Posted:Tuesday, December 23, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Massage Therapy Foundation Awards $30,000 Research Support Award to the University of Kentucky
Evanston, Ill. – December 22, 2025 – The Massage Therapy Foundation (MTF) announces the award of a $30,000 Research Support Award to the University of Kentucky. The award will support a one-year study entitled, “Measuring the Effects of Massage Therapy on Pain and Anxiety in Patients with Gynecologic Cancer During Infusion Treatments: A Feasibility Study,” led by Primary Investigator Jill Cole MA, LMT, BCTMB.
This study aims to establish feasibility of both providing massage therapy and studying its effectiveness for treatment of pain and anxiety in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy infusion. Qualitative assessment will be conducted in the following areas: recruitment, randomization protocol, blinding of assessor, intervention timing, and data collection. Feasibility of utilizing Von Frey filaments as a quantitative pain measurement tool in massage research will be assessed.
“The Foundation is pleased to provide funding to this important project, which increases our understanding of the role that therapeutic massage can play in alleviating anxiety and pain in those undergoing treatment for cancer,” said Teri Mayo, BA, LMT, MTF Executive Director. “This study expands the range of tools available to massage therapy researchers, providing critical infrastructure for future research in the field.”
About the Massage Therapy Foundation
The Massage Therapy Foundation is a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to supporting scientific research, education, and community service within the massage therapy profession. The Foundation publishes an open-access, peer-reviewed scientific journal and provides educational resources for massage therapists, educators, and students. MTF fosters international scientific collaboration through grants, resources, training, and services.
For more information, please contact: Teri Mayo, Executive Director, 847.905.1520 or tmayo@massagetherapyfoundation.org