Funding a Mocap Lab: Tips for Writing Strong Grant Proposals

Establishing and maintaining a motion capture lab may require a significant financial investment, but the eventual output could be transformative for an organization, an entire field of study, or the lives of individuals.

Motion capture labs are, after all, hubs for innovation. They are the spaces in which researchers, clinicians, biomechanists, sport scientists, and technologists are equipped with the insights to support clinical assessments, streamline physical therapy, optimize prosthetic design, enable evidence-based rehabilitation, engineer advanced sporting equipment and apparel for injury prevention and optimal performance, and aid in the design of robotics for various applications, to name only a few areas of research and development.

Some organizations, like academic institutions or small entities, may however face budgetary constraints that inhibit them from setting up their own mocap labs. If this sounds like a familiar challenge, you might opt for alternatives like shared facilities or rentals. Alternatively, you may also stand to benefit from external funding if your area of focus is compelling enough and aligns with funders’ priorities.

While securing a grant is not guaranteed, there are proactive steps that you can take to increase your chances. In this blog, we will begin by taking a high-level look at two prominent funders, as examples, exploring a number of their priorities in awarding funds, and will then unpack a handful of tips for writing a grant proposal that has the potential to stand out in a competitive environment. 

Understanding Funder Priorities

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) serves as the world’s largest public funder of biomedical research. The agency provides financial assistance for projects that advance its mission, “to seek fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of that knowledge to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability”.

Although eligibility requirements may vary among programs, the NIH generally awards grants to organizations whether they are domestic or foreign, public or private, or non-profit or for-profit. These include governments, federal institutions, higher education institutions, and hospitals. While rare, grants are also extended to individuals in some cases. For a more detailed explanation, read more about the NIH’s eligibility criteria here.

At any point, the NIH typically has over 1,000 active funding opportunities available, across a number of categories, such as research training, research and development, construction and modernization, and small business, to name a few.

If you are interested in searching for NIH funding, it is important to understand how the agency is structured and which of the institutes, centers, and offices (ICOs) would be most inclined to support your work. You can find out more here.

The NIH receives numerous applications and makes funding decisions based on peer review scoring, recommendations by Council, and research portfolio balance. The agency also considers unmet scientific opportunities, emerging public health priorities, as well as training, workforce, and infrastructure circumstances.

Another such funder is the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), which supports science and engineering research and education, excluding medical sciences, through hundreds of funding opportunities that include grants, cooperative agreements, and fellowships. 

The NSF accepts proposals submitted on behalf of qualified scientists, engineers, and educators, usually from the organization that employs them. These include higher education institutions; non-profit, non-academic organizations; as well as tribal nations. Depending on the opportunity, for-profit organizations, state and local governments, and federal agencies may also be eligible to apply.

The agency promotes interdisciplinary and convergent research and education. It supports initiatives that could lead to groundbreaking discoveries, particularly with the potential to improve lives. The NSF funds research partnerships between universities and colleges, industry, non-profits, government, and other organizations in the U.S. and internationally. Learn more about the NSF’s funding here.

Key Elements for a Strong Proposal

While significant funding opportunities like these and others exist, the competition is tough, so it is beneficial to compile a well-prepared and impactful grant proposal. It is important to note that application requirements differ from one agency to another, and the proposal should align with the specified guidelines.

Here are a few general tips to keep in mind as you prepare for and compile your grant proposal:

• Do the Necessary Groundwork – Before you get started on your proposal, ensure that you have researched the different agencies and what their missions and priorities are—and assess whether your project objectives align with theirs. Gather all of the information you need to clearly outline your project and develop a roadmap that complies with the agency’s guidelines and timeline.

• Work Collaboratively – Get team members in your organization involved. Work together to formulate ideas, plan, get feedback and guidance, and compile and review the proposal. 

• Follow the Guidelines – As mentioned, each funder has different proposal formatting and structure requirements. Stick to these precisely, following the instructions provided.

• Present Your Objectives Clearly – Indicate exactly what you aim to achieve, the novel findings you intend to uncover, how you will measure success, and how your objectives contribute to the project and its anticipated impact. 

• Propose Your Methodology Realistically – Present a specific outline of your approach, the steps you will take, and the tools or resources you will need to carry out your research, also indicating why this method is most suitable.

• Indicate the Anticipated Impact – Funders are interested in understanding what novel contributions your work is expected to make, as well as whether it would bring about any innovative change. Give insights into who will be impacted, in what way and to what degree, as well as how this impact aligns with broader objectives.

• Detail a Practical Budget – This is arguably one of the most important components of a grant proposal as it demonstrates your understanding of the project’s scope and its feasibility. It also supports credibility and would likely affect the funding decision. 

When it comes to establishing a mocap lab, key costs potentially include securing or remodeling the necessary physical space, and acquiring the necessary hardware—such as cameras, marker kits, and force plates, as well as auxiliary devices like electromyography systems (EMGs) or inertial measurement units (IMUs)—along with software for data capture and analysis. Additionally, it is important to consider whether funding would be needed for staffing and technical expertise. 

• Demonstrate Forward Thinking – Include any preliminary data you might have, expand on the feasibility of the project, if necessary, and outline how you plan to deal with any potential risks or challenges that might arise. 

• Review the Proposal Draft Regularly – From the outset, aim to develop a coherent narrative, incorporating visual aids such as tables or charts where appropriate and allowed. Evaluate the draft regularly with your team members to ensure it stays aligned with the funder’s guidelines and the proposal objectives. 

• Double Check the End Product – Review the proposal thoroughly before submitting it, ensuring that no items have been missed, that the language and grammar are correct throughout, and that it reads well for the intended audience.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Even a strong project concept can fall short of securing funding if you do not carefully compile your proposal. To increase your chances of success, steer clear of these common pitfalls.

• Misalignment with Funder Priorities – Regardless of the viability of the proposed work, misalignment with the funder’s objectives and mission could lead to rejection.

• Unrealistic Scope or Budget – Proposals that include over-ambitious or unachievable plans, or, similarly, an over-inflated or underestimated budget risk jeopardizing the funder’s confidence in your ability to execute the work.

• Weak or Vague Methodology – A non-specific methodology that does not explain how objectives will be achieved, or that reveals an impractical approach, is likely to lose the interest of serious funders who want to see achievable goals realized.

• A Lack of Supporting Data or Documents – Missing pilot study results, if required, or any requested supporting documents, may signal a lack of preparedness or make the proposal seem underdeveloped.

• Weak Writing or Rushed Work – Unclear language, disorganized information, or overlooked errors can weaken the narrative and fail to communicate key concepts.

Grant proposal writing is a multifaceted process that calls for thoughtful preparation, collaboration, and focused time and effort. With a clear understanding of expectations and a well-structured approach, a strong proposal can absolutely be achieved—and the effort may prove to be well worth it in the long run.

If you are in the process of preparing a grant proposal and need a supporting letter—whether to clarify the measurements that can be obtained from our system or to provide references of similar use cases using our technology—feel free to get in touch.

To find out more about Motion Analysis and how we can help you to equip your motion capture lab, reach out for a demo or consultation.

Disclaimer:

The content provided in this blog is for general information purposes only. Motion Analysis is not affiliated with the funding agencies mentioned in this blog and does not guarantee proposal success or funding outcomes. While every effort was made to correctly convey content at the time of publishing, readers are encouraged to consult the official websites of the respective funders for the most accurate and up-to-date information.