NASS Research Grants & Traveling Fellowship Opportunities

The North American Spine Society (NASS), a professional medical organization dedicated to advancing spine care, offers a suite of research grants and traveling fellowship opportunities to support and promote innovative spine-related studies. Since 1989, NASS has provided over $5.3 million in research funding across various disciplines. These opportunities are intended to encourage cutting-edge research, knowledge exchange, and professional development among spine care professionals. NASS welcomes submissions from U.S. and international applicants, provided they meet specific eligibility requirements. NASS offers multiple types of grants, including the Research Grant, Young Investigator Grant, Graduate Research Grant Seed, and Nontraditional, Nonsurgical Treatment Grant. These awards support 1- to 2-year projects with recommended annual budgets of $20,000–$40,000, capped at $50,000. The Graduate Research Grant Seed supports smaller-scale projects up to $5,000. Eligibility for grants varies: principal investigators must be NASS members in good standing and must not have received NASS funding within the past three years unless applying for year-two project continuation. Graduate applicants and mentors must also be NASS members. Young investigators must be within five years of completing post-doctoral training and cannot have previously received NASS funding. In addition to research grants, NASS offers Clinical and Research Traveling Fellowships, which provide $3,000–$7,000 in funding for professional exchange and training across multiple institutions. Unlike the grants, membership is not required for these fellowships. Fellowship applicants must secure letters from host institutions agreeing to host the fellow if awarded. Fellowship recipients are also required to submit a report to NASS’ SpineLine publication post-experience. Applications follow a structured process, beginning with a Letter of Proposal (LOP) due by February 9, 2026. Selected applicants are invited to submit full proposals by May 11, 2026. The same May 11 deadline applies to traveling fellowship applications. Applicants will be notified of funding decisions by late August 2026. Award certificates are presented at the Annual Meeting, though recipients are responsible for their own attendance costs. Funds are distributed after the Annual Meeting via check or wire transfer. Budgets must include itemized breakdowns, may not exceed 10–15% for overhead, and exclude costs for investigator salaries, publication, or conference attendance. Funding for IRB fees is allowed with proper documentation. Proposals must disclose conflicts of interest and abide by restrictions against commercial, political, or sectarian use. Proposals may not seek funding for completed work and must be completed within three years. Recurring annually, these grant opportunities are reviewed and approved by the NASS Research Funding Committee and associated governing bodies. Award decisions are based on application grading and availability of funds. All applicants are encouraged to seek mentorship during the proposal development stage to increase competitiveness and alignment with NASS' research priorities.

Seek mentor or senior researcher review before submitting proposals; follow budget rules strictly; ensure project is not already completed; avoid proposing projects with past NIH R01 funding.