Collaborate with Us 

MassageNet seeks to partner with investigators from institutions across the United States and all over the world. If you are a researcher with a project idea that aligns with our mission and member interests, we invite you to submit a collaboration inquiry to conduct research within MassageNet. 

MassageNet was developed to provide a forum for researchers, massage clinicians, and other massage industry stakeholders to collaborate and build the research foundation for the field of massage therapy. Our PBRN membership base provides access to massage practitioners, their practices, and their clients so that researchers can conduct studies in a real-world practice environment. Our primary function is to support our member research and educational interests. Priority will be given to research proposals that correspond to the research topics of interest to our members, but all proposals are considered. 

Important Notes  

  1. MassageNet does not provide research funding, personnel, research support, project management, or otherwise. If required by the project, investigators are expected to obtain funding through a grant support agency such as the National Institutes of Health, institutional grants, or another source of funding. ****Required funding does not need to be secured at the time of proposal submission.

  2. Investigators are expected to obtain ethical approval from their Institutional Review Board (IRB) or equivalent ethical oversight. MassageNet does not operate any internal IRB support.

  3. Letters of support for submission to funders, IRB, etc. are available.

  4. Researchers are not given initial direct access to MassageNet members or members’ clients.

  5. MassageNet is not responsible for training members to be study personnel.

 

Instructions for Proposal Submission 

  1. Complete the Collaboration Inquiry Form. IRB approval is not required prior to submitting the Collaboration Inquiry Form. Due by end of the day, the first Wednesday of each month. 

  2. Create an account in the portal for your organization or institution. If you need assistance with this step, please contact gnelson@massagetherapyfoundation.org.

  3. Form information (includes project description) 

  4. Brief CV or Biosketch of the PI  

  5. Letter of support if the PI is a student 

  6. Proposals are reviewed and accepted on a rolling basis through the MTF Research Portal and are reviewed at the MTF Research Committee meeting on the second Wednesday of each month. Notification of the decision will be sent within 5 business days of the Research Committee meeting via email. 

  7. If accepted, you will be asked to complete the Collaborator Agreement Form in the portal. This provides more detailed information about study timing and schedule, methods, study requirements, data plans, and funding/budget plans, as well as the investigator’s agreement to comply with MassageNet policies. IRB approval must be obtained prior to submitting the Collaborator Agreement Form. 

  8. Study launch will commence after all study-related materials and procedures have been reviewed by MassageNet and any necessary funding has been secured.