The goals of the NATA Research and Education Foundation include advancing the knowledge base of the athletic training profession and encouraging research among athletic trainers who can contribute to the athletic training knowledge base. By identifying research priorities, the NATA Research and Education Foundation hopes to promote research topics that achieve these goals and provide evidence for the effectiveness of services provided by Certified Athletic Trainers.

The NATA Foundation Research Committee is charged with reviewing grant proposals for funding and recommending to the Board of Directors candidates for Research Awards.  Part of the NATA Foundation Research Committee is the Free Communications Committee.  The mission of the Free Communications Program is to advance the discovery, dissemination, and application of scientific knowledge in athletic training domains through written and oral forum.