The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) is pleased to announce the opening of the 2025 research grant application cycle.
Application Period: October 1, 2024 – January 31, 2025
Funding is available for DOs, MDs, PhDs, and osteopathic medical students conducting studies that address the tenets of osteopathic medicine and explore the profession’s patient-centered, empathic approach to care.
Key Grant Updates:
- Project Duration: 24 months (extended from 18 months)
- Student Project Duration: 12 months
- Project Start Date: July 1st (revised from September 1st)
- Broadened Focus Areas: We have expanded our focus areas to support more projects.
- Translational Research: We are accepting translational research projects.
- New Research Focus Area/Notice of Funding Opportunity (RFA/NOFO):
Osteopathic Distinctiveness: Exploring if the osteopathic approach to patient care translates into better outcomes related to compassion/ empathy, patient/physician provider communication, or patient satisfaction.
The AOA is committed to supporting research that has the potential to significantly impact patient outcomes, advance evidence-based medicine, foster collaboration within and outside the osteopathic community, and enhance the visibility of the osteopathic profession.
Research Focus Areas/Notice of Funding Opportunity (RFA/NOFO)
- Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine and Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMM/OMT)
Proposals should explore the impact of OMM/OMT on relevant disease states. | View RFA/NOFO - Acute/Chronic Pain Management
Proposals should apply the osteopathic approach to acute and/or chronic pain management, emphasizing treatments and patient outcomes. | View RFA/NOFO - The Impact of the Osteopathic Approach on Chronic Disease
Proposals should apply the osteopathic approach to chronic diseases, elderly care, the cost-effectiveness of osteopathic care in chronic diseases and/or the impact on the quality of life through the life cycle. | View RFA/NOFO - NEW: Osteopathic Distinctiveness
Proposals should explore if the osteopathic approach to patient care translates into better outcomes related to compassion/empathy, patient/physician provider communication, patient satisfaction compared to other healthcare providers, and public health that directly addresses health disparities or social determinants of health. | View RFA/NOFO - Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) Observational & Explorative Focused Hypotheses Research Studies
Proposals should address one of 14 research hypotheses designed to investigate the successful effects of OMM on specific diseases. | View RFA/NOFO - AOA/AOF New Investigator Research Grant Program
New investigators who have completed their terminal research degree or end of postgraduate clinical training, whichever completion date is later, within the past 10 years. | View RFA/NOFO - AOA Physicians-in-Training Grant Program
Individuals who are DOs in a residency program at an ACGME-accredited institution at the time of the award (June 2025), or MDs in a residency program with osteopathic recognition at an ACGME-accredited institution at the time of the award (June 2025). | View RFA/NOFO - AOA Osteopathic Medical Student Research Program
Individuals fulfilling his/her coursework requirements at an AOA accredited College of Osteopathic Medicine at the time of the award (June 2025). | View RFA/NOFO
For more detailed information on the grants available, please visit the AOA website: https://osteopathic.org/life-career/osteopathic-research/research-funding-opportunities/
Application Submission Timeline
Submissions open: Oct. 1, 2024
Deadline for applications: Jan. 31, 2025, by 11:59 p.m. CT
Awards announced: June 2025
Project start date: July 1, 2025
2. Acute/Chronic Pain Management
Proposals should apply the osteopathic approach to acute and/or chronic pain management,
emphasizing treatments and patient outcomes. | View RFA/NOFO
3. The Impact of the Osteopathic Approach on Chronic Disease
Proposals should apply the osteopathic approach to chronic diseases, elderly care, the cost-
effectiveness of osteopathic care in chronic diseases and/or the impact on the quality of life
through the life cycle. | View RFA/NOFO
4. NEW: Osteopathic Distinctiveness
Proposals should explore if the osteopathic approach to patient care translates into better
outcomes related to compassion/empathy, patient/physician provider communication, patient
satisfaction compared to other healthcare providers, and public health that directly addresses
health disparities or social determinants of health. | View RFA/NOFO
5. Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) Observational & Explorative Focused Hypotheses Research
Studies
Proposals should address one of 14 research hypotheses designed to investigate the successful
effects of OMM on specific diseases. | View RFA/NOFO
6. AOA/AOF New Investigator Research Grant Program
New investigators who have completed their terminal research degree or end of postgraduate clinical
training, whichever completion date is later, within the past 10 years. | View RFA/NOFO
7. AOA Physicians-in-Training Grant Program
Individuals who are DOs in a residency program at an ACGME-accredited institution at the time of
the award (June 2025), or MDs in a residency program with osteopathic recognition at an ACGME-
accredited institution at the time of the award (June 2025). | View RFA/NOFO
8. AOA Osteopathic Medical Student Research Program
Individuals fulfilling his/her coursework requirements at an AOA accredited College of Osteopathic
Medicine at the time of the award (June 2025). | View RFA/NOFO
For more detailed information on the grants available, please visit the AOA website:
Application Submission Timeline Submissions open: Oct. 1, 2024
Deadline for applications: Jan. 31, 2025, by 11:59 p.m. CT
Awards announced: June 2025
Project start date: July 1, 2025
PLEASE NOTE:
• AOA-funded research will address the tenets of osteopathic medicine and advance the distinct
practice of osteopathic medicine through patient-focused research projects.
Please visit the AOA website or contact Gloria Dillard in the AOA Department of Research at
gdillard@osteopathic.org or (312) 202-8006 for more information and application details.