review.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- Project Summary
- Project Description/Narrative
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Biographical Sketches of Key Personnel
- Current and Pending Support
- References Cited
- NSF Form 1207 (for education/training plan if applicable)
Program contact
- 👤 National Science Foundation
- 📧 grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov
- 📞 703-292-4261
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 47.041 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
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$41,946,862
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$39,155,237
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$38,414,114
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$38,373,347
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$37,936,436
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$36,940,111
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$36,277,271
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$36,183,087
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$32,471,912
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$31,561,058
Top States by Funding
- TX 3 awards $90.6M
- CA 7 awards $85.0M
- IL 5 awards $83.9M
- NC 3 awards $71.0M
- AZ 2 awards $68.7M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 47.041). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $752,230,000 | |
| 2025 | $727,730,000 | |
| 2026 est. | $181,990,000 |
FAQ
Who can apply to this grant?
Universities, research institutions, and researchers with engineering expertise can apply. Individual faculty members, research teams, and organizations conducting fundamental engineering research are eligible.
What types of projects are supported?
Fundamental engineering research improving quality of life for people with disabilities. Neuroengineering, rehabilitation robotics, brain-inspired systems, and computational methods are priority areas.
Can we include human subjects in our research?
Yes. Feasibility studies involving human volunteers are supported if appropriate to project objectives. Clinical trials are not supported.
What is the typical award size and duration?
Unsolicited proposals typically receive awards up to three years. Single-investigator budgets usually support one graduate student and up to one month of PI time annually.
Should we contact the program director before submitting?
Yes, if your proposal is outside stated interest areas. Contact is also recommended if your budget significantly exceeds typical amounts.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Contact the Program Director before submission if your research falls outside stated priority areas or if your budget is unusually large. This prevents desk rejection.
- Emphasize the transformative and novel aspects of your work compared to existing research. Incremental improvements alone are not competitive.
- Include participatory design and consider involving trainees with disabilities in your research or broader impacts activities.
- Clearly explain why your research matters to engineering science and its potential societal impact. Address this in your project summary.
- Avoid framing your proposal around product commercialization. Small businesses should apply to NSF SBIR/STTR instead.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Submitting proposals focused on product commercialization without contacting the program director first. Proposing incremental technological improvements rather than fundamental, transformative research. Failing to justify the engineering science novelty and broader societal impact in the project summary.
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