The University of Pittsburgh is a state-related research university, founded as the Pittsburgh Academy in 1787. Pitt is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), which comprises 62 preeminent doctorate-granting research institutions in North America.
Through a grant awarded under Advancing Partners & Communities, the University of Pittsburgh is developing the International Society of Wheelchair Professionals (ISWP) which will be a self-sustained network of international and regional partners dedicated to the professionalization of wheelchair (WC) services around the world.