Research Grant Application Process

OSTEOPATHIC RESEARCH FUNDING

The American Academy of Osteopathy (AAO) supports clinical and basic science research involving health care outcomes in the practice of osteopathic medicine, with an emphasis on the use of osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) in patient care. The AAO has two research grant cycles per year with funds released in January and July. Research funding is typically $10,000 per year with a grant duration of 1 year (2 years with justification).

The major purpose of research funded by the AAO is to:

  1. generate and support research that develops and promotes an understanding of the philosophy, concepts and efficacy of osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM).
  2. develop and maintain the research capacity of the profession through support and training for researchers. This is to include but is not limited to benchtop physiological models research, educational standards development, practice guidelines research, normative data collection and clinical research.

If you have any questions about the application process, please contact AAO CEO Sherri L. Quarles or the committee chair.

Research Grant Letters of Intent Due February 1 and August 1

The American Academy of Osteopathy (AAO) through its Louisa Burns Osteo­pathic Research Committee (LBORC) is calling for research grant applications which involve health care outcomes in the practice of osteopathic medicine, with an emphasis on the utilization of osteopathic manipula­tive medicine/treatment (OMM/OMT) in patient care.

The AAO has two grant cycles per year
Cycle 1 – Letter of Intent due Feb. 1, Grant application due Mar. 15, for funds distribution after Jul. 1.
Cycle 2 – Letter of Intent due Aug. 1, Grant application due Sep. 15, for funds distribution after Jan. 1.


Since 2000, the AAO has provided over $230K in grant funds to over 15 research projects, including support of the recently published Investigating the safety and feasibility of osteopathic medicine in the pediatric oncology outpatient setting, as well as the PROMOTE Study (Pregnancy Research in Osteopathic Manipulation Optimizing Treatment Effects). The AAO recog­nizes the value of all areas of biomedical and educational research with a focus on those areas that investigate the unique aspects of osteopathic medicine. The breadth of this research focus may include but is not limited to:

  • Mechanisms of Action of Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine/Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine treatment
  • Clinical Efficacy of Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine/Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine treatment
  • Inter- and Intra-rater reliability of palpatory/sensory assessment
  • Cost effectiveness of osteopathic health care
  • Osteopathic physician - patient interactions 
  • Methods of teaching palpation, sensing, diagnosis and Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine/Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine treatment
  • Collection of normative data in Osteopathic Manipulative Techniques
  • Validation of Osteopathic Manipulative Techniques specific research methodology

AAO LBORC will not approve funding for machine or equipment engineering research and development.

The Letter of Intent is expected to provide a brief summary and overview of the research project requested to be funded. This letter of intent should include a cover letter with the following information.

  1. The purpose for which the funding will be used (background information - clinical relevance / scientific significance).
  2. Tell us about your nonprofit institution, including its strengths and accomplishments and previous funding support from the Academy.
  3. Briefly describe the need for your project, the project’s overall goals, and the specific aspects of the project that the Academy’s grant would fund (central hypothesis, specific aims, general methods, anticipated results).
  4. Provide a summary projected budget and duration for your proposed project.
  5. Describe how your project will be financed and other grant support you are seeking. If your project is to continue after the Academy’s grant is expended, explain how the project will be funded in the future.
  6. Describe how your institution would publicly acknowledge the Academy’s gift, providing visibility for the Academy and its unrestricted fund.
  7. Provide a closing statement that summarizes your request if it is supported by the Academy: the potential results and ramifications of the project and anticipated venues for publication of results.

If the Letter of Intent aligns with the AAO’s funding mission, the principle investigator will be invited to submit a completed research grant application by the due date for the active grant cycle. The application requires the follow­ing:

  • Cover page with administrative official signatures and institutional information
  • Previous and current funding, pilot project rationale
  • Institutional resources
  • Personnel (bio sketch required for primary investigators)
  • Budget and justification
  • Executive summary 
  • Research proposal