USHHS_ACL_Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers (RERC) Program: RERC on AI-Driven Assistive and Rehabilitation Technologies Due: March 12, 2026 #146
Description
🧠 HHS-2026-ACL-NIDILRR-REGE-0212
Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers (RERC) Program: RERC on AI-Driven Assistive and Rehabilitation Technologies
Funder: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Agency: Administration for Community Living (ACL) – National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR)
Forecasted Post Date: January 12, 2026
Estimated Application Deadline: March 12, 2026
Estimated Award Date: September 1, 2026
Estimated Total Funding: ~$975,000 (single award)
Project Period: 60 months (5 years)
Eligibility: U.S.-based nonprofits, higher education institutions, state/local governments, small businesses, and tribal organizations
Website: ACL Grants Portal
🎯 Program Overview
The Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers (RERC) Program funds advanced research and development to improve independence, participation, and quality of life for people with disabilities through innovative engineering and AI-driven technologies.
This specific RERC aims to:
- Research, develop, and evaluate AI- and ML-based assistive and rehabilitation technologies
- Address limitations of current tools by improving adaptability, personalization, and integration into daily life
- Advance human-centered, intelligent systems that continuously learn and respond to user needs
- Build multidisciplinary teams spanning computer science, biomedical engineering, rehabilitation science, and accessibility research
💡 Key Themes and Focus Areas
- Adaptive AI and machine learning for assistive devices (prosthetics, mobility aids, communication systems)
- Human-in-the-loop design to ensure real-time personalization and inclusivity
- Sensor integration and data analytics for rehabilitation and performance monitoring
- Ethical AI frameworks ensuring transparency, safety, and accessibility for disabled populations
- Cross-sector collaboration among engineers, clinicians, and disability communities
Projects should combine rigorous engineering innovation with applied social impact, directly addressing barriers to independence and inclusion.
🏆 Example Research Directions
- Wearable robotics and exoskeletons integrating adaptive machine learning
- AI-assisted prosthetics with self-calibrating motion and pressure sensing
- Neural or voice-based interfaces for individuals with mobility or speech impairments
- Real-time feedback systems for home-based rehabilitation
- Data-driven accessibility platforms and smart environments
🧩 NumFOCUS Alignment Opportunities
| ACL/NIDILRR Priority Area | Relevant NumFOCUS Projects | Potential Concept Directions |
|---|---|---|
| AI & Machine Learning for Assistive Tech | scikit-learn, SciML, PyMC, NumPy | Develop interpretable AI models to support adaptive rehabilitation interfaces and predictive assistive systems |
| Human-Centered Design & Accessibility | ITK, MDAnalysis, Bokeh | Enhance biomedical image analysis or visualization tools for clinicians and caregivers; design open dashboards for adaptive monitoring |
| Edge and Embedded Computing for Real-Time Response | Julia, mlpack, SciPy | Optimize ML algorithms for low-latency processing in wearable or embedded devices |
| Ethical & Transparent AI Systems | Stan, PyMC, ArviZ | Advance explainability, uncertainty quantification, and reproducibility for safety-critical assistive technologies |
| Inclusive Data and Community Integration | rOpenSci, Open Journals | Build frameworks for open, ethical data sharing in rehabilitation research; publish open datasets and reproducible research pipelines |
💰 Funding Strategy Fit
Illustrative funding fit:
- $100K Tier – Strategic Growth
Support integration of open-source scientific computing into rehabilitation AI research, funding part-time developers and accessibility consultants. - $1M Tier – Audacious Impact
Establish a NumFOCUS–University–Rehab Institute consortium to co-develop an open, reproducible, and privacy-conscious assistive AI framework for the public good.
✳️ Recommendation for Project Leads
This opportunity is ideal for a joint proposal involving NumFOCUS projects and an academic or clinical research partner specializing in rehabilitation or biomedical engineering.
Working Title:
“Open, Ethical, and Adaptive AI for Human-Centered Rehabilitation:
An Open Science Framework for Next-Generation Assistive Technologies.”
High-Potential Lead Projects:
scikit-learn/SciML→ Adaptive AI algorithms for assistive roboticsITK/MDAnalysis→ Image-based diagnostics and motion-tracking for rehab applicationsStan/PyMC/ArviZ→ Bayesian modeling for interpretable and personalized rehabilitation outcomes
Grant Contact:
Thomas Corfman – Program Officer, ACL/NIDILRR
📧 Thomas.Corfman@acl.hhs.gov | ☎️ (202) 795-7328
Tags: #FundingOpportunity #OpenScience #AI4Accessibility #NumFOCUSProjects #AssistiveTech #RehabilitationEngineering