Request for Proposals - Electromagnetic Fields and Soft Tissue Injury Susceptibility

Summary

A few members of the ResearchHub community are offering up to $100,000 in funding for scientists exploring the effect of chronic exposure to low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) on connective tissue integrity and injury susceptibility.

Background

The San Francisco 49ers have been statistically among the most injured teams in the NFL over the past decade, with a disproportionate number of Achilles ruptures, patellar tendon tears, and other collagen-rich soft tissue injuries. Recently, a viral hypothesis shared by Peter Cowan conjectured that the team's practice facility proximity to a 60kV electrical substation—and resulting chronic ELF-EMF exposure at levels of 8-20+ milligauss—may be degrading players' tendons through non-thermal biological mechanisms.

While this hypothesis has generated significant public attention, it remains untested. Without scientific evaluation, such narratives risk persisting without evidence—or potentially valid environmental health concerns may go unaddressed.

Goal

To financially support researchers in generating preliminary, evidence-based insights into whether ELF-EMF exposure at levels typical of electrical infrastructure (5-50 mG, 60 Hz) can plausibly affect collagen integrity, tendon strength, or soft tissue injury risk.

Funding Details

Total funding available	Up to $100,000
Number of awards	4-8 awards
Award size	Up to $25,000 per project
Project duration	6 months or less

Proposals may address but are not limited to:

In vitro studies: Effects of chronic ELF-EMF exposure on tenocytes, fibroblasts, or engineered tendon constructs (collagen synthesis, MMP activity, mechanical properties)
Epidemiological analysis: Correlation of EMF measurements at professional sports facilities with injury rates across teams or leagues
Computational modeling: Simulating EMF exposure patterns at sports facilities based on substation proximity and power load data
Animal or ex vivo studies: Biomechanical testing of tendons following controlled EMF exposure

Proposal Requirements

Preregistration: All selected applicants must preregister their study protocol on ResearchHub to be considered for funding. Fully funded pre-registrations will be eligible to be published as ResearchHub Registered Report (RRR) in the ResearchHub Journal (more info).
Specific hypothesis: Clearly state what you are testing and what results would support or refute the hypothesis
Open-access data sharing: By participating, applicants agree to share all data generated through this research in an open-access repository. This ensures transparency and facilitates the scientific community’s engagement with the findings.
Preprint: Researchers are encouraged to upload a preprint of their findings on ResearchHub.
Progress updates: Researchers are encouraged to share regular updates via the “Updates” tab and may receive RSC tips for updates shared.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must verify identity and authenticate ORCID on their ResearchHub profile
There are no restrictions based on the applicant’s country of residence
Projects should be feasible within the proposed 6 month timeframe using available infrastructure.

Contact

If you have any questions about this RFP, please reach out to pat@researchhub.com