The Amputee Coalition of Canada will create the Canadian Amputee Research Award (CARA) to encourage research into innovative technologies and treatment techniques for persons with amputation.  Currently, there is very little Canadian funding for research to improve the quality of lives of persons with limb loss and the establishment of the CARA will fund up to ten thousand dollars ($10,000) per year.  It is felt that a research award of this magnitude will attract sufficient attention and research talent, and allow for the possibility of multiple-year funding for selected projects. 

The Canadian Amputee Research Award or CARA would be under the control and direction of the Medical Advisory Committee of the Amputee Coalition of Canada.  The ACC’s Medical Advisory Committee consists of leading healthcare professionals from across Canada in a variety of disciplines, including but not limited to rehabilitation medicine, orthopedic surgery, prosthetics, occupational therapy and social work.  The goal of the Medical Advisory Committee is “to provide medical and health professional input, advice, and oversight to the educational and other initiatives of the ACC in order to effectively support the vision and mission of the ACC.” 

The Canadian Amputee Research Award will endeavor to encourage research into:

• Innovative technologies and treatment techniques for persons with limb loss
• Programs and services that advance the quality of life for persons with amputation
• Canada’s rehabilitation treatment and opportunities after amputation
• Measurement and improvement of life satisfaction and outcome following amputation

The Canadian Amputee Research Awards will have the following guidelines:

• Open to any Canadian resident involved in rehabilitation medicine research
• Research must be focused upon one of the above four tenants
• The research must be original, novel, innovative and eligible for publication in clinical or scientific literature
• All research proposals shall be subject to an independent review by Canadian research professionals, as directed by the Medical Advisory Committee
• The Medical Advisory Committee may elect to split the ten thousand dollar ($10,000) award amongst two or more recipients, or decide not to award in any given year depending on the submissions received. 

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